Church & State articles from January 2008

Church & State archives from January 2008

Head start bill passed without 'faith-based' bias.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Congress has turned away efforts to remove civil rights protections from a bill reauthorizing Head Start, the popular preschool program that helps low-income families prepare their children for school. In November, the U.S. Senate passed...

Americans reject pulpit politicking, new poll shows.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Americans overwhelmingly oppose their leaders mixing partisan politics and religion, a new poll shows. A survey released in November by Fox 5 (a Washington, D.C., television station), The Washington Times and Rasmussen Reports, revealed...

Illinois moment-of-silence law blocked by court.(AROUND THE STATES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... A federal judge has halted enforcement of an Illinois law that requires public schools to hold a moment of silence every morning. In mid-November, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said the law, called the Silent Reflection and...

Florida holiday display altered after AU protests.(AROUND THE STATES)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... A Florida town has made efforts to alter a religious display on government property following a complaint from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. In a July 12 letter, Americans United Assistant Legal Director Richard...

Iowa senator's inquiry into mega-church millions sparks church-state showdown.(Prophets, Profits And Federal Tax Law)(Sen. Charles E. Grassley)
January 1, 2008... The New Testament reports that Jesus rarely used fancy modes of transportation to get around. He walked most of the time, although Matthew and other gospels mention that he once rode a borrowed donkey into Jerusalem, where he burst into a...

'Faith-based' bias banned: state can't fund fundamentalist indoctrination at Iowa prison, appeals court rules.(InnerChange Freedom Initiative)(Cover story)
January 1, 2008... In late 2002, Americans United attorney Alex Luchenitser was alerted to a publicly funded "faith-based" operation in an Iowa prison that he found beyond astounding. That program, called the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, was being funded...

Faulting Falwell: Americans united seeks IRS investigation of Liberty University for electioneering.
January 1, 2008... It was no surprise when presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee wangled an invitation to speak at the late TV evangelist Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher and former Arkansas governor, has counted on the...

The InnerChange ruling: an anniversary gift for AU and freedom.(EDITORIAL)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
January 1, 2008... A federal appeals court decision striking down a tax-funded fundamentalist Christian program in an Iowa prison last month was a deeply satisfying victory for Americans United. The unanimous court--which included former Supreme Court Justice...

Texas Education official forced out in flap over 'intelligent design'.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Christine Castillo Comer)
January 1, 2008... The director of science curriculum for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was forced to resign in November after she notified people about a lecture critical of "intelligent design" (ID). Christine Castillo Comer, 56, was pressured to step...

Oral Roberts University president sought advice on political activity.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Richard Roberts)
January 1, 2008... A batch of e-mail messages obtained by the Tulsa Worm allegedly show that Richard Roberts, former president of Oral Roberts University (ORU), repeatedly received advice on how to increase his political influence by affecting the outcome of city...

Extremist 'Watchmen' seek to make inroads with U.S. Religious Right.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
January 1, 2008... A new Religious Right movement that mixes fundamentalist religious views, extreme anti-gay rhetoric and confrontational tactics may be gaining a foothold in America. Watchdog organizations that monitor hate groups are sounding the alarm...

Dispute over Bible display in Texas comes to end at the Supreme Court.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Harris County Courthouse and the a Bible display in front of it)
January 1, 2008... An Americans United assisted challenge to the display of an open Bible at a Texas courthouse came to a successful end Nov. 26 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear the case. The legal battle centered over a display in front of the...

Alabama Board approves 'Bible literacy' text without knowing it.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(The Bible and Its Influence )
January 1, 2008... Alabama recently became the first state in the country to approve a controversial Bible literacy textbook for use in public schools, but critics are now questioning how the decision was made. The Alabama State Board of Education approved...

Americans United chides Georgia governor for leading rain prayers.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Sonny Perdue)
January 1, 2008... Faced with an ongoing drought that has brought severe water shortages to many regions of the state, Georgia's Gov. Sonny Perdue settled on an unusual solution in November: a state-sponsored religious service to pray for rain. On Nov. 13,...

Regent U. student sues Pat Robertson over joke photo penalty.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
January 1, 2008... A student at Regent University's law school has sued the school's founder, TV preacher Pat Robertson, over an unflattering online picture of Robertson the student was compelled to remove. In September, Adam M. Key posted a photo of...

Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Pat Robertson announced last month that he will cease being the chief executive officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) effective immediately. The move is not expected to have much practical effect. Robertson will continue to...

Church-state separation has been taken too far, says Romney in speech.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Republican candidate Mitt Romney)
January 1, 2008... Seeking to appeal to Religious Right voters and quell concerns about his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Republican candidate Mitt Romney delivered a major address on religion and public life Dec. 6. Romney...

Rare religious liberty document goes on display in New York.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
January 1, 2008... The Flushing Remonstrance, a little-known but important early document arguing for religions liberty, went on display at a public library in New York City last month. Drafted in 1657 by 30 citizens who lived in the Flushing area, the...

Americans United marks 60th anniversary with festive D.C. gala.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Americans United for Separation of Church and State kicked off the celebration of its 60th anniversary with a gala reception Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C. Over 135 organizational leaders, chapter activists and friends of religious liberty...

N.C. patrol car's Jesus message sparks controversy.(AROUND THE STATES)(North Carolina )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... A religious message posted in a North Carolina police officer's car has sparked a controversy, drawing the attention of media and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. In November, when a Greensboro man was stopped at a...

Pa. Senate prayers are too sectarian, says AU.(AROUND THE STATES)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Pennsylvania Senate's practice of using prayer to open its sessions ignited debate in November, after Americans United for Separation of Church and State noted that many of the invocations are Christian. In an Oct. 10 letter to state...

Sunday-closing laws under fire in states.(AROUND THE STATES)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Blue laws aimed at curtailing business activities on Sunday are increasingly being scrutinized by lawmakers. Blue laws have long mandated the closure of certain types of businesses on Sundays in states throughout the nation. The Prohibition...

Teddy bear's name sends teacher to Sudan jail.(AROUND THE WORLD)(Gillian Gibbons)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... After international pressure, the Sudanese government allowed a British teacher who had been convicted of insulting Islam to leave the country. The 54-year-old teacher, Gillian Gibbons, caused an uproar after asking her students at a private...

Teacher for a day: my church-state class inspired discussion.(PERSPECTIVE)
January 1, 2008... As I looked out at the 900 students at an assembly at Kearny High School in New Jersey, I told them I had good news and bad news. "The good news is that if yon don't want to hear about the separation of church and state, this event will be...