Category Archives: Uncategorized

Brown Pelican Society of Louisiana: “Speaking of the President’s military preferences, FRC is teaming up with the Alliance Defense Fund tomorrow to host a joint press conference on the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ You can watch by live webstream as we expose the threat to military chaplains. Click here for more information.”

Congress.org: “Dozens of retired military chaplains are asking that the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law be left intact, OneNewsNow reports. The group organized by the Family Research Council and Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter to the president Tuesday.”

CitizenLink: “A federal court has ruled that a New Jersey teen should not have been prevented from taking part in the national Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity . . . [David Cortman said] ‘This particular school has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state, and the highest teenage abortion rate in the state, and this young lady was being a faithful witness.’”

Family Research Council Press Release: “Family Research Council President and Marine veteran Tony Perkins will join Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence at a news conference Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The event will announce the release of a letter to President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, signed by more than 40 retired military chaplains.”

Evangelical Examiner: “Back in November 2009, attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of a student, against the Bridgeton Board of Education after officials at Bridgeton High School prohibited her from expressing a religious viewpoint on the 6th annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity . . . Last Thursday, a federal court ruled that the Bridgeton Board of Education should not have prohibited a student at Bridgeton High School from expressing a religious viewpoint on the 6th annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity, a student-led event occurring outside of instructional time.”

Christian Web News: “Pat Trueman, attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund and former chief prosecutor in the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, notes that the problem isn’t just within the SEC. He wonders, ‘Why doesn’t the federal government get a good blocking software to prohibit pornography on any federal computer?’”

The Columbus Dispatch: “The National Day of Prayer Task Force has launched a petition and fundraising campaign to “save” the event. Members are appealing to Obama to appeal the ruling, task-force spokesman John Bornschein said. The money raised will go to the task force’s legal firm, the Alliance Defense Fund, to try to mount legal challenges and gain congressional support, he said. ‘Like it or not, we are a nation under God.’”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Wall of Separation: “The religious school subsidies were successfully challenged by the Fairness Alliance, the Jefferson County Teachers Association and two clergy. Forces defending the grant to UC included the Alliance Defense Fund and the Christian Legal Society.”

Phoenix Religion & Society Examiner: “[Erik Stanley], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund which worked on the legal challenge on behalf of three churches that combined efforts to defeat the conviction, said that ‘Churches shouldn’t be targeted and punished for ringing their bells as a public expression of faith that’s been done for centuries. The federal court has made the right decision by declaring that the city’s noise ordinance violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.’” | ADF News Release

Religion and Values: “The Alliance Defense Fund has sent letters to mayors across the country telling them that it is OK to observe the National Day of Prayer on May 6.” | ADF News Release

The New American: “The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments April 19 to decide whether or not a public institution can deny recognition to a student group if the group requires that only practicing Christians can be members . . . ‘Forcing CLS to have an atheist lead its Bible studies is as absurd as the College Democrats being forced to elect Republican officers — which under the current Hastings policy is indeed required,’ argued ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Gregory Baylor], who is assisting in arguing the case before the Supreme Court.”

AP: “President Barack Obama says the government must enact immigration reform at the national level – or leave the door open to ‘irresponsibility by others.’”

OneNewsNow: “Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorney [Gary McCaleb] tells OneNewsNow that ice cream trucks could roam the streets playing louder music and not face sanctions . . . ‘What we’ll do now,’ says the ADF attorney, ‘is take this decision that the law is unconstitutional as applied to the bishop and take it over to the state court and see if we can’t get that conviction expunged and the bishop’s record cleared.’

Christian Pop Culture Examiner: “Attorneys with the Christian legal firm Alliance Defense Fund urged President Barack Obama to appeal the decision of a federal judge’s ruling that National Prayer Day is unconstitutional recently . . . But ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster argues that the national prayer day is ‘America’s heritage’ and ‘belongs to Americans.’ He added, ‘The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith – and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance.’”

CBN: “Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Secular Coalition of America are criticizing former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her belief that America has a Christian history . . . ”

Religion Clause: “[A]n Arizona federal district court made the injunction permanent . . . [T]he court ordered the city to pay plaintiffs’ attorneys, Alliance Defense Fund, fees of $25,000.”

