Church & State articles from June 2004

Church & State archives from June 2004

IRS warns tax-exempt churches about electioneering.(In The Capital)
June 1, 2004... The Internal Revenue Service in April issued a presidential election-year advisory to non-profit groups, including houses of worship, reminding them to refrain from politicking or risk losing their tax-exempt status. "Organizations...

Montana town rejects 'intelligent design'.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Voters in Darby, Mont., have overwhelmingly rejected school board candidates who supported a policy that would allow teachers to offer religiously grounded criticism of evolution in science classes. In February, the Darby School Board gave...

Promise keepers hint at greater political bent.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Denver-based evangelical men's ministry, the Promise Keepers, announced in late April that its organization was changing from a movement to a mission. At a press conference April 28, PK President Tom Fortson claimed American society is...

Texas judge ducks questions about separation.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A Texas state appeals court judge known for his practice of displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom has been narrowly confirmed by the state Senate for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court. During his confirmation hearing in early May...

Focus on politics: religious right leader James Dobson declares war over marriage, as election-year battle widens.
June 1, 2004... For a follower of the Prince of Peace, religious broadcaster James Dobson sure has a fondness for warfare imagery. At an April 5 rally at New Hope Community Church in Clackamas, Ore., the evangelical Christian radio broadcaster proclaimed...

The Alliance Defense Fund's hidden agenda: how a TV preachers' front group is bankrolling the legal crusade to block same-sex marriage--and wed church and state--in America.
June 1, 2004... In December of 1993, right-wing radio talk show host Marlin Maddoux announced the formation of a new legal organization that would attack church-state separation and oppose groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the...

No more Moore! Special Alabama Supreme Court upholds ouster of 'Ten Commandments' Judge.
June 1, 2004... "Ten Commandments Judge" Roy Moore's best shot at getting back his job as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court evaporated abruptly April 30 thanks to a 35-page legal opinion. A specially appointed panel of retired Alabama judges had...

Marriage vow: don't let Falwell and company amend the constitution.(Editorial)(Editorial)
June 1, 2004... Religious Right organizations apparently don't think much of the U.S. Constitution. They keep proposing amendments to that venerable document. Over the years, Religious Right groups have advocated amendments allowing state-sponsored prayer...

Religious broadcasters beam Bush prayer day remarks nationwide.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Religious broadcasters across America gave President George W. Bush an election-year boost May 6 by sending his comments about the National Day of Prayer nationwide via cable television and satellite. A group called America's National...

Pro-choice politicians 'not fit' for communion, says Vatican official.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... A Vatican official in Rome has intervened in an ongoing U.S. dispute over pro-choice Roman Catholic politicians receiving communion, saying a Catholic who supports abortion rights "is not fit" to take the sacrament. Speaking at a news...

Oklahoma AU, allies 'let freedom ring' on national day of prayer.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Weary of attempts by Religious Right groups to co-opt the National Day of Prayer and turn it into an event catered toward fundamentalist Christians, Americans United activists in Oklahoma took a different tack this year: a celebration of...

Bush political chief Rove addresses grads at Falwell's liberty U.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Karl Rove, top political adviser to President George W. Bush, undertook an unusual assignment May 8: He traveled to Lynchburg, Va., and delivered a commencement address at the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. An April 6 press...

Supreme court skips VMI prayer dispute.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Virginia Military Institute has failed to persuade the Supreme Court to restore officially sponsored mealtime prayer at the school. The justices announced April 26 that they will not hear an appeal of a lower court ruling striking down...

Catholic schools seek extra federal aid in Washington, D.C.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Officials with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., say they are having trouble implementing the city's new federally funded voucher plan and need more tax aid. Congress approved the plan, the nation's first federally funded...

Abuse of prisoners in Iraq due to MTV, says Colson, Perkins.(People & Events)
June 1, 2004... Two leaders of the Religious Right came to a remarkable conclusion last month: The abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers came from watching too much MTV. MTV is a cable channel that carries popular music videos and "reality...

Pa. Catholic diocese's 'separation' defense rejected.(AU Bulletin)
June 1, 2004... A Pennsylvania state judge in early May dismissed a Catholic diocese's claim that church-state separation protects it from being sued for allegedly failing to punish sexually abusive priests. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown...

Iranian history professor faces death for insulting Islam.(Around The World)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A death sentence against an Iranian history professor for allegedly insulting Islam was reinstated in May. In November 2002, Hashem Aghajari, a history professor at Tehran teachers' college, was convicted of insulting Islam and questioning...

France may train imams about human rights.(Around The World)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... In an effort to prevent Muslim leaders from promoting extreme dogma, a top French government official has suggested that the country begin training imams to respect human rights. In late April, French officials expelled an imam who said...

A question for conservatives.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... For some of us, last year's appeals court ruling concerning the content of the Pledge of Allegiance was a welcome infusion of common sense into a national climate of patriotic zeal and flag-waving conformity. However, most of what support there...

The constitution, our compass.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... The U.S. Constitution is destiny's compass for America's freedom and harmony. The compass bearing was inalterably set for a secular republic, where religion could not be abolished or ever be lawfully established. The Founders' vision was clear....

The March for Women's Lives: one speech, two minutes, a million amens.(Perspective)
June 1, 2004... There is something humbling about being asked to speak to one million people. Just over 100 of us were asked to do just that, each for two minutes, by the organizers of the March for Women's Lives in Washington on April 25. My task in the...