Religious Speech (24)
News on legal issues surrounding religious speech
Cheerleaders Did Not Violate Establishment Clause
Saturday, 11 May 201305/09/13 ... The cheerleaders won in a recent lawsuit over whether they could put Scripture verses on their banners. The lawsuit turned around whether the banners were speech by the school or by the cheerleaders.
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/cheerleaders_bible_banners_dont_violate_establishment_clause_judge_rules/
05/09/13 ... The Court concluded that the verses were private religious speech, which the Freedom From Religion Foundation said was misguided.
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2013/05/texas-trial-court-says-cheerleaders-can.html
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/08/.UYrbW392E5g.email
Congress Protects Religious Freedom in Military
Thursday, 27 December 201212/22/12 ... 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
Evangelizing in a Public Park
Tuesday, 23 October 201210/07/12 ... Six Christians in New Jersey were evangelizing in a public park, which upset some of their hearers. The police arrested and charged them for breach of the peace--the Christians, not those who objected. The police demanded identification and ticketed the Christians. They also confiscated the cell phone of one person who was recording the event. The police justified the charges because some members of the public were upset and wished to silence the speaker, which is what is called a "heckler's veto." Supposedly, the Christians will have to get a permit before they can speak or hand out tracts.
http://christiannews.net/2012/10/07/new-jersey-police-charge-six-christians-for-evangelizing-in-public-park/
Cheerleaders' Banners Okay for Now
Friday, 28 September 201209/24/12 ... Cheerleaders at a Texas high school were blocked from carrying banners featuring Bible verses, but have received a temporary restraining order permitting them to continue for now. The signs were made with private money and off school property.
http://www.wistv.com/story/19623375/judge-tx-cheerleaders-can-put-bible-verses-on-signs-for-now
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837852/kountze-cheerleaders-told-no-bible.html
Street Preacher Challenges Bourbon Street Ordinance
Friday, 28 September 201209/21/12 ... New Orleans adopted an ordinance making it a crime for anyone to loiter on Bourbon Street after dark to distribute social, political, or religious messages. Street preachers have been told not to speak. One preacher has sued based on his constitutional rights.
http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/7653
Free Speech in Brigham City
Tuesday, 18 September 201209/11/12 ... The ACLU in Utah has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a nondenominational Christian church that wants to hand out literature on the sidewalks near a new LDS church temple. The city passed an ordinance that requires people to get a special permit to exercise First Amendment rights. Although the church applied for a permit, the permit was quite restrictive on what sidewalks the church could use.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/54875634-78/church-sidewalks-brigham-temple.html.csp
http://www.acluutah.org/MSC_v_BrighamCity.html