STANFORD, Conn. — A retired United Methodist minister and former Yale Divinity School Dean is set to face a church trial in March for officiating his son’s same-sex “wedding” in 2012. Thomas Ogletree, 80, will stand trial on March 12 at First United Methodist Church of Stanford following complaints filed by fellow clergy who accuse […]
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has struck down North Carolina’s ultrasound law as unconstitutional and potentially harmful to pregnant women. U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagle issued her opinion on Friday, asserting that the regulation was “an impermissible attempt to compel [abortion] providers to deliver the state’s message in favor of […]
RICHMOND, Va. — A Senate committee in Virginia has narrowly approved a bill that seeks to protect the religious rights of students in public schools. Senator Bill Carrico (R-Grayson County) recently introduced SB 236 as part of his longtime fight for faith in the public arena. The legislation, passed 7-6 by the state Education and […]
AUGUSTA, Maine — A senator in Maine has introduced a religious freedom bill that seeks to protect the people from unlawful government actions. Senator David Burns (R-Whiting) unveiled the legislation, LD 1428, on Thursday before the Maine House Judiciary Committee. More than 100 supporters gathered outside the state house to rally for the bill, and […]
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — A nationally-recognized atheist activist group is demanding that officials with a Florida city remove a 40-year-old Bible from city hall chambers. The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) recently sent a letter to officials in Pinellas Park, Florida on behalf of local businessman Randy Heine, who states that the Bible […]
OAKTON, Va. — A group of three Muslim homeschooled middle school students from Virginia are petitioning the White House for recognition of Islamic holidays in public schools nationwide. According to The Muslim Link, Sumayyah McTaggart of Great Falls, Iman Hazer of Dunn-Loring and Fatimah Dandashi of Falls Church created the petition for a civics class […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court largely appeared skeptical on Wednesday of a Massachusetts law that prohibits pro-life sidewalk counselors from coming within 35 feet of the entrance or driveway of an abortion facility. The nine justices of the nation’s highest court heard oral argument over the issue yesterday, listening to both sides as they presented […]
OKLAHOMA CITY– A federal judge appointed by then-President Bill Clinton has struck down Oklahoma’s same-sex ‘marriage’ ban as unconstitutional. U. S. District Judge Terence Kern issued the ruling on Tuesday, but placed a stay on its enforcement pending appeal. “The Court holds that Oklahoma’s constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violates the Equal Protection […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A state judge in New Mexico has ruled that mentally-competent terminally ill patients have a constitutional right to obtain lethal drugs to end their life. Second Judicial District Judge Nan Nash issued the ruling on Monday in a decision that some believe may open the doors to full-fledged physician-assisted suicide in the […]
SEARCY, Ark. — An Arkansas police chief is defying atheist demands to remove a cross from the lawn of the police department. Searcy Police Chief Jeremy Clark told reporters this week that the cross was planted in the ground before he took office a year ago, and that he has no intentions of removing it. […]