Christian Rights Headlines 10/1/08

Hickory, NC officials agree to respect constitutional right to share faith

Police had arrested two Christians for expressing their faith at public festival

HICKORY, N.C. — Two Christians arrested for expressing their faith in public have been assured by town officials that their constitutional right to religious free speech will be respected in the future.  After criminal trespassing charges against Matthew and Jesse Boyd were dropped, they asked Alliance Defense Fund attorneys to represent them with the hope that their rights and those of other Christians will be respected in the future. “Christians shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Legal Counsel Tim Chandler.  “It was unconstitutional to charge these men with a crime simply because they chose to share their faith peacefully in public.  But now the city of Hickory should be commended for responding so well to respect the First Amendment rights of its citizens.” On June 27, 2008, the Boyds and two friends attended the Hickory Alive Festival, a local event in the downtown plaza that was open to the public.  Although the four acted peacefully while distributing literature and sharing their faith, festival organizers claimed that such activities were not permitted during the event.  The Boyds were eventually arrested and charged with trespassing. After being contacted by the Boyds, ADF attorneys sent a letter to Hickory officials asking for assurance that the religious free speech rights of all Christians would be protected in the future.  Since the incident occurred, Hickory officials agreed to protect those rights, and also held an in-service training session for local police officers on relevant constitutional rights to prevent any further problems. 

ADF sues Yuba Community College after student arrest threatened for sharing the Gospel 

 SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom filed a lawsuit Monday against Yuba Community College District officials after they threatened a student with arrest and expulsion for sharing a Christian message along a Yuba College walkway.  District policies limit student free speech activities to two hours per week and require students to obtain permission two weeks in advance. “Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Heather Gebelin Hacker.  “Students do not need a permit to exercise their First Amendment rights on campus.  When a student can be threatened with a citation and expulsion while peacefully sharing a Christian message, American colleges can no longer be considered a marketplace of ideas.”On Feb. 27, Yuba College student Ryan Dozier arrived on campus to attend class and briefly share a Christian message to fellow students, engaging them through tracts, a sign, and conversation.  Dozier was approached by a campus police officer, who told him he needed a permit for such activity and that he would be arrested and face expulsion if he continued.  The college allows “free speech” only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., with permission required two weeks in advance. Less than three weeks later, Dozier received a certified letter from the college accusing him of assembling without a permit and violating school policy.  The letter informed Dozier that his activity was the subject of a district police department crime report and that further violation of the directive and Student Code of Conduct would incur further discipline, including expulsion from college. “A student peacefully exercising his First Amendment right to speak on campus is committing no crime,” Hacker explained.  “Yuba College is the one running afoul of the law by unlawfully censoring Christian student speech on campus.” 

Mont. former same-sex partner gets parental rights

The AP reports:  ”A judge ruled in favor of a woman who sought parental rights to a boy and girl adopted by her former same-sex partner, a decision described as a first for Montana.” 

Suit filed over “forced prayer” in the military

PR-USA.net carries this press release from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation: “A nonreligious Kansas soldier today sued his boss, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, after being forced to attend mandatory military events where fundamentalist Christian prayers violated his constitutional rights . . . ”The purpose of the lawsuit is to make it clear to the Pentagon that “Jesus’ will” is not an acceptable American military policy,” said Weinstein. 

New York’s 15-Foot No Speech Abortion Bubble Zone Bill Denounced as “Unconstitutional”

LifeSiteNews.com reports:  The Speaker of the New York City Council announced last week a bill that would remove legal protections for those engaged in peaceful protests outside New York abortion facilities. Speaker Christine Quinn, head of the New York City Council told gathered news media that the timing of the Clinic Access Bill, to coincide with the start of the pro-life 40 Days for Life campaign, was “very much on target.” 

“The National Security Agency courts openly gay employees”

Advocate.com reports (dated October 21, 2008 by Neal Broverman): McNaught earns a living lecturing to companies on how to foster safe environments for LGBT employees . . . Before the lecture, McNaught had lunch with Inglis, who made it clear the agency welcomes gay civilian employees — but they must be out . . . “After a three-hour presentation,” McNaught says, “I got a standing ovation.” 

Protesters target Orlando Magic owner for supporting marriage amendment

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Professional sports and political street theater intersected Sunday as opponents of a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution vented their wrath on Magic owner Rich DeVos on the day season-ticket holders were selecting their seats. The protesters were calling attention to DeVos’ contribution of $100,000 to Florida4Marriage, a group that supports Amendment 2, which would add the existing ban on gay marriage to the state constitution. Opponents say the measure could also deny domestic-partnership benefits for unmarried couples — gay and straight. 

Levi Jeans Funds Push for Homosexual “Marriage” in California

LifeSiteNews.com reports: “Levi Strauss & Co. is joining with Google, Pacific Gas & Electric and Hollywood activists Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg in the effort to push homosexual ‘marriage’ in California.” 

Iran Women Say No to Polygamy

AlterNet carries this report: “The Iranian ‘Family Protection Bill,’ which is anything but protective of families, has brought together one of the largest coalitions to oppose a bill since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  If passed, the bill would have made it easier for men to have multiple wives.” 

Russia Sees 64 Percent of Its Pregnancies End in Abortion, Causing Infertility Issues

LifeNews.com reports: “Russia has long been a world leader in terms of the percentage of pregnancies that end in abortion and experts say those figures are still high. They say the abortion epidemic is leading to a problem of hundreds of thousands of women suffering from infertility.” 

Canadian Prime Minister Harper: Not Now, Not Ever Will Conservative Government Protect Unborn Children

LifeSiteNews.com reports: “In his strongest statements in support of unlimited abortion on demand in Canada, Prime Minister Harper today told reporters that his government would not only not open the abortion issue itself, but would prevent anyone else from raising it. “ 

X Factor fills vacuum left by God in schools, says head Polly Curtis, education editor

The Guardian, Tuesday

State schools are increasingly "embarrassed" to talk about God, leaving a moral vacuum which has been filled by celebrity culture and the X Factor, a leading independent school head said yesterday. Tim Hastie-Smith, chairman of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC) which represents 250 private schools, said: "The retreat of God from education has left a moral and spiritual vacuum and the breakdown of any shared value system. In our schools we have the freedom, if we choose, to fight that malaise. Not by retreating from society but engaging with the big questions in a mature and reasoned way, offering possible answers and challenges rather than the passing fads of an X-Factor culture."