Category Archives: Uncategorized

KNDO.com: “The fact that they’re using the A.D.F. which has a political agenda against gays, reproductive right for women, those kinds of things, to me that’s not what Yakima needs to be represented by”, says Guillen. During the meeting Mayor Micah Cawley rebutted that the city is only getting guidance from the ADF on the prayer issue, not any other topics.

Times-Herald: Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for The Alliance Defense Fund, said he doesn’t think there has been a formal decision rendered by the DOJ. “The Department of Justice frequently takes quite a bit of time to investigate,” Stanley said. “All Souls just didn’t have the time to wait around.” Stanley said that ADF was contacted by All Souls.

Charisma Online (includes photo of Matt Bowman): “Medical professionals should not be punished for holding to their beliefs, and they should not be forced to perform abortions against their conscience,” says ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “Members of the House are justified in asking why the Obama administration would be seeking to repeal such protections, especially in light of the recent examples of abuse involving ADF clients.”

AP: “The Alliance Defense Fund represents the lawmakers, including House Speaker Ed Buchanan. The fund is an Arizona-based Christian civil rights group that has fought same-sex marriage in California.”

Opposing Views opinion by Americans U. for Separation of Church and State: Julea Ward, a self-described “orthodox Christian,” filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that school officials violated her free speech and religious liberty rights. Represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, she claims she cannot “affirm any behavior that goes against what the Bible says” and would always refer to other counselors “all clients who seek counseling for sexual relationship issues she believes to be against the teachings of the Bible.”

One News Now: Jeremy Tedesco of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) tells OneNewsNow his firm argued the constitutionality of the school’s policy. “This is forced association. What if a club is a Christian club and the university appoints an atheist, or if you’re a Republican club and they appoint a Democrat,” he poses. “The student group certainly isn’t going to want to have that voice included in the message they present on campus.”

Gay People’s Chronicle: “The Ohio Supreme Court has heard a case that could whittle away at gay and lesbian couples’ right to shared parenting agreements . . . The 2002 case, In re Bonfield, has become one of the bedrock Ohio cases protecting non-traditional families . . . Not surprisingly, the friends of the court filings on both sides are similar to those filed in Bonfield, with the ACLU, social workers and the National Center for Lesbian Rights siding with Hobbs, and the anti-gay Liberty Counsel and Alliance Defense Fund with Mullen.”

AP on San Francisco Chronicle: “The Malibu-based university said Thursday it has appointed Judge Deanell Reece Tacha of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. She will start work June 1.”

National Catholic Reporter: I’m not that concerned about this ruling because there’s an easy way to avoid it: stay true to your religious mission and don’t drift away from it,” said Kevin Theriot, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which provides legal representation in religious liberty cases. “The question for liberal organizations is: Are they staying true to their theological purposes?”

The Independent: “Men with historical convictions for consensual gay sex are to have their criminal records wiped clean, it will be announced today.”

AndaluciaEduca (Google Translation): A total of 371 Spanish have sued the state before the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for “violation of fundamental rights in respect of objection to the subjects of Education for Citizenship and Human Rights.” Professionals for Ethics, which has submitted the claims along with Alliance Defense Fund, stated that the applicants, conscientious objectors to EPC, “allege the violation by the Spanish state of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights . . . ”

LezGetReal (A Gay Girl’s View on the World): “Of course, Austin Nimocks of the Alliance Defense Fund echoed those concerns, but when confronted with the fact that the bill prevents churches from being forced to marry couples that they do not want to, Nimocks fell into the usual run of how he was upset over the fact that it would not protect individuals from discrimination. He used the example of marriage counselors who refuse to work with same-sex couples. He said “The religious exemption provided is wholly inadequate.” Of course, in Iowa they tried that and it got pointed out that the religious exemption could end up hurting just about every single group out there from different races and religions to LGBT Americans. When and if this is addressed, the odds on are that he will find some other excuse. Perhaps railing against robosexual marriage?”

TBD.com: Austin Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund: “The legislation before you is inconsistent with the purposes of Maryland’s marriage laws,” the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based attorney testified. “Men and women still comprise the two great halves of humanity.”

