“Our nation’s laws should never be based solely on private religious beliefs. All religious bodies have a right to speak out on public issues, but elected officials must uphold the principles of the Constitution, not religious doctrine. Legislators represent people of many different faiths (and some who follow no spiritual path at all). Decisions about legislation should reflect the public interest, not personal beliefs about religion.”
~ Sandhya Bathija Feb 25, 2011
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Alleged ‘biblical chastisement’ trial delayed again Feb 19, 2011 “The Schatz’ are accused of causing the death of a 7-year-old adopted girl and serious injuries to her 11-year-old sister during separate “biblical chastisements” with a whip-like instrument in February 2010 at their family home.” http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25736/alleged-chastisement-trial-delayed
Why unions are worth fighting for Feb 27, 2011″The unions’ fight with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker over collective bargaining may not end their slide into irrelevance, but it has shown their necessity as workers’ advocate and much-needed balance to the political system.” http://news.yahoo.com/s/dailybeast/12650_wisconsinprotestswhyunionsareworthfightingfor
US citizen recalls ‘humiliating’ post-9/11 arrest Feb 28, 2011 “Over the next 16 days he would be strip-searched repeatedly, left naked in a jail cell and shower for more than 90 minutes in view of other men and women, routinely transported in handcuffs and leg irons, and kept with people who had been convicted of violent crimes. On a long trip between jails, a federal marshal refused to unlock al-Kidd’s chains so he could use the bathroom. Eight years later, the Supreme Court is weighing whether al-Kidd’s arrest and detention violated the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures.” http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_us/us_supreme_court_ashcroft_lawsuit
Pipers unite against white supremacists Feb 27, 2011 “Pipe players of Brittany on Sunday united against a group of US based white supremacists who are campaigning to discredit the French region’s top piper, who happens to be a black man.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8350550/Pipers-unite-against-white-supremacists.html
Scientologist Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology Feb 14, 2011 “On August 19, 2009, Tommy Davis, the chief spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International, received a letter from the film director and screenwriter Paul Haggis. “For ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego,” Haggis wrote. Before the 2008 elections, a staff member at Scientology’s San Diego church had signed its name to an online petition supporting Proposition 8, which asserted that the State of California should sanction marriage only “between a man and a woman.” The proposition passed. As Haggis saw it, the San Diego church’s “public sponsorship of Proposition 8, which succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and lesbian citizens of California—rights that were granted them by the Supreme Court of our state—is a stain on the integrity of our organization and a stain on us personally. Our public association with that hate-filled legislation shames us.” Haggis wrote, “Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent.” He concluded, “I hereby resign my membership in the Church of Scientology.” http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright
As long ago as 1996, U.S. officials noted that such unrestrained behavior could fuel a backlash against the Saudi elite. Feb 28, 2011 …..But the US kept and keeps giving them billions of dollars Americans could use. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110228/wl_nm/us_wiki_saudi_money
Polling Evangelicals: Cut Aid to World’s Poor, Unemployed Feb 19, 2011 “The House of Representatives is working day and night in its effort to cut more than $60 billion from the federal budget. The House is considering a continuing resolution, a bill used to fund the federal government for the remainder of the year. The bill includes deep cuts for environmental agencies, education, and foreign aid (except those related to security). It makes modest reductions for defense, homeland security, and police.” http://www.religionnewsblog.com/25733/polling-evangelicals-cut-aid-to-worlds-poor-unemployed
Christian medical plans get pass from health law Feb 26, 2011 “Christians are exempt from insurance mandates,” ,.., “the only organized health care concept to receive a special exemption from the taxes, penalties and regulations that the law imposes on insurers,” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022601295.html
Ugly history of human medical testing Feb 27, 2011 “Shocking as it may seem, U.S. government doctors once thought it was fine to experiment on disabled people and prison inmates. Such experiments included giving hepatitis to mental patients in Connecticut, squirting a pandemic flu virus up the noses of prisoners in Maryland, and injecting cancer cells into chronically ill people at a New York hospital.” http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110227/ap_on_he_me/us_med_experiments_on_humans
Planned Parenthood and the Rape of American Women Feb 28, 2011 “Too spineless to criminalize women who seek abortions outright, Religious Right politicians instead choose to pillage health care provisions that keep women from falling deeper into poverty, illness, and economic dependence.” http://www.intersectionssouthla.org/index.php/story/opinion_planned_parenthood_and_the_rape_of_american_women/
The Essay: Ten Commandments – Secularism is essential Feb 26, 2011 “Its establishment clause reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Under this law every religion can flourish without fear or favour or interference from the Government.” http://www.varsity.co.uk/opinion/3355
Reasons to Not Be Mormon Feb 27, 2011 “Laci Green listing off a number of reasons she’s no longer a Mormon.“ http://friendlyatheist.com/2011/02/27/reasons-to-not-be-mormon/
