Posts Tagged ‘religion and politics’
Atheist group sues IRS over religious electioneering
Freedom from Religion Foundation says agency isn’t enforcing the federal tax code, which prohibits tax-exempt religious organizations from getting involved in political campaigns.
Federal court throws out challenge to Pa. ‘Year of the Bible’
Judge agrees with state lawmakers that the lawsuit should be dismissed on the grounds of legislative immunity, but he criticizes the House resolution as ‘proselytizing and exclusionary.’
Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem
President Obama intervenes to order revisions as many delegates boo; Republicans pounce on omissions.
What JFK really said about separating church from state
What made Rick Santorum ‘want to throw up’ also paved the way for Santorum, a Catholic, to run for president without nearly the religious opposition President Kennedy faced.
10th Circuit keeps Okla. ban on Islamic law on hold
Three-judge panel upholds lower court ruling siding with Muslim community leader who is challenging voter-approved constitutional amendment.
Religious name-calling has no place in political arena
Baptist pastor who called Mormonism a cult isn’t alone in wrongly applying a religious test to the Republican field.
Fla. lieutenant governor: Christianity is under attack
Jennifer Carroll tells audience at Faith and Freedom Coalition rally that assault is waged largely by media, who, she says, ‘would like nothing better than to ridicule Christians.’
Islamic center opens its doors near ground zero
Park51, which has drawn criticism from opponents who say they don’t want a mosque near the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, holds its first exhibit.
N.J. town accused of changing zoning laws to block mosque
Federal lawsuit claims Bridgewater Township engaged in religious discrimination, bowed to pressure from protesters and anti-mosque Internet campaign.
Federal judge: Okla. anti-Islamic law on hold
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge has granted a request to prevent the state of Oklahoma from certifying election results for a constitutional amendment that would bar state courts from considering international or Islamic law when deciding cases.
U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange said yesterday that she granted the preliminary injunction against State Question 755, until [...]
Judge refuses to stop Tenn. mosque construction
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A judge denied a request yesterday for a temporary restraining order to stop construction at the site of a proposed mosque in Murfreesboro.
Rutherford County Chancellor Robert Corlew said after closing arguments that he didn’t find that the “county acted illegally, arbitrarily or capriciously” when county planners approved the site plan for an [...]
Senator-elect Paul: Foe’s religious attacks backfired
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A day after a winning a hard-fought U.S. Senate race, Republican Rand Paul said he was hopeful a religious attack that backfired on his opponent would head off similar strategies in future political races.
Nearly four out of five Kentuckians who voted in the Nov. 2 election said they felt Democrat Jack [...]
Questioning in Tenn. mosque case hinges on Islam
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A lawyer for opponents of a proposed mosque in Murfreesboro veered away from the procedural issues at the heart of a legal challenge and peppered witnesses yesterday with questions about the religion Islam.
The attorney equated Islamic religious law with terrorism during a hearing in Rutherford County Chancery Court and taunted a witness [...]
Feds file legal brief in support of Tenn. mosque
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Federal attorneys yesterday jumped into a court battle over the construction of a Tennessee mosque by offering legal proof that Islam is a recognized religion entitled to constitutional protection.
U.S. Attorney Jerry E. Martin of Nashville said his office would not sit by while mosque opponents raised questions in court about whether Islam [...]
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
Inside the First Amendment • Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes
Why claims of conscience matter
Finding ways to accommodate religious conscience is a balancing act between competing interests, and not always possible; but if it is, it should not be an afterthought.