Milwaukee Magazine News Buzz: “‘Our University of Wisconsin state agencies should not be a training ground for abortionists,’ says Virginia Zignego, spokeswoman for [Pro-Life Wisconsin]. It’s getting legal assistance from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a national legal group that opposes abortion and gay marriage.”

Evangelical Examiner: “Alliance Defense Fund attorneys report that on Monday, they secured a favorable decision on behalf of Phoenix churches, with the court ruling that the city of Phoenix cannot enforce its noise ordinance to prohibit sound generated in the course of religious expression . . . ‘Churches shouldn’t be targeted and punished for ringing their bells as a public expression of faith that’s been done for centuries,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Erik Stanley].” | ADF News Release

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Right On Blog: “Pro-Life Wisconsin is pushing the issue, reports the Badger Herald: The group, along with its outside legal help, the public-interest law firm Alliance Defense Fund, last week wrote to Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, requesting he look into the legality of UW’s arrangement.”

Christian Web News: “The Home School Legal Defense Association and members of the Alliance Defense Fund have been advising Christer and Annie Johansson on the ‘state-napping’ of their son as they were preparing to move to India, Annie’s home country . . . Roger Kiska Aliance Defense Fund attorney based in Europe said ‘What you have here is a socialist country trying to create a cookie cutter kid. This kind of thing happens too often where social workers take a child and then just keep him.’”

Christian Post: “‘Forcing CLS to have an atheist lead its Bible studies is as absurd as the College Democrats being forced to elect Republican officers – which under the current Hastings policy is indeed required,’ argues ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Gregory S. Baylor].”

CBN News: “[Casey Mattox] of the Alliance Defense Fund appeared on CBN Newschannel’s Morning program for more insight on the case.”

CNN: “A federal judge on Thursday struck down the federal statute that established the National Day of Prayer, ruling that it violates the constitutional ban on government-backed religion . . . ‘The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance,’ said [Joel Oster], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund.”

CNN Newsroom: “Conservative religious groups have criticized the decision. [Joel Oster], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund says, ‘The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance.”’” | ADF News Release

CitizenLink: “A federal judge in Wisconsin has declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional . . . ‘The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith – and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Joel Oster]. ‘It does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and this decision should be appealed.’” | ADF News Release

National Day of Prayer Task Force (ChristianNewsWire): “The National Day of Prayer Task Force (NDPTF) and Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) are urging President Obama to appeal federal judge Barbara Crabb’s decision in Wisconsin that struck down a federal statute that sets a day for the National Day of Prayer . . . [Joel Oster], ADF senior counsel, echoed these sentiments saying, ‘It’s important to remember this about the National Day of Prayer: It’s America’s heritage, and this day belongs to Americans — the court should not have struck down this statute. ADF urges the Obama administration to appeal this terrible ruling that not only undermines the National Day of Prayer, but the underlying heritage and tradition of the American people which dates back to the nation’s founding.’”

Charisma: “A Wisconsin federal judge has ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) are urging President Obama to appeal the decision. The group launched a grassroots effort called Save the National Day of Prayer that has more than 170,000 supporters on Facebook. ‘The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith–and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster.”

LifeSiteNews: “Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Pulaski County Special School District on behalf of a student and her mother, who were both prohibited from participating in Sherwood Elementary School’s literature distribution program because their fliers were ‘church-related.’ ‘Christian students shouldn’t be discriminated against for their beliefs,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.”

CitizenLink: “Maine school counselor Don Mendell has been cleared of complaints that he violated his professional ethics by appearing in a political ad in favor of one-man, one-woman marriage . . . ‘It was somebody who said that it’s discrimination,’ [Jordan Lorence] said, ‘for a social worker to make a public statement in favor of marriage defined as one man, one woman.’” | ADF News Release

LifeSiteNews: “A state licensing board in Maine Friday dismissed two complaints filed against public school counselor Don Mendell for publicly supporting marriage as being between a man and a woman . . . ‘The government should not punish people because they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and because they say so during a political campaign,’ said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence. ‘The licensing board was right to dismiss these complaints. The First Amendment protects the rights of citizens to speak out on important public policy matters being voted on by the people.’” | ADF News Release

Baptist Press: “A Maine licensing board has dismissed all complaints against a high school counselor who came under fire last year for appearing in a TV commercial opposing ‘gay marriage’ . . . ‘The government should not punish people because they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and because they say so during a political campaign,’ ADF attorney Jordan Lorence said in a statement.” | ADF News Release

