Faith on Trial is where we examine the influence of law and society on people of faith. Here we will look at those cases and events that impinge on the rights of people to fully practice their faith. Faith on Trial is heard every Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 9 p.m. on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network and anytime on our podcast at : https://iowacatholicradio.com/faith-on-trial/.
Today, the United States Supreme
Court struck down a Texas law that requires abortion
clinic facilities to meet the same standards as other surgical centers. The Thomas More Society filed an amicus brief in the case (see it here), which stated the law is constitutional.
Thomas More Society attorney Jocelyn
Floyd, a former FOT guest, issued this statement in response to the 5-3 ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v.
Hellerstedt:
“The Supreme Court today overturned
a Texas law protecting women’s health because it viewed the law as
‘unnecessary.’ Texas enacted common-sense provisions to protect women at
abortion facilities from substandard care, requiring abortion providers to meet
the same standards as other similar medical clinics. Here in Illinois, we’ve seen all too well what disastrous
consequences come from holding abortion providers to lower standards than other
medical providers—contamination, dirty facilities, patient injury, and even
death. We’re disappointed that the Supreme Court views vital protection
against these consequences as ‘unnecessary’.”
And Eric Scheidler, Executive
Director of the Pro-Life Action League, issued this statement:
“It is shameful to see a majority of
the Supreme Court sacrificing public health and safety to prop up the abortion
industry in Texas. If this case were about anything other than abortion, this
law would have been upheld. Indeed, it would never have been challenged. Only
the abortion industry balks at adhering to the same standards considered routine
by legitimate health care providers.
“How many Kermit Gosnells will it
take for public officials to uphold common sense health and safety standards
for the abortion industry? In the wake of this irresponsible ruling in Whole
Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, pro-life activists will be redoubling our
efforts to highlight the dangerous conditions at America’s abortion clinics --
like the ambulances we see turning up regularly at abortion clinics around the
country -- in hopes that one day the abortion industry will be held accountable
for endangering public health.”
While the Supreme Court is preventing the closing of
abortion clinics in Texas (read), the California Department of Managed Health
Care is trying to force churches (yes, churches) and other religious entities
to pay for elective abortions (see story).
Casey Mattox
Leading the fight against the state’s efforts is the
Alliance Defending Freedom and on Tuesday we’ll have ADF’s Casey Mattox to
discuss this issue. Casey serves as senior counsel with ADF and his litigation
efforts focus on sanctity of human life issues, including waste, fraud, and
abuse of taxpayer dollars by the abortion industry. Prior to serving with ADF, he
litigated for the Christian Legal Society Center for Law & Religious
Freedom, as well as the Rutherford Institute, and clerked for Justice Champ
Lyons of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Commenting on this issue, Casey said: “The Obama
Administration is once again making a mockery of the law, and this time in the
most unimaginable way. Churches should never be forced to cover elective
abortion in their insurance plans, and for ten years the Weldon Amendment has
protected the right to have plans that do not include coverage for
abortion-on-demand. But the state of California has ordered every insurer, even
those insuring churches, to cover elective abortions in blatant violation of
the law.
“The Obama Administration’s refusal to enforce this law
continues its pattern of enforcing laws it wants to enforce, refusing to
enforce others, and inventing new interpretations of others out of whole cloth.
We will continue to defend churches from this clear violation of the First
Amendment and federal law and call on Congress to hold the Department of Health
and Human Services accountable,” he added.
In addition to Casey, we’ll also be joined by Greg Baker
of the Family Leader to discuss its upcoming Fifth Annual Family Leadership
Summit Saturday July 9 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center,
featuring speakers including Evangelist Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham
Lotz.
Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll and Casey as they
discuss these and other issues of interest to people of faith at 9 a.m. on Iowa
Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on
IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will re-air at 9 p.m. and pod casts of our
previous programs may be found here.
Faith
On Trial is supported by our loyal underwriters and sponsors: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC
2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company
– off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where
there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog,Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW
corner of 128th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.
This week we’re doing something a little different, we’re
hosting a religious broadcaster, Mark Anthony from the syndicated “The Patriot and The Preacher” radio program he hosts with Ben Kinchlow.
The program attempts to reignite the vision of a
nation based on traditional spiritual and political values. In it “We believe
the average voter is not only disenchanted, but feels powerless to effect true
change in our country. Political radio pundits bombard us daily with the
problems we face and provide ‘solutions’ that are unrealistic and divisive in
nature while religious radio pundits are mocked and essentially marginalized.”
