Church & State articles from February 2007

Church & State archives from February 2007

VA's treatment of 'spiritually injured' veterans upheld.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Department of Veterans Affairs' case of First Amendment)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A federal judge has dismissed a legal action challenging the Department of Veterans Affairs' heavy use of religion in its health-care system. A Wisconsin-based First Amendment advocacy group sued the VA, arguing that several of its...

Brownback drops hold on gay-friendly judge nominee.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Sam Brownback)(Janet Neff)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), a backer of the Religious Right agenda, has relented in his quest to block a judicial nominee who attended a same-sex union ceremony. Late last year, Brownback announced that when the new Senate convened...

Mich. school district rejects fundamentalist Bible course.(AROUND THE STATES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A Michigan school board has snubbed a Bible course created by a Religious Right organization. In January, the Howell Public Schools Board of Education was asked by a parent to implement a Bible elective from the North Carolina-based...

Muslim cabbies drive Minnesota officials to action.(AROUND THE STATES)(regulation on taxi drivers from refusing passengers who offend their religious beliefs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Minnesota officials are moving to halt Muslim taxi drivers from refusing passengers who offend their religious beliefs. For several years, Muslim taxi drivers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport have declined passengers...

Sticker shock: Georgia school district drops evolution disclaimer fight, as creationist forces lose another round in the war over science education.(Jeffrey Selman and Cobb County school )
February 1, 2007... Jeffrey Selman never intended to be such a public proponent of the separation of church and state, even though he has always considered himself an advocate for that long-cherished American principle. But when the suburban Atlanta computer...

Diversity under the dome: with two Buddhists and a Muslim taking house seats, the new congress is more religiously diverse than ever.
February 1, 2007... The new Congress, for the first time, includes a Muslim, two Buddhists, more Jews than Episcopalians, and the highest-ranking Mormon in congressional history. Roman Catholics remain the largest single faith group in Congress, accounting...

Hour of decision: Supreme Court will decide whether taxpayers can challenge President Bush's 'faith-based' crusade.
February 1, 2007... Speaking at a White House conference on the "faith-based" initiative in October of 2002, Rod Paige, then U.S. secretary of education, offered up a testimony about his boss's personal religious commitment. "Now, President Bush does this...

Separation of church and state!: Say it loud, say it proud.(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... The Religious Right doesn't want Americans to embrace the "separation of church and state." These groups have spent years disparaging that concept. Their most common charge is that the phrase is not found in the Constitution. As the late...

Rep. Ellison's Oath on Jefferson's Quran: an elegant epilogue.(Keith Ellison)(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... Article VI of the U.S. Constitution is clear: "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." Throughout American history, people of various faith backgrounds--and none--have...

Muslim congressman takes oath of office on Jefferson's Quran.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Keith Ellison)
February 1, 2007... A newly elected Muslim congressman from Minnesota turned the tables on his critics last month by taking the oath of office on a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. The swearing-in of U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim...

Dobson blasts Cheney's daughter for same-sex child-rearing plan.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(James Dobson of Focus on the Family)(Mary Cheney, daughter of Dick Cheney)
February 1, 2007... Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family is normally a big fan of pregnancy and child-rearing--unless a same-sex couple is involved. Dobson and several other Religious Right leaders went ballistic in December when Mary Cheney, daughter of...

Va. Pagans advertise through Falwell-secured school 'backpack mail'.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
February 1, 2007... A Pagan group in Albemarle County, Va., was recently given permission to advertise its multi-cultural holiday program to public school children--and they have the Rev. Jerry Falwell to thank for it. The dispute started last summer when...

Former House GOP Leader attacks Dobson, supports church-state separation.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Dick Armey of Republican Party)(James Dobson)
February 1, 2007... During his time in office, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey often appeared at Religious Right gatherings, where he denounced legal abortion and endorsed the Religious Right's agenda. In 2002, he was even named a "Lifetime Champion of...

Pat Robertson predicts 'Mass Killing' will strike U.S. later this year.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
February 1, 2007... As is his custom, TV preacher Pat Robertson rang in the new year by having a one-on-one discussion with God, and this year he says the news is not good: Robertson says God told him that in 2007 there will be "mass killing" on American soil. ...

Prison chaplain groups support AU in Iowa inmate-evangelism case.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
February 1, 2007... Three prominent prison chaplain organizations have sided with Americans United's effort to end a taxpayer-funded evangelical Christian program operating in an Iowa correctional facility. In a joint friend-of-the-court brief filed in...

'War on Christmas' proves lucrative for the Religious Right.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Being naughty paid off for the Religious Right this year, with groups raking in tons of money by hyping phony claims of a "war on Christmas." Several groups used claims of Christmas conflict to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars,...

How to keep the 'United' in United States: coping with religions diversity in the world's first 'new' nation.(Viewpoint essay)
February 1, 2007... One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I was sitting in an auditorium in Greeneville, Tenn., listening to two Sudanese boys, whom my wife and I had helped through college, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and...

AU opposes Bible distribution at Missouri school.(AROUND THE STATES)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Americans United for Separation of Church and State is urging a federal appeals court to stop a Missouri public school district from allowing Bible distribution at elementary schools. In a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the 8th U.S....

Religious groups oppose N.J. coach's prayer policy.(AROUND THE STATES)(Borden v. East Brunswick School District)(Marcus Borden)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A coalition of religious groups is urging a federal appeals court to bar a New Jersey high school football coach from praying with students. Led by The Interfaith Alliance, a diverse array of religious organizations filed a...

Legislators in Poland weigh naming Jesus as king.(AROUND THE WORLD)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A gaggle of Polish lawmakers is pushing a resolution naming Jesus Christ as the nation's honorary king. The resolution is being promoted by 46 members of the 460-seat parliament, reported the Associated Press. A spokesman for the...

Russian lawsuit challenges evolution study in schools.(AROUND THE WORLD)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A Russian teenager wants her public school to stop using a biology textbook that includes study of evolution, because she says it offends her religious beliefs. Mariya Shraiber, supported by her father Kirill Shraiber and a friend who...

Enjoying Piety & Politics.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I just picked up a copy of Barry Lynn's book, Piety & Politics, and wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I am a member of Americans United and have been for a number of years. I recently retired as a Disciple of Christ minister and now work...

Don't forget Article VI!(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I am quite puzzled when the general news media, reporting or commenting on ignorance-inspired or, worse still, deliberately misrepresented denials of our constitutionally separated church and state, confine their evidence of the contrary to the...

Rev. Rack's fine article.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I would like to thank the Rev. Paul F. Rack for his very fine article in support of the separation of church and state ("Goodbye Christendom--And Good Riddance!: A Pastor's Reflection On Church And State," November Church & State). What a...

Church and State: a biblical perspective.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I was glad to see in your November issue of Church & State in the article written by Paul F. Rack ("Goodbye Christendom--And Good Riddance!: A Pastor's Reflection On Church And State,") that someone is actually reading the Bible. The...

Facing 2007: they dropped the ball in Times Square, but at AU we haven't.(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
February 1, 2007... The dust is still settling here in Washington from November's seismic elections. The new Congress was seated last month, and now the work begins in earnest. Shortly after the new year, the Americans United staff came together for our...