Church & State articles from June 2006

Church & State archives from June 2006

College students oppose more religion in politics.(Harvard University Institute of Politics survey)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... College students say religion plays an important role in their lives, but they don't want to see more religion in the political arena, according to a recent survey. The poll, released in April by Harvard University's Institute of Politics,...

Flag desecration amendment advances in senate.(Flag Desecration Amendment)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A constitutional amendment allowing Congress to outlaw desecration of the American flag is again being considered on Capitol Hill. In early May, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee voted 6-3 to advance S.J.Res. 12, the so-called Flag...

Florida voucher proposal narrowly derailed in legislature.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Despite heavy pressure by Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida lawmakers have defeated a proposal to help rescue a school voucher program that the state Supreme Court found unconstitutional. In early May, the Republican-controlled Senate voted 23-16 for...

Homeless may sleep on church steps, court rules.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A federal appeals court has barred New York City police from removing homeless people who sleep on the steps of a church. In late April, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's order allowing Fifth Avenue Presbyterian...

The religious right and American freedom: fundamentalist christian forces seek 'dominion' over the lives of all Americans, and they just might be near the political clout to pull it off.
June 1, 2006... Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson flew into Washington, D.C., last month with twin goals: attend a meeting of the secretive Council for National Policy and issue a new round of orders to top Republican leaders. With November...

Religious right power brokers: the top ten.
June 1, 2006... The United States is home to dozens of Religious Right groups. Many have small budgets and focus on state and local issues; the most powerful organizations conduct nationwide operations, command multi-million-dollar bank accounts and attract...

Ten things you can do to fight the religious right.
June 1, 2006... This special issue of Church & State takes a look at the top 10 Religious Right groups in America. It is only fitting, therefore, that we provide 10 things you can do to oppose the Religious Right 1. Be active in Americans United....

Loss of faith: White House faith Czar Towey departs, as doubts about Bush 'Faith-Based' initiative continue to grow.(James Towey, George W. Bush)
June 1, 2006... After four years as the Bush administration's "faith czar," James Towey sounded both relieved and combative upon announcing his decision to leave his post and become president of a small Pennsylvania college sponsored by Benedictine monks. ...

National Prayer Day continues to divide Americans, AU charges.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
June 1, 2006... Once again, Religious Right leaders and politicians used last month's National Day of Prayer (NDP) observances to politicize religion and divide Americans. Americans United criticized the annual event, which takes place by federal law on...

House members seek to advance sectarian prayer at military events.
June 1, 2006... The House of Representatives has weighed in on a contentious debate over religious freedom in the military, approving a rider to a defense appropriation bill that guarantees chaplains broad rights to use sectarian prayers. During...

AU protests creationist presentation at Mo. public school system.(Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Missouri)
June 1, 2006... Americans United last month warned a Missouri public school district that a high school assembly by a creationist lecturer violates the U.S. Constitution. Responding to concerns raised by residents in the Potosi R-III School District, AU...

Moderate Baptists fend off SBC attacks on public education.(Southern Baptist Convention )
June 1, 2006... Extreme right-wing factions of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are gearing up for another attack on the public schools, but this time mainstream Baptists are fighting back. A Nashville-based group, the Baptist Center for Ethics,...

Correction.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2006... On page 3 of the May issue of Church & State, we mispelled the web address of Clergy for Fairness. It should be: www.Faithforfairness.org or www.Clergyforfairness.org

Missouri school board battles over Christmas.(Francis Howell School District )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Responding to public pressure, a Missouri school board has voted to change the name of its December holiday vacation. In May, the Francis Howell School District voted 4-3 to change its "Winter Break" to "Christmas Break." Kim Hutton, a...

Government worker can't proselytize, court rules.(Daniel Berry )
June 1, 2006... A federal appeals court has sided with California county officials who barred an employee from proselytizing on the job. On May 1, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Berry v. Dept. of Social Services, that officials of the...

Ohio prison chaplain loses gay choir leader fight.(Chaplain William Akridge)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A federal appeals court has supported Ohio correctional officials' reprimand of a prison chaplain who barred a gay inmate from leading the choir. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Chaplain William Akridge's lawsuit that...

Russian military considers Orthodox chaplains.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Russian lawmakers are considering a bill that would reinstate Russian Orthodox chaplains in the military. Radio Free Europe reported that President Vladimir Putin supports the measure because he believes that the chaplains would increase...

Of Piety & Politics: throwing the book at Robertson & Co.(Pat Robertson, Piety and Politics: The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom)
June 1, 2006... TV preacher Pat Robertson is after me again. His most recent assault, which aired on his Christian Broadcasting Network May 11, relied on all kinds of old misinformation. I really wish he would make up new misinformation. Robertson cut...