Mark’s program was developed to call our nation back to
its spiritual and political foundations, using Biblical truth and the wisdom of
our founding fathers, this show seeks to make our nation great, once again.
Mark, a history buff, has been involved in politics for
over 15 years as both a volunteer and paid staff for many campaigns and
organizations, raising money and creating events for fundraising and messaging
purposes. He has also been the campaign manager for two congressional
campaigns.
After Mark we will have our monthly visit from Stephanie
Crowley with a review of the movie “Me Before You.”
Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for another interesting
program Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM
and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com (where pod casts of previous programs
can be found). The program will re-air at 9 p.m.
Faith
On Trial is brought to you by our sponsors Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola,
McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway,
West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail
just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment
in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog,Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW
corner of 128th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.
Thomas More Society wins dismissal in defense of journalist
HOUSTON – June 14 – Misdemeanor criminal charges against
undercover journalist David Daleiden have been dismissed by a Harris County,
Texas, court this week. The charges for “unlawfully, intentionally and
knowingly offer[ing] to buy human organs, namely, fetal tissue, for valuable
consideration,” were brought against Daleiden in response to his investigation
exposing Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the sale and trafficking of the
body parts of aborted children. Felony charges related to the use of fake
identifications in connection with entering the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
facility in Houston, Texas, are pending before a different branch of the Harris
County courts. The Thomas More Society is defending Daleiden in multiple court
cases, including the Texas criminal charges, along with numerous lawsuits by
the abortion industry.
“The Harris County prosecutors were
in such a rush to criminalize David Daleiden that they did not properly obtain
grand jury approval of each of the elements of the charged misdemeanor,” said
Peter Breen, Thomas More Society Special Counsel. “All charges against Daleiden
and his investigators should be dismissed, based on the evidence that Harris
County District Attorney’s prosecutors colluded with Planned Parenthood to
secure these indictments. Planned Parenthood’s illegitimate aim is clear: it
hopes to turn attention away from the abortion industry’s baby parts
trafficking, by instead attacking the man who exposed its illegal practices.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office should reject that aim and
prosecute Planned Parenthood, not David Daleiden and his investigators.”
The Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm dedicated
to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty.
Headquartered in Chicago, the Thomas More Society fosters support for these
causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial
courts all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. For more information,
visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
During the past few weeks there has been a lot of discussion
about the “rights” of transgendered persons to use the restroom of their
choice, the edict from the Obama Administration that would require schools to
ignore biological differences between the sexes in making roommate assignments
and sports teams’ rosters, and the “rights” of privacy of other students. There
has been a lot of criticism, both legal and political; but this week we’re
going to take a different tact. We’re going to discuss this matter with a
licensed mental health counselor.
Randy Kiel, M. A.
Randy Kiel, M.A, is the founder of Kardia Counseling. He is a licensed mental health counselor with a private
practice of psychotherapy and counseling in central Iowa. With more than
twenty years of clinical experience, Randy has spent over 40,000 hours
sitting with people to learn how to care for them and their needs.
Tuesday Randy will join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll
to discuss this issue and the concept of gender dysphoria, or “gender identity
disorder,” the mismatch between body and internal sense of gender.
So join Deacon Mike and Gina Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa
Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on
IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m. and the podcasts
of previous programs can be found on the station’s Faith On Trial page.
Faith On Trial is
brought to you by our loyal sponsors: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola,
McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway,
West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail
just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment
in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog,Wealth
Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128th
Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.
What is this year’s election all about and what does it
mean for people of faith? What is our responsibility as citizens, Christians,
and voters? We’ll take up these questions this Tuesday with Joshua Mercer,
political director and co-founder of CatholicVote.org. He previously served as
Washington Correspondent for the National Catholic Register and Chairman for
Students for Life of America. He joined us earlier profiles of the presidential
candidates and a discussion of their stands on religious issues before the Iowa
Caucuses.
The Donald, Hillary, Bernie … we’ll discuss them all and
consider what this election may mean for religious freedom in the United States
for the next four years.
In addition we’ll have our monthly visit by our media
critic, Todd Erzen.
So join us Tuesday morning at 9 (central) on Iowa
Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM
and streaming on
IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will be re-broadcast at 9 p.m. and don’t
forget that you can listen to any program you may have missed by following the
links on the Faith On Trial page on the station’s web site.
