|
To the ACRU, religious freedom
is an essential freedom. The Framers thought that too, so it is
in the First Amendment. Most Americans were adherents to various
religions when the Constitution was written. That remains true today.
The Amendment, however, refers to "freedom OF religion"
not "freedom FROM religion." For decades, the ALCU has
used litigation to distort the history of America, twisting the
Constitution into an enemy of all religions rather than a protector
of all, to the discrimination of none. Correcting that error is
a significant goal of ACRU.
Rederford
& Christy v. Hicks
This case presents increasingly
urgent questions of law regarding the free speech rights of politically
disfavored local minorities. The facts of this case reveal discriminatory
prejudice against Christian employees by the City of Oakland reflected
in viewpoint discrimination regarding their freedom of speech.
[ Cover
Page | Application
| Amicus
Argument ]
Benitez
v. North Coast
On March 29, 2007, ACRU filed
a brief in the California Supreme Court on behalf of the defendant,
North Coast Womens' Care Medical Group. This case tests the Freedom
of Religion Clause of the California Constitution on the issue
of whether a physician has a constitutional right to refuse on
religious grounds to perform a medical procedure for a patient
because of the patient's sexual orientation. The trial court found
in favor of the plaintiff but the decision was overturned by the
Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District. [ Cover
Page | Application
| Amicus
Argument ]
9/26/07: New
Jersey Says Methodists Can't Be Methodists
EXCERPT: "The Ocean Grove Camp Ground was created
and developed by the Methodist Church in the 19th century. At
all times it has been owned and operated by the Methodists. For
more than a century the Methodists have invited citizens of New
Jersey, regardless of their religious beliefs, to share in the
use of the property. Many people have asked for, and been granted,
permission to conduct marriages on the property. However, it is
the stated policy of the Methodist Church not to conduct same-sex
ceremonies on its property..."
7/16 – Mosque
& State are Fine – Just Shut Down the Church & State,
by John Armor
EXCERPT: "Investors Business Daily ran an editorial
entitled, "Jihad in Schools," on July 9. It describes
a program in a San Diego public school for setting aside 15 minutes
a day for Somali Muslim students to pray at Carver Elementary
School..."
7/9/07: Lesbians
Want Methodists to Allow Ceremony, by John Armor
EXCERPT: "Two lesbians have brought a complaint
against a park, owned and operated by the Methodist Church, for
refusing them the "right" to have their civil ceremony
(wedding?) in a pavilion there. The response of the Church is
that it doesn't..."
7/9/07: CC
Supreme Court to Hear Contentious Gay Rights Case, by Mike McKee
for Law.com
EXCERPT: "A war of the amici is under way as
the California Supreme Court readies itself for what could become
one of its most controversial cases in years... The case involves
two San Diego-area doctors who, based on their Christian beliefs,
refused to provide artificial insemination to a lesbian in their
care. They claimed they weren't averse to treating gays, but rather
had religious objections toward helping impregnate an unmarried
woman..."
7/6/07: Religious
Rights of Students Affirmed in NJ & TX, from Citizenlink.com
EXCERPT: "A New Jersey school's decision to
allow Christian students to enjoy the same free speech rights
as other students could be the beginning of a nationwide trend
to protect students' rights. Northern Highlands Regional High
School had blocked a Christian club from participating in the
Day of Truth, a day for Christian students to express their views
on homosexuality, but backed down after being contacted by the
Alliance Defense Fund (ADF)..."
5/15/07: The
ACLU Takes on James Madison and the Founders on School Prayer,
by Eric F. Langborgh
EXERPT: "When James Madison penned the Bill
of Rights in 1789, surely the idea of blocking local school children
in Monroe, LA in 2007 from solemnizing their graduation ceremony
with prayer was his intent, right? After all, he objected to official..."
5/3/07: CCD:
"Right To Refuse"
EXERPT: "The California Catholic Daily features
an article discussing the effort of the American Civil Rights
Union and others to protect a private doctor's right to refuse
to administer medical procedures that violates her religious convictions..."
4/30/07: Another
Type of Conscientious Objector
EXERPT: "The following op-ed from the ACRU's
Director of Legal Affiars, Bill Otis, appeared in this morning's
issue of the Orange County (CA) Register: California Focus: Another
Type of Conscientious Objector Doctor is sued for declining to
create an out-of-wedlock pregnancy..."
4/20/07: ACLU
Declares Churches Free Speech Zones (Restrictions Apply Elsewhere),
by Eric F. Langborgh
EXERPT: "The following quote by ACLU attorney
Yale Freeman is astounding: "There is a time to speak you
[sic] religious beliefs and that is in your church." Mr.
Freeman said this in defense of the ACLU's objection to a private
citizen..."
4/12/07: Government
Sponsorship of Religious Rituals Found To Be OK -- If You've Got
the Right Religion, Anyway
EXERPT: "Whether a public college is impermissilbly
entangled with religion would appear to depend on the college
-- and even more on the religion. In her column today in the Minneapolis
Star-Tribune, Katherine Kersten discusses what gives every appearance
of being..."
Coming Soon!
|
