Church & State back issues from January 2008:
Head start bill passed without 'faith-based' bias.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 the Head Start reauthorization 95-0, ...
Americans reject pulpit politicking, new poll shows.(IN THE CAPITAL)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 that only a small percentage find ...
Illinois moment-of-silence law blocked by court.(AROUND THE STATES)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 Student Prayer Act, is vague and raises ...
Florida holiday display altered after AU protests.(AROUND THE STATES)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 Katskee informed the Walton County Board of ...
Iowa senator's inquiry into mega-church millions sparks church-state showdown.(Prophets, Profits And Federal Tax Law)(Sen. Charles E. Grassley)
Jan 01, 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 temple and tossed out the money changers. ...
'Faith-based' bias banned: state can't fund fundamentalist indoctrination at Iowa prison, appeals court rules.(InnerChange Freedom Initiative)(Cover story)
Jan 01, 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 and supported by the state of Iowa; it ...
Faulting Falwell: Americans united seeks IRS investigation of Liberty University for electioneering.
Jan 01, 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 support of evangelical Christians to ...
The InnerChange ruling: an anniversary gift for AU and freedom.(EDITORIAL)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
Jan 01, 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 Sandra Day O'Connor sitting by special ...
Texas Education official forced out in flap over 'intelligent design'.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Christine Castillo Comer)
Jan 01, 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 down after she forwarded an e-mail to ...
Oral Roberts University president sought advice on political activity.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Richard Roberts)
Jan 01, 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 and state elections. ORU has been ...
Extremist 'Watchmen' seek to make inroads with U.S. Religious Right.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
Jan 01, 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 about the spread of the "Watchmen on the ...
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)
Jan 01, 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 Harris County Courthouse. Erected in ...
Alabama Board approves 'Bible literacy' text without knowing it.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(The Bible and Its Influence )
Jan 01, 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 The Bible and Its Influence on Oct. 11 ....
Americans United chides Georgia governor for leading rain prayers.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Sonny Perdue)
Jan 01, 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, Perdue presided over a gathering of three ...
Regent U. student sues Pat Robertson over joke photo penalty.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
Jan 01, 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 Robertson appearing to make an obscene gesture ....
Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 appear on the "700 Club" and will ...
Church-state separation has been taken too far, says Romney in speech.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Republican candidate Mitt Romney)
Jan 01, 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 said he supports religious liberty but ...
Rare religious liberty document goes on display in New York.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)
Jan 01, 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 document is a heart-felt plea for religious ...
Americans United marks 60th anniversary with festive D.C. gala.(PEOPLE & EVENTS)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 gathered at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol ...
N.C. patrol car's Jesus message sparks controversy.(AROUND THE STATES)(North Carolina )(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 sobriety checkpoint and asked to wait in the ...
Pa. Senate prayers are too sectarian, says AU.(AROUND THE STATES)(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 officials, Americans United charged that ...
Sunday-closing laws under fire in states.(AROUND THE STATES)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 movement in the 19th and 20th ...
Teddy bear's name sends teacher to Sudan jail.(AROUND THE WORLD)(Gillian Gibbons)(Brief article)
Jan 01, 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 school in the nation's capital, Khartoum, to ...
Teacher for a day: my church-state class inspired discussion.(PERSPECTIVE)
Jan 01, 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 over in 50 minutes," I said. "The bad ...