Evangelical Examiner: “Today, it was announced by the Alliance Defense Fund that a state licensing board in Maine has dismissed two complaints filed against public school counselor Don Mendell as of last Friday . . . ‘The government should not punish people because they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and because they say so during a political campaign,’ said ADF Senior Counsel [Jordan Lorence]. ‘The licensing board was right to dismiss these complaints. The First Amendment protects the rights of citizens to speak out on important public policy matters being voted on by the people.’” | ADF News Release

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: “The Grand Rapids Planning Commission will consider a request this evening for a land-use permit to operate an ‘adult lounge’ at 7330 Plover Road.”

Bay Windows (“GLBT Newspaper”): “In Christian Legal v. Martinez, a Christian law students’ group contests a decision by the University of California’s Hastings College of Law, headed currently by acting chancellor Leo Martinez. The case also includes a gay student group, Outlaw, at the same school as a party to the defense . . . ‘Like every other student group on Hastings’ campus, it too has a choice,’ say GLAD and Lambda. ‘It can adhere to Hastings’ general nondiscrimination policy or forego school funding.’ The federal district court in San Francisco and the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with that logic and ruled for the university and Outlaw. Christian Legal, with the aid of the right-wing Alliance Defense Fund, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. And in agreeing to hear that appeal, at least four justices had to indicate a willingness to consider their arguments.”

The Underground: “The city of Gilbert, Arizona is now allowing in-home Bible studies that were banned from taking place earlier this year . . . On March 22, the Gilbert Town Council held a meeting to discuss changes to the Land Development Code which disallows religious assemblies in private homes. The Alliance Defense Fund was present to represent the Bible study leaders from Oasis of Truth Church.” | For more information on this issue, see this ADF Alliance Alert compound tag: http://www.alliancealert.org/tag/adf-media-clips+state-arizona/

On Top Magazine (“gay advocacy website”): “In his first comments on why he’s intervened to defend against a lawsuit to win gay marriage in New Jersey, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll says gay relationships are of no ‘societal consequence.’ Carroll, along with Republican Senators Gerald Cardinale and Anthony R. Bucco, are being represented by the Christian-based group Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).”

The Advocate (“gay advocacy website”): “Senators Anthony R. Bucco and Gerald Cardinale, with Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, are being represented by Alliance Defense Fund, the Christian-based group that helped file the suit. ‘There’s more to marriage than just any two people in a committed relationship,’ ADF Senior Legal Council [Austin R. Nimocks], said. “At this time in history, we should be strengthening marriage, not tearing it down . . .’”

NY Law Journal (Law.com): A prominent advertising executive’s alleged promises to support his longtime girlfriend if they broke up are unenforceable because the couple never married, a Manhattan judge has ruled . . . “Indeed, even if [the defendant] had made an explicit promise that, upon separation, [the plaintiff] would be entitled to ‘equitable distribution’ of their assets, it would be unenforceable, as it would be contrary to the long-standing law and policy in New York that unmarried partners are not entitled to the same property and financial rights upon termination of the relationship as married people,” Justice Gesmer wrote in Ericson v. Baron, 350065/09.

On Top Magazine (“gay advocacy website”): “Three Republican lawmakers filed a motion to intervene Monday to defend against a New Jersey lawsuit to win gay marriage. Senators Gerald Cardinale and Anthony R. Bucco, along with Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, are being represented by the Christian-based group Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) . . . ‘There’s more to marriage than just any two people in a committed relationship,’ ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Austin R. Nimocks] said in a statement. ‘At this time in history, we should be strengthening marriage, not tearing it down. Instead, activists are seeking to redefine marriage for all New Jersey citizens by resurrecting an already-resolved, three-year-old lawsuit with the goal of forcing legislators to redefine marriage against their will.’”

OneNewsNow: “For the time being, a West Virginia hospital won’t be permitted to stop life-saving treatment of a woman in its care. Forty-year-old Rebecca Bennett is on dialysis and in a coma due to complications from diabetes, and Ruby Memorial Hospital previously informed family members that treatment would end March 27 against their wishes. Jeremiah Dys, general counsel for the Family Policy Council of West Virginia and an affiliated attorney with Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), took the case to court.”

