Free Speech

WASHINGTON – Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic leaders who unveiled the "Manhattan Declaration" Friday insisted the document is not a political ploy.

Rather, it is a testament to their common Christian witness as they stand to uphold what they believe are the three most foundational issues in society – the sanctity of life, the historic understanding of marriage, and religious liberty.

"This is not a politically motivated agenda," Dr. Timothy George, one of three leaders who drafted the document, said as he addressed the media. "We are talking out of deep religious principles grounded in the holy Scriptures and the use of reason as we understand it as a God-given gift." more >>

WASHINGTON – Conservative pastors rallied outside the Justice Department on Monday to test the limits of the newly expanded hate crimes law.

Calling the new law – which broadens the definition of federal hate crimes to include attacks based on sexual orientation and gender identity – a clear threat to religious liberty, the group sought to defend their freedom to proclaim biblical truths.

"You may choose to disbelieve or disagree with us but you have no right to seek to silence us," said Dr. Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America Action, as pro-gay clergy and some from the gay and lesbian community gathered with signs reading "My love is legit." more >>

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear the case of a high school valedictorian whose speech was cut short by school officials after she began speaking about the role her beliefs played in her success in life.

The justices said Monday they will not revive the lawsuit filed by Brittany McComb of Henderson, Nev., who has accused school officials of violating her free speech rights and having engaged in viewpoint discrimination when they censored her speech in 2006 because of its Christian content.

McComb, who was one of three valedictorians selected to give a speech at Foothill’s annual commencement ceremony in spring 2006, was in the middle of delivering her speech to the crowd of nearly 400 graduates and their families when school officials turned off her microphone. Officials had cut short McComb’s speech after she departed from the officially-approved text and went on to mention Jesus and the Bible. more >>

More than 100 organizations, including Muslim and secularist ones, have signed a petition against the proposed U.N. resolutions on the "defamation of religions," which they contend will do more harm than good for religious freedom.

The “Common Statement from Civil Society on the Concept of the ‘Defamation of Religions,'” signed by organizations in over 20 countries, opposes the Organization of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) proposal for the United Nations to adopt a binding treaty that would protect religions from defamation. The groups pointed out that a similar resolution adopted earlier this year only cites Islam as the religion that should be protected.

Moreover, human rights groups say the resolutions will give credit to anti-blasphemy laws in countries such as Pakistan and Sudan. more >>

In the days leading up to the highly publicized vote on a Maine gay marriage law, citizens are being called to respect one another's First Amendment rights.

"While the issue of same-sex marriage stirs lots of passions on both sides of the debate, one thing that should be clear is that citizens should feel free to support groups that share and advance their views without fear of recrimination enabled by government," said Sean Parnell, president of the Center for Competitive Politics, in a statement Friday.

His statement comes as a complaint was filed against a high school guidance counselor and licensed social worker, requesting that his license to practice social work be stripped away. more >>