Faith
On Trial is on the air courtesy of our loyal sponsors and underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg &
Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas
Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and
Rob denHartog,Wealth
Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128th
Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –
A bill that has passed both houses of the Illinois Legislature and that will
likely be sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner for his signature would violate federal law
and therefore place federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursements, in
jeopardy, according to a letterAlliance Defending Freedom sent to Rauner on Friday on behalf of numerous pro-life
physicians, pregnancy care centers, and pregnancy care center network
organizations. ADF warned
legislators about the problems with the bill last year.
The bill, SB 1564, forces medical facilities and physicians who conscientiously
object to involvement in abortions to adopt policies that provide women who ask
for abortions with a list of providers “they reasonably believe may offer”
them. Two federal laws, known as the Coats-Snowe amendment and the Hyde-Weldon
amendment, together prohibit states that receive federal funding from forcing
pro-life physicians and entities to refer women for abortion or to make
arrangements for their referral. Illinois law also prohibits government from
placing burdens on religious conscience without a compelling interest for doing
so.
“No state can rob women of the right to choose a pro-life doctor by forcing
pro-life
Matt Bowman
physicians and entities to make or arrange abortion referrals. That’s
what federal law clearly states,” said ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman. “The
governor would be on firm legal ground to veto this bill because of its
collision with federal law and the U.S. Constitution—and because the courts
have invalidated similar measures in other states.”
“Alliance Defending Freedom has represented multiple pro-life pregnancy help
organizations in federal lawsuits in which we have obtained court orders
against laws that attempted to force the pregnancy centers to recite
government’s messages,” the ADF letter explains. “Several of the cases
specifically struck down the requirement that pregnancy centers tell women
certain things about abortion or birth control, or that they give the women
information about alternative service providers. See Centro Tepeyac v. Montgomery County….
Alliance Defending Freedom is ready and willing to represent Illinois pro-life
pregnancy centers if SB 1564 becomes law.”
The federal Coats-Snowe amendment declares that “any State or local government
that receives Federal financial assistance, may not subject any health care
entity to discrimination on the basis that” it (1) “refuses to…provide
referrals for…abortions,” or it (2) “refuses to make arrangements for any of
the activities specified in paragraph (1).”
In addition to protecting “entities,” the Coats-Snowe amendment protects
“individual physician[s].” The federal funding that violating the Coats-Snowe
amendment jeopardizes “includes” but is not limited to “governmental payments
provided as reimbursement for carrying out health-related activities.”
Separately, the federal Hyde-Weldon amendment prohibits states that receive
certain federal funding from requiring physicians or health care entities to
refer for abortions.
Alliance Defending
Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates
for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
The Thomas More Society out of Chicago is currently
involved in two matters of interest. In the first it is representing the
Pro-Life Action League in a dispute with the City of Chicago and the Illinois
Department of Public Health over emergency medical calls to area abortion
clinics. As we have reported in the past, there are numerous instances of women
being maimed and killed at these clinics. The issue here involves the release
of the emergency calls under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The city
has refused all requests and Thomas More is taking up the cause.
Tom Olp
In the second matter, the Kansas legislature has passed a
bill that outlaws dismemberment abortions. The Kansas ACLU has filed a lawsuit
challenging the constitutionality of that law and Thomas More, representing the
Family Research Council, has now filed briefs with the Kansas Supreme Court
supporting the law.
Discussing these matters will be Thomas More attorney Tom
Olp. Tom has been a guest on our program before and we expect a lively
conversation about these cases as well as a discussion of other cases that are
of interest to people of faith.
So join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll Tuesday at 9 a.m.
on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on
IowaCatholicRadio.com for an interesting discussion of these issues. The
program will be re-broadcast at 9 p.m. and all of our archived programs are now
available on the station’s web page; look under “programs” and click on “Faith
On Trial” to find the podcasts.
This
program is brought to you by our loyal sponsers: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola,
McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway,
West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail
just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment
in the tap room every Thursday, and Robd enHartog,Wealth Management Advisor
at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128th Street and Hickman
Rd, 515-210-4472.