OneNewsNow: “A college student in New York is now free to distribute a pro-life publication . . . ‘[S]tudent Joseph Hayon was distributing The Advocate to his peers, and the administration ordered him to cease distributing the magazine, telling him he could no longer distribute it,’ [Live Action president Lila Rose] reports . . . Hayon contacted Alliance Defense Fund, which in turn wrote to the school, explaining how that stance represented viewpoint discrimination. The result is that Hayon is now permitted to resume distribution.”

The Church Report: “Alliance Defense Fund attorneys will appeal a judge’s ruling against a licensed counselor fired after she referred a person seeking same-sex relationship counseling to a colleague . . . ‘A counselor who is a Christian shouldn’t lose her job for upholding the highest professional standards,’ said ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum. ‘It is unlawful to punish Marcia for following her Christian faith, particularly when she made every effort to accommodate the needs of a potential client. Referring her to another competent counselor instead of attempting to offer her own counsel in such a situation was the ethical thing to do for the person seeking help. It’s egregious to be fired for honoring professional and ethical obligations, and we regret the court didn’t see this. We will certainly appeal.’”

Massachusetts Citizens for Life: “‘If the statute had directed or even authorized HHS to exclude abortion from the spending, there would be nothing to challenge. But a mere executive branch decision not to fund abortion under such a statute is simply a legal challenge waiting to happen’ . . . We appreciate Matt Bowman’s analysis. Matt is with the Alliance Defense Fund.” | Matt Bowman’s full article appears at the ADF Alliance Alert and LifeNews.

The Church Report: “A man who had been arrested after praying in 2007 at a public park was suddenly arrested again last week by Elmira police while his case is still on appeal . . . ‘Christians shouldn’t be punished for expressing their religious beliefs. It’s ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one’s faith in a public park to be ‘disorderly conduct’ worthy of a jail sentence,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Joel Oster]. ‘We are surprised at how eager the city was to arrest Mr. Raven again in light of his appeal. Now he will serve time in jail; however, we will continue to aggressively pursue his appeal in court.’”

KTAR: “A motion has been approved by the Gilbert Town Council that would change an ordinance that bars people from having a religious gathering in their home . . . [Doug Napier] with the Alliance Defense Fund said his group wants the order to comply with constitutionally-protected religious freedoms. ‘If it’s a level playing field, we’re good with that. Because we’re going to be good neighbors. We’re going to be good citizens.’”

Christian Post: “The Gilbert, Ariz., town council agreed on Monday to amend an ordinance that banned one small church from meeting in homes . . . ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Douglas Napier] told the local TV news station that they are simply seeking protection of religious freedoms.”

The Advocate (“LGBT monthly news magazine”): “According to The New York Times, the latest complaints are an extension of marriage equality opponents’ long-running argument that the question does not belong in the courts . . . ‘To think that somehow the rules of evidence can lead you to the right answer is just not right,’ said Jordan W. Lorence, a lawyer with Alliance Defense Fund and a member of the trial team for the people and groups who intervened to defend the ban after state officials would not, according to the Times. ‘There should not have been a trial.’”

The MetroWest Daily News: “Have you ever thought of having a Bible study in your home? If so, don’t plan on moving to either San Diego, California or Gilbert, Arizona. It seems there are regulations, which forbid you to hold a ‘religious assembly’ in your home . . . The ADF argues ‘that such bans violate the Constitution’s free-exercise clause, and even the state’s Free Exercise of Religion Act protects such meetings.’”

OneNewsNow: “An Arizona town is backtracking its zoning laws after halting house church meetings . . . ‘Thankfully, the town has since apologized to the church and is taking steps to fix what they did and protect the religious liberty of both the Oasis of Truth Church and other churches in the Gilbert area,’ [Blomberg] reports.”

EnidNews: “In the city of Gilbert, Ariz., you apparently can gather your friends for a football game at your house, have an all-out bachelor (or bachelorette) party in your home or maybe just have a few friends over for a quaint evening of discussion as long as you don’t discuss the Bible . . . ADF filed an appeal on Sutherland’s behalf, asserting, among other things, the zoning code violates the Constitution’s Free Exercise Clause and Arizona’s Free Exercise of Religion Act. ADF further pointed out the town attempted to defend the code based on traffic, parking and building safety concerns and how the interpretation would prohibit even three-person church leadership meetings or church-sponsored potluck dinners in a residential home.”

