Church & State articles from February 2005

Church & State archives from February 2005

Poll finds support for restrictions on Muslims.(In The Capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A large number of Americans would support some government restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslims, according to a Cornell University poll. The university's Media and Research Group released a survey in mid December, showing that 44...

Newdow resumes legal fight against pledge.(In The Capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The California physician who stirred nationwide controversy with his legal challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance's reference to God has announced he will again take his battle to the courts. Michael Newdow filed a new lawsuit Jan. 3 in U.S....

Alabama judge wears commandments robe.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... In apparent homage to former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, a rural state judge has started donning a robe embroidered with the Ten Commandments in the courtroom. Covington County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Ashley McKathan began...

Religious jurors can't be barred, says N.J. Court.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that potential jurors cannot be dismissed because they wear religious garb or in some other way identify their religious leanings. In the unanimous Dec. 22 ruling in State v. Lloyd, the court...

Science test: Pa. school district's 'intelligent design' policy violates church-state separation, says Americans United Lawsuit.
February 1, 2005... Tammy J. Kitzmiller believes strongly that her children should be taught modern biology in public school, not someone else's religious beliefs masquerading as science. Meeting that goal has been a bit of a struggle lately in Dover, Pa. The...

Intelligent design: creationsim's Trojan horse: a conversation with Barbara Forrest.(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Barbara Forrest, a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La., is coauthor of the new book Creationism's Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design (Oxford University Press). Written with Paul R. Gross, who...

James Dobson: the religious rights: 800-pound gorilla.
February 1, 2005... A New York Times reporter recently dubbed James Dobson "the nation's most influential evangelical leader," a senior editor at the New Republic says he is the Right's "new kingmaker," and TV news pundits, cable and otherwise, can't get enough...

Of Pandas and plots: what's at stake in the Dover ID lawsuit.(Editorial)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... A small town in south central Pennsylvania has suddenly become the latest flashpoint in the long-running battle over teaching evolution in public schools. Events unfolding in Dover, Pa., provide a textbook example of what happens when...

White House report on faith-based initiative aims for state boost.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... Hoping to give new momentum to its "faith-based" initiative, the White House last month issued a report claiming that in 2003, $1.17 billion in federal funds went to groups with religious affiliations. The report, issued early in January,...

God tells Pat Robertson: expect a good year for president Bush.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... TV preacher Pat Robertson last month revealed his annual in-depth conversation with God and brought back good news for George W. Bush: 2005 looks like it's going to be the president's year. Robertson claims that he has an annual one-on-one...

Focus on the family attacks 'today' show's Couric as 'Anti-Christian'.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... James Dobson's Focus on the Family can apparently carry a grudge for a long time. In December, the Religious Right organization attacked Katie Couric, host of NBC's "Today" show, over a question Couric asked during an interview more than...

Bush liaison helps religious right push for social agenda.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... As President George W. Bush plans a second term that many Religious Right activists hope will emphasize social issues, one man stands poised to play a key role: Tim Goeglein. Don't be surprised if the name isn't familiar. Goeglein has...

American United files brief in commandments case at Supreme Court.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... A Ten Commandments display on the grounds of the Texas state capitol should not be permitted to stay simply because it has been there for a long time, Americans United has argued in a legal brief at the U.S. Supreme Court. Americans United...

Catholic GOP ranks increase in Congress, recent survey shows.(People & Events)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A new survey of the religious affiliations of members of Congress shows that the number of Roman Catholic Republicans is at an all-time high. There are 154 Catholics in the 109th Congress--the highest number ever--including 87 Democrats...

Falwell pleads for funds to recruit Christian voters for 2006 and beyond.(People & Events)
February 1, 2005... Hoping to build on Republican gains in 2004, the Rev. Jerry Falwell has announced the launch of a new voter mobilization effort that he claims will register 10 million new evangelical voters for the 2006 and 2008 elections. In a...

Church-state separation 'misinterpreted,' says U.S. Sen. Brownback.(People & Events)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A leading Religious Right ally in the Senate says church-state separation has been "misinterpreted." U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) told The Wichita Eagle last month that courts have "profoundly misinterpreted" the separation of church...

Maryland considers religious holiday leave for students.(AU Bulletin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A public school education committee in Maryland has recommended that all students be given two floating holidays for religious observance. In late December, a stale education committee devoted to minority student issues, offered the...

Wisc. Commandments sale approved by appellate court.(AU Bulletin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A federal appeals court has approved a Wisconsin city's sale of a Ten Commandments monument along with a portion of the land surrounding it to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The Eagles donated the granite monument to La Crosse in 1964 and...

Monaghan's Ave Maria repays U.S. College aid.(AU Bulletin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Officials at an ultraconservative Roman Catholic school have returned tens of thousands in federal education aid money, following a government finding of misuse. According to the Department of Education, Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti,...

Catholic bishops blast gay marriage in Spain.(Around The World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Roman Catholic officials in Spain are sounding increasingly shrill in their attacks on the government's plans to legalize gay marriage and advance efforts to separate church and state. Fernando Sebastian, archbishop of Pamplona in northern...

What separation means.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Barry Lynn's recent Perspective column ("One Constitution And One Country, But Two Views Of America," December Church & State) made our differences as a nation so clear to me. While I agree wholeheartedly with Barry, my large...

Outstanding historical articles.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Thank you for an outstanding issue of Church & State. It was wonderfully highlighted for me by the two historical pieces regarding Thomas Jefferson ("Politics In The Pulpit: What Would Jefferson Do?" October Church & State) and the Rev. John...

The meaning of morality.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Now that the election is finally over, we have been inundated with analyses dealing with the role of morality or "moral values." It seems that's what the majority voted for and what Karl Rove, the architect of the election, worked on since 2000...

Warning label suggestion.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Many Christians in the state of Georgia want to include a disclaimer for biology texts issued to students. The disclaimer reads: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living...

Rep. Jones' tempting idea.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... U.S. Rep. Walter Jones wants to return to "the Judeo-Christian principles that this country was founded on." Actually, I find his idea rather tempting. If by that he means biblical literalism, that would mean that the fetus would not be...

'Intelligent design': an evolving problem for America's public schools.(Perspective)
February 1, 2005... Although I do not personally remember the incident, I was born in the Harrisburg General Hospital in Harrisburg, Pa. I spent the first five years of my life in that city and do vaguely remember visiting the state capitol pretty regularly....