Motions
Alleging Prosecutorial Misconduct and Collusion Prove True
Houston – The Thomas More Society announced today
that recent court filings in the Houston-area civil and criminal cases against undercover
journalist David Daleiden reveal that the Harris County District Attorney’s
office illegallyshared
evidence with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast attorney
Josh Schaffer admitted in a sworn declaration that the DA’s office shared
materials and information with Planned Parenthood, even after the Texas
Attorney General’s office had forbidden them from doing so. The declaration was
included as part of the DA office’s response to David Daleiden’s motion to
quash the indictment against him, alleging prosecutorial misconduct.
Under oath, Schaffer admitted that
he and Assistant District Attorney Sunni Mitchell attempted to do an end-run
around the Texas Attorney General’s directive to Mitchell to not share raw
video footage with Planned Parenthood: “I was told that the Attorney General’s
office agreed to give it to the Harris County District Attorney’s office on the
condition that they not give it to Planned Parenthood. Mitchell told me that
she would try to obtain the footage by other means.” In 2013, Mitchell was
responsible for a Grand Jury that refused to indict
Houston’s late-term abortionist Douglas Karpen. This was despite photographs
and eyewitness testimony that implicated Karpen in illegal late-term abortions
and homicide of born-alive infants, similar to Philadelphia’s notoriously
convicted Kermit Gosnell.
“The recent filings by the Harris
County District Attorney confirm that the DA shared confidential documents and
information with abortion provider Planned Parenthood, colluding with it in the
prosecution of David Daleiden,” said Daleiden’s attorney, Thomas More Society
Special Counsel Peter Breen. “These filings also include evidence that appears
to show that the DA’s office worked with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast to undermine
the Texas Attorney General’s independent investigation of that abortion
provider. The conduct of Harris County prosecutors in this case is outrageous
and illegal. We look forward to pressing our motion to quash this indictment in
court.”
The Thomas More Society is a
national not-for-profit law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for
life, family, and religious liberty. Headquartered in Chicago, the Thomas More
Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono
legal services from local trial courts all the way up to the United States
Supreme Court. For more information, visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
In a huge victory for free speech and unborn
babies, United States District Judge Nancy Torresen, yesterday, issued a
preliminary injunction barring the Maine Attorney General and City of Portland
police officers from enforcing the Noise Provision of the Maine Civil Rights
Act (“Act”). Under the Act, after being warned by a police officer, it is
illegal to make noise that can be heard inside an abortion clinic with the
intent to interfere with a medical procedure.
In a 35–page opinion and order, Judge
Torresen, an Obama appointee, held that the Noise Provision of the Act is
content-based because it restricts speech based on its purpose, and therefore,
is facially unconstitutional. Read Judge Torresen’s entire opinion here.
The Thomas More Law
Center (“TMLC”), a national, nonprofit public interest law firm
based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, filed a lawsuit in December 2015, on behalf of
Pastor Andrew March after a Portland police officer officially warned Pastor
March under the Act, and ordered him to quiet his pro-life speech on the public
sidewalk outside the Portland Planned Parenthood facility or face prosecution.
Despite this threat of prosecution, Pastor Andrew March courageously continued
to plead for the lives of the unborn at the doors of the Planned Parenthood
facility.
Kate Oliveri, the Thomas More Law Center Trial
Counsel handling the case, commented, “This is a victory regardless of whether
you acknowledge that unborn children posses lives worth defending. Free speech
rights are central to maintaining a free society and the court took a huge step
toward protecting those rights for all citizens of Maine.”
The Planned Parenthood facility, located on a
loud and busy thoroughfare in downtown Portland, has been the focus of pro-life
counselors and prayer groups for the last several years. However, in October
2015, the Maine Attorney General resurrected the 15-year-old Noise Provision of
the Act to sue Pastor Brian Ingalls in a state court for his opposition to
abortion on those sidewalks. This occurred only two weeks after the City of
Portland admitted that their a previous attempt to drown out free speech on the
public sidewalk—a 39 foot buffer zone—was unconstitutional. The state case
against Brian Ingalls is still pending. After the State sued Pastor
Ingalls, Pastor March stepped in and began his preaching to save the lives of
unborn babies.
Because a judge must determine that a
plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction has a likelihood of success on the
merits, by granting TMLC’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Judge Torresen
has indicated that Pastor March will ultimately prevail in his claim that the
Act is an unconstitutional suppression of free speech when the case goes to
summary judgment. In the mean time, the order assures that Pastor March and
other individuals can continue to preach pro-life messages and pray without
being silenced by the Noise Provision.