Mike’s Blog: “Hurrah for the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals for disallowing a lesbian divorce case in the state of Oklahoma. How can you issue a divorce for what was never a legitimate marriage? Legal Counsel Tim Tracey of the Alliance Defense Fund rightly asserted that this was a back door attempt to undermine the marriage amendment of Oklahoma that was passed by 76 percent of the voters.”

Bio: Timothy J. Tracey

Evangelical Examiner: “It’s not only the secular world that is fed up with the Fed, it appears that it is also the Christian world. All one needs to do is visit the Alliance Defense Fund, Pacific Justice Institute, the Center for Bio-ethical Reform and others.”

Christian News Wire: “The church is being represented by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who filed an appeal on Wednesday, March 10th citing other gatherings like cub scouts or business meetings that are not subject to the same violations is a clear case of discrimination. ‘I have no doubt in my mind that the church will come out of this process victorious,’ says Eastburn, ‘There is even a possibility that this unfortunate incident will serve as a catalyst for many more Christians in Gilbert, AZ and the surrounding areas to get in on what God is doing through the house church movement.’”

Phoenix Examiner: “The Town of Gilbert is in the national spotlight because of the enforcement of land development codes . . . Since then, the Alliance Defense fund, an organization ‘to aggressively defend religious liberty by empowering our allies’, has taken up the cause to shame Gilbert into not enforcing the code.”

The Underground: “In November 2009, city officials in Gilbert, Arizona sent a ‘cease and desist’ order to a pastor and his wife holding small group Bible studies in their home . . . This month, attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed an appeal on behalf of the church group . . . The Oasis of Truth Church Web site now states that the City of Gilbert’s Mayor and City Manager recently attended a Sunday service, apologized and hope to revise the code soon.”

LifeSiteNews: “The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit that sought a ‘divorce’ between two women who claimed to have obtained a marriage license in Canada . . . ‘The government cannot issue a divorce for a “marriage” it doesn’t recognize,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks. ‘The people of Oklahoma have made it clear that marriage in their state is only between one man and one woman. The court’s decision was not only the right decision, but it was truly the only decision the court could legitimately make under the circumstances.’”

Seeing Red AZ: “WorldNetDaily carries the shocking report about the East Valley city of Gilbert, Arizona ordering a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city’s zoning codes . . . The ban, however, prompted a response from the Scottsdale-based Alliance Defense Fund, which filed an appeal with the city as the first step in its campaign to overturn a provision it describes as illegal.”

FOX News: “A controversial ban on holding church meetings in private homes in a rapidly-growing town in Arizona could be rescinded as early as next week, officials say. Gilbert, Ariz., Mayor John Lewis said members of the city’s Town Council have asked town officials to stop enforcing the ban until permanent changes can be made at a March 22 meeting — or possibly earlier. ‘Christian church groups shouldn’t be singled out for discrimination and banned from meeting in their own homes,’ ADF attorney Daniel Blomberg said in a statement issued last week.”

Arizona Republic: “‘When the Town Council became aware of this, it was an immediate reaction that this was not right,’ [Mayor John Lewis] said. ‘It is not Gilbert to say that we do not allow groups to get together, faith groups that just want to have worship services’ . . . This is not the first time Gilbert has been accused of religious discrimination, and a federal lawsuit is pending to bring about changes in the town’s sign code. In July 2005, the town notified Good News Presbyterian Church that it was violating code by posting signs too early in a public right-of-way . . . ‘This is just another case that proves the town is discriminating against people of faith,’ [ADF Attorney David Cortman] said.”

WorldNetDaily: “Officials in Gilbert, Ariz., today told WND in an e-mail that the changes apparently were in the works even as the city continued handing out warnings . . . The ban had prompted the Alliance Defense Fund to launch an appeal with the city over the decision . . . Dale Schowengerdt, who worked with Blomberg on the case, told WND the city also had confirmed it would not enforce the code while it was being changed, a process that could take several weeks.”

ABC 15: “Gilbert officials have promised to makes changes to a town code barring religious assemblies in private homes after a national group claimed it was unconstitutional . . . ‘We hope the City of Gilbert will recognize that this is a bad law on the books, and will repeal it or rewrite it to protect people’s rights in their own home to practice their faith,’ said [ADF Attorney Doug] Napier.”

FOX News (AP): “The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional . . . The Alliance Defense Fund’s Doug Napier says no neighbors complained.”

