Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America; a 400 page report from Liberty Institute: It’s author is next on FOT

The Liberty Institute, one of America’s leading defenders of religious rights has just published its 2014 edition of Undeniable: The Survey of Hostility to Religion in America. The nearly 400 page report catalogs a 133% increase in attacks on religious freedom in our nation since the Institute’s first survey three years ago.

Justin Butterfield  

Editor-in-chief of the report, Justin Butterfield, senior counsel and Director of Research and Education for Liberty Institute, will be our guest on Faith On Trial Tuesday.  

Justin graduated from Harvard Law School where he served as the student coordinator for the Veritas Forum, was a member of the Federalist Society, and was heavily involved with the Harvard Law School Christian Fellowship. He is also a Blackstone Fellow. A native Texan, Mr. Butterfield completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at El Paso where he graduated summa cum laude, with honors, and University Banner Bearer with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. 

In addition to his practice in the area of religious liberty, Mr. Butterfield co-authored two scholarly articles: “The Light of Accountability: Why Partisan Elections Are the Best Method of Judicial Selection,” published in The Advocate, and “The Parsonage Exemption Deserves Broad Protection,” published in the Texas Review of Law & Politics. 

In addition to his practice in the area of religious liberty, Mr. Butterfield co-authored two scholarly articles: “The Light of Accountability: Why Partisan Elections Are the Best Method of Judicial Selection,” published in The Advocate, and “The Parsonage Exemption Deserves Broad Protection,” published in the Texas Review of Law & Politics. 

Undeniable is a free download and may be found here.  

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday at 9 a.m. and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. (when not pre-empted by Dowling Catholic Basketball) on Iowa Catholic Radio, KWKY 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. 

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC, 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, just off the bike trail south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines. 

Join Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll this week for what should be a lively discussion of hostility to religion and people of faith.

Can judges be forced to perform gay marriages? Can they be jailed if they refuse? Next FOT

Harry Mihet

Cases from Alabama and North Carolina raise the question as to how far a federal court can go in ordering state judges to perform so-called same sex marriage.  In at least one state some magistrates are being threatened with jail if they refuse.

Discussing these matters with Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll on Tuesday will be senior litigation counsel for Liberty Counsel Harry Mihet. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. The purpose of this ministry is to preserve religious liberty and help create and maintain a society in which everyone will have the opportunity to discover the truth that will give true freedom.

Faith On Trial is broadcast every Tuesday morning at 9 (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming live on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The probram is re-broadcast at 9 p.m. when not pre-empted by Dowling Catholic basketball.

Faith On Trial is underwritten by Attorney Rick McConville of Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company just off the Bike Trail south of Grey’s Lake at 1235 Thomas Beck Road, Des Moines, where there is live music in the taproom every Thursday.

Why was teacher awarded $2 million against the Church for “hurt feelings”?

Pat Smith

Last year a federal district court jury awarded a former Catholic school teacher nearly $2 million over “hurt feelings.” Apparently, her feelings were hurt when her contract was not renewed due to her violation of Church teaching.  She engaged in vitro fertilization after being warned that it was against Church teaching and violated her contract. When she continued with the IVF treatment, despite the warnings, she was allowed to work out her contract, but the contract was not renewed.

The teacher sued and the jury awarded her nearly $2 million.  Tuesday we will dissect the case with a local labor lawyer, Pat Smith, a parishioner at St. Augustin Parish in Des Moines.  

After that discussion we’ll make our monthly visit with our media critic, Todd Erzen, about how the mainstream media is covering the major religious issues of the day.

Todd Erzen

Join Deacon Mike Manno and co-host Gina Noll for a lively discussion of our religious freedoms every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CST) on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program is re-broadcast at 9 p.m. except when pre-empted by Dowling Catholic basketball.

Faith On Trial is sponsored by Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 453-1055 and Confluence Brewing Company, off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live music in the taproom every Thursday evening.