Judge Torresen focused on the “intent to
interfere with a medical procedure” portion of the statute. This portion
restricts speech based on the purpose for which the speech is made and differentiates
speech based on the message expressed. In order for a content-based restriction
on speech to be constitutional, it must be the least restrictive means of
furthering a compelling governmental interest. Judge Torresen concluded that
the State had other content-neutral means of keeping peace at abortion clinics.
Recent decisions by the Obama Administration
to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions and gender re-assignment
surgery will be our topic with guest Lisa Bourne of LifeSiteNews. Lisa has been
on the forefront of reporting on these events including her reporting last week
that on the same day President Obama was threatening the nation’s schools with
loss of federal funds if they do not open their restrooms and locker rooms to
children of both sexes, he also threatened to end federal funding for Catholic
hospitals that fail to perform abortions and “gender transition” services.
We will discuss these issues with Lisa and perhaps
speculate on how much more debased the Obama Administration can go. So join Deacon Mike and Stephanie Crowley, who
will be sitting in for the traveling Gina Noll, for a lively discussion of these
topics and others of interest to people of faith trying to navigate thought the
slug pit of rules and regulations that the anti-Catholic Obama Administration
is laying out.
We broadcast every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on Iowa
Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on
IowaCatholicRadio.com.
Faith
On Trial is supported by its loyal underwriters Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola,
McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway,
West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail
just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment
in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog,Wealth Management Advisor at
Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128th Street and Hickman Rd,
515-210-4472.
ADF files friend-of-the-court-brief asking for reversal of
panel’s 2-1 decision against student privacy
RICHMOND, Va. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed
a friend-of-the-court brief Wednesday with the full U.S. Court of Appeals for
the 4th Circuit on behalf of 50 concerned parents, students, grandparents, and
community members who support the Gloucester County School Board’s restroom
policy. That policy protects students’ privacy and safety by reserving
restrooms and locker rooms for members of the same biological sex, while
providing an alternative private facility for students uncomfortable using a
facility that corresponds with their sex.
A federal district court had ruled in favor of the school
district in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board, finding that its policy
“seeks to protect an interest in bodily privacy that the Fourth Circuit has
recognized as a constitutional right,” but a 4th Circuit panel nonetheless
rejected that ruling 2-1 in April. The ADF brief, which the Family Foundation
of Virginia also joined, asks the full 15-judge court to reverse that decision.
“Schools have a duty to protect the privacy and safety of
all students. That’s a principle that numerous other courts—including the 4th
Circuit itself—have previously upheld,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco.
“It’s common sense that boys shouldn’t be in girls’ locker rooms, but
furthermore, the school district’s policy is on solid legal ground because federal
law specifically authorizes schools to have single-sex restrooms and locker
rooms, as the judge who dissented from the panel’s decision rightly noted. We
have asked the full 4th Circuit to reverse the panel’s ruling, which is out of
step with the law and all previous federal court precedent.”
The ACLU of Virginia sued the school district over the
policy in June of last year and asserted that the school board violated Title
IX, a federal law, and the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause when the district
declined to allow a female student to use the boys’ restrooms. The U.S.
departments of Education and Justice have also furthered this erroneous
argument, and ADF recently filed lawsuits in North Carolina and Illinois
against DOE and DOJ over their misinterpretation of the law, their lack of
authority to change the law’s meaning, and the bullying tactics they are using
to enforce their political will.
“Title IX, the federal law that this lawsuit cites in its
attempt to overturn the school district’s policy, does just the opposite of
what the ACLU is arguing,” explained ADF Legal Counsel Matt Sharp. “Title IX
specifically authorizes schools to have separate restrooms and locker rooms for
boys and girls. The policy accommodates students who aren’t comfortable using
facilities designated for their biological sex without neglecting the
established right of children to bodily privacy and safety.”
“Both the plain language of Title IX and its legislative
history clearly indicate Congress’ intent to allow schools to maintain separate
restrooms and locker rooms for boys and girls based on biological sex…,” the
ADF brief states. “Nonetheless, DOE is holding ‘a gun to the head’ of
Gloucester and other school districts across the country by threatening to
revoke all of their federal education funding if the districts do not comply
with this new definition of ‘sex….’ Physiological differences require
distinctive and separate spaces, which is why the Title IX regulations
expressly allow schools to ‘provide separate toilet, locker room, and shower
facilities on the basis of sex….’ In situations where privacy or common sense
dictates that biological boys and girls should be separated, Title IX allows
schools to do just that. Numerous courts have recognized this fact.”