CitizenLink: “The Oasis of Truth Church has seven members and meets at the pastor’s home. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has filed an appeal with the zoning board. Mayor John Lewis and the Planning and Development Services quickly backtracked when the situation was brought to their attention, and said they would not enforce the code until they can officially put an exemption in for the home church.”

Arizona Republic, Joanna Allhands’ blog: “On Monday afternoon, the Town Council sent out an urgently worded message saying it has asked town staff to change the code and not enforce the current one until said changes are made . . . According to the note, town employees had asked Oasis of Truth Church to stop meeting in a Gilbert home. The Alliance Defense Fund had filed an appeal for the group last week, and though the ordinance revisions were set to go on the March 23 council agenda, the media caught wind of the story on Friday.”

OneNewsNow: “‘It’s a situation where a small house church that has been meeting in its members’ homes on a rotating basis has been ordered to stop holding those meetings,’ Blomberg explains. ‘And they can’t have any type of meeting, whether they be a church service or they be a Bible study or a church leadership meeting.’”

Christian Post: “The U.S. Department of State said Friday that is ‘increasingly concerned’ about the ongoing persecution of religious minority communities in Iran . . . ”

Persecution Blog: “Here’s an interesting and troubling story coming from Arizona. According to the report the legal organization, The Alliance Defense Fund, has taken up the case and it is expected that this ordinance will be overturned. The question I have is why was this even made an ordinance in the first place. Feel free to comment below and read the other linked stories about this case.”

LifeNews: “More documents a pair of pro-life groups have uncovered using freedom of Information Act requests show the University of Wisconsin may be illegally funding internships for medical students at abortion centers. The new documents obtained via an open records request by Pro-Life Wisconsin and the Alliance Defense Fund reveal that, since 2007, UW has spent more than $58,878 paying for abortion training.”

CBN News: “The city of Gilbert shut down the church after a city employee spotted signs for it in the neighborhood . . . ‘We hope the City of Gilbert will recognize that this is a bad law on the books, and will repeal it or rewrite it to protect people’s rights in their own home to practice their faith,’ Napier said.” [article includes video featuring ADF Attorney Doug Napier]

WMAZ (AP): “A Christian advocacy group says a zoning code in Gilbert, Ariz., that bars religious assemblies in private homes is unconstitutional . . . The Alliance Defense Fund has filed an appeal, warning the town that its code violates the U.S. Constitution.”

Ian Pringle writing at The Daily Caller: “The town [of Gilbert] ordered Pastor Sutherland, of Oasis of Truth Church, to ‘terminate all religious meetings . . . regardless of their size, nature or frequency . . . As the Alliance Defense Fund put it, ‘this ban is defended based upon traffic, parking, and building safety concerns. However, nothing in its zoning code prevents weekly Cub Scouts meetings, Monday Night Football parties with numerous attendees or large business parties from being held on a regular basis in private homes.’”

KSWT (AP): “The national Alliance Defense Fund says a town code that bars religious assemblies in private homes in the Arizona community of Gilbert is unconstitutional . . . The Alliance Defense Fund’s Doug Napier says no neighbors complained.”

KPHO: “A national legal group is warning Gilbert city officials that a code barring religious assemblies in private homes is unconstitutional . . . ‘No neighbors complained,’ said Doug Napier, of the Alliance Defense Fund. ‘They weren’t making noise. They weren’t causing any problems. He just saw these signs and said, “Well, our code says you can’t meet together.”‘”

Jew School: “‘The city of Gilbert, Ariz., has ordered a group of seven adults to stop gathering for Bible studies in a private home because such meetings are forbidden by the city’s zoning codes . . . The ban, however, prompted a response from the Alliance Defense Fund, which filed an appeal with the city as the first step in its campaign to overturn a provision it describes as illegal’ . . . The liberal elite should jump on this bandwagon and say this isn’t right. Because you know we won’t get together on the Second Amendment with these people, so we can at least come together and fight for the First one.”

Christianity Today Political Advocacy Tracker: “At a Focus on the Family chapel service to say farewell to retiring James Dobson, Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family Action recounted Dobson’s impact on public policy organizations. Dobson helped found three national policy organizations (American Family Association, Alliance Defense Fund, and Family Research Council) and 37 state family policy councils. According to Minnery, in 2010 these 40 organizations have 548 full-time employees and a combined budget of $89 million.”