Religious Law Network

12/26/12 ... Parents of two teen-aged boys are suing a rabbi who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment in 2010. He admitted he knowingly had inappropriate physical contact with the boys while they were naked in a ritual purification pool. He was not required to register as a sex offender, and received only 60 days in jail. The parents filed a civil lawsuit.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Rabbi-facing-civil-suit-over-abuse-allegations-4145353.php

12/22/12 ... Congress passed the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which protects conscience rights of both military members and chaplains to express moral or religious beliefs. A Presidential veto is considered unlikely.
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2012/12/congress-passes-defense-authorization.html

12/21/12 ... After a ruling against the stores in the case of Hobby Lobby Stories, Inc. v. Sebelius, the plaintiffs appealed, trying to get a preliminary injunction against immediate enforcement of the contraceptive mandate insurance coverage. The Tenth Circuit refused to grant the injunction, concluding that the mandate probably did not impose a substantial burden on their exercise of religion.
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2012/12/two-more-decisions-in-challenges-to-aca.html

12/27/12 ... The following week, Justice Sotomayor, as Circuit Justice, also denied the request for the preliminary injunction.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Justice-refuses-to-block-morning-after-pill-rule-4147282.php

http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2012/12/justice-sotomayor-denies-injunction.html

A recent Department of Education investigation focuses on the tension between student and teacher free speech rights, the Free Exercise versus Establishment clauses, and the difference between respect and approval. The facts as alleged in the articles are as follows. Apparently a high school girl asked a teacher, First Sergeant Lynn Vanzandt, his opinion on homosexuality. He stated that he believes the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin. It seems undisputed that the students initiated the conversation with the teacher. Less clear is whether the teacher stopped discussing the matter when requested. At least one girl ran crying from the room. The DOE investigation will explore whether lesbian students were subjected to a hostile environment on the basis of sex, or harassment based on failing to conform to gender stereotypes, and whether the school district retaliated against the student who complained.