Largest veteran’s organization in America files brief asking for the dismissal of a lawsuit to remove “In God We Trust” from national currency
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, May 17, 2016 – Today,
in defense of the National Motto, First Liberty Institute filed a friend-of-the-court
brief on behalf of The American Legion with the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio in the case of New Doe Child #1 v. The
Congress of the United States. Read the brief
A group of atheists, humanists and others have filed a
lawsuit against the federal government demanding the removal of the National
Motto, “In God We Trust,” from U.S. currency. The Department of Justice filed a
motion to dismiss the lawsuit and, today, The American Legion, the largest
veterans organization in America with over 2 million members, filed a
friend-of-the-court brief in support of the motion, asking the court to dismiss
the lawsuit.
In the brief, First Liberty notes that federal courts at
every level have repeatedly upheld the National Motto as constitutional. They
explain that the phrase “In God We Trust” is deeply rooted in American history
and not only appears on U.S. currency, but is also displayed on prominent
government property.
Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty
Institute, says, “Our National Motto is deeply embedded in the history of our nation
and serves both a historical and secular purpose. The federal
government’s decision to display it on our currency promotes patriotism and
recognition of our national heritage. It is completely appropriate and lawful
to include the Motto on our currency. Banning the national motto would be both
unlawful and wrong.”
Justin Butterfield, Senior Counsel for First Liberty
Institute and frequent FOT guest, says, “The Supreme Court has described the
National Motto, “In God We Trust,” as consistent with the U.S. Constitution. It
appears on government buildings across the country, including the House and
Senate Chambers and the Washington Monument. As every federal appeals court to
have heard the issue has upheld ‘In God We Trust’ as lawful, we have asked the
Court to dismiss the lawsuit.”
In the brief, the attorneys say, “The American Legion
believes that our National Motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ itself originating in
Francis Scott Key’s poem that would become ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and
honoring the courage and valor of our service members who defended Fort McHenry
during the War of 1812, is a fitting and solemnizing motto for this nation. The
American Legion has, therefore—as recognized even in Plaintiffs’ First Amended
Complaint—regularly advocated for the recognition and honor of our National
Motto as well as its history and heritage.” Read the brief
About First Liberty Institute
First
Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation
dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
Lots to talk about on Faith On Trial this week – from same-gender
locker rooms to assisted suicide to the Little Sisters of the Poor, AND a movie
review, it will be hard to get it all into our allotted 28 minutes … but we’ll
give it a try.
Our guest this week is Dr. Richard E. Brown, author of
the novel, The Kevorkian Oath, about a futuristic America where euthanasia is
required for those who put a strain on the medical delivery system. Dr. Brown
is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine and practices
plastic surgery in central Illinois. He has published over fifty articles and
chapters in medicinal literature and has served on the board of directors of
various national organizations and in 2003 the American Association for hand
Surgery named him Clinician of the Year.
The Kevorkian Oath was published last year and can be
purchased through the link on the
Dr. Richard Brown
right side of this page. “It’s a
doctor’s duty to “do no harm”, but in a world
where healthcare is completely in the hands of the government, meet physicians
whose main mission is taking life instead of giving it,” from
the back description of the book. This is a cautionary tale and we’ll have the
author with us to explain why.
We’ll also have our research associate and movie
reviewer, Stephanie Crowley, with a movie review.
Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for an interesting
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Justices send case back to lower courts in
light of government’s new position
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court
unanimously decided to send back to the lower courts the case of the Little
Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns who care for the elderly poor. The Court’s
decision is a win for the Little Sisters and other groups who needed relief
from draconian government fines.
In its decision, the
Supreme Court held that after its unprecedented call for supplemental briefing
that the lower courts should again review the cases.
“We are very encouraged
by the Court’s decision, which is an important win for the Little Sisters. The
Court has recognized that the government changed its position,” said Mark
Rienzi, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead Becket
attorney for the Little Sisters of the Poor. “It is crucial that the
Justices unanimously ordered the government not to impose these fines and
indicated that the government doesn’t need any notice to figure out what should
now be obvious—the Little Sisters respectfully object. There is still work to
be done, but today’s
decision indicates that we will ultimately prevail in court.”