CNA (Google Translation): The Spanish platform Professionals for Ethics (PPE), which has filed claims with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), an entity specializing in the defense of human rights, has indicated that the applicants, EPC conscientious objectors ” allege a violation by the Spanish state of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. ”

Wall Street Journal: “Now that two different federal courts have declared ObamaCare unconstitutional, the administration’s answer is to call the courts guilty of ‘judicial activism,’ ” writes the great conservative economist and columnist Thomas Sowell . . . ”

Hazteoir.org (Google Translation): Recalling that the lawsuits were filed by Professionals for Ethics and Alliance Defense Fund , with legal assistance from the European Centre for Law and Justice , the information in A. Matthew states that the Spanish families who have appeared before the ECHR “argue that Spain has violated several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights : right to privacy of minors (art. 8), freedom of thought, conscience and religion children and their parents (art. 9); right of parents to educate their children according to their convictions (Article 2 of Protocol I) and non-discrimination (art. 14).

Europapress.es (Google translation): Professional ethics, has filed claims with aa Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), an entity specializing in the defense of human rights, has indicated that the applicants, conscientious objectors to EPC, “allege the violation by the Spanish state of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to privacy of minors, freedom of thought, conscience and religion of children and their parents, the right of parents to educate their children according to their convictions; and non-discrimination). ”

Daily Record: “The legislation before you is inconsistent with the purposes of Maryland’s marriage laws,” Austin R. Nimocks, senior legal counsel of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Alliance Defense Fund, told the committee. “Men and women still comprise the two great halves of humanity.” The intense debate before them was reflected in the comments of senators on the committee.

Diario Panorama (Translation from Spanish by Google): “Regardless of the parliamentary vote, there is a distinct possibility that groups of activists to submit the case to the European Court of Human Rights, with the hope that this court contesting the decision of France. On Tuesday, a militant group based in the UK launched a campaign to have the court revoke the prohibition of marriage between same sex force in the United Kingdom. You may not be far from France a similar campaign, since the case is ripe for review by the court in Strasbourg, according to Roger Kiska, Legal Counsel of Alliance Defense Fund. However, provided there is no chance that the European Court of Human Rights can successfully challenge the decision of the Council. According to Kiska, and has presented a case of same-sex marriage before the European court, which resulted in a ruling that states that it is within the margin of discretion of each State to decide on their own family laws. The French Constitutional Council’s decision, that the difference in the treatment of the laws that make family law is justified, it is within the margin of discretion described in the European court’s ruling, and therefore the latter should not failure to challenge the French. With this in mind, and with the hope that the French Parliament support traditional marriage when it inevitably be put to the vote, Kiska seems optimistic about the future of legislation on marriage in this powerful European nation.”

LavozLibre (Translation from Spanish by Google): “Families objectors to Education for Citizenship ( EPC ) does not give up their struggle. Although in Spain the Supreme Court has ruled against their interests, they continue their battle in Strasbourg where the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and accumulated 371 lawsuits against the Spanish for “violation of fundamental rights.” . . . Demands, by Professionals for Ethics and Alliance Defense Fund , argue that Spain has violated several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights . . . ”

CNN: 5. Hobby Lobby. The privately held chain of more than 450 arts and crafts stories isn’t shy about its Christian orientation. “Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles,” reads the company’s mission statement. “We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured.” The company supports a slate of Christian interests, from Oral Roberts University to the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, and is known for taking out overtly religious newspaper ads around the holidays.

One News Now: The principal first told the student that she thought the lyrics were offensive, which was obviously troubling to us because all the lyrics are is that ‘We shine because we belong to Jesus,’” the attorney explains. “And then she [asked] our client…’Can’t you pick a song that doesn’t say ‘Jesus’ so many times?’” The principal did not stop there, says Cortman. “And then finally she actually equated the religious lyrics with vulgarity — and so each reason she gave, in my mind, just dug herself deeper in as far as violating the First Amendment.”

Des Moines Register: “No one ever said fighting for equal rights was easy. And no one ever said it was quick, either. In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling that paved the way for gay marriage. It was a victory to be celebrated. But it wasn’t the end of a quest to obtain equality for all Iowans.”

Spencer Hatton writes at the Yakima Herald: The Alliance Defense Fund, a group of lawyers who seek to protect the freedom of religious expression, has also pledged to defend the city against any legal challenge to its continued practice of offering a prayer before each meeting. “We must continue the fight for religious freedom and the right of conscience so that the life-changing message of Jesus Christ can be proclaimed and transform our culture,” reads a plea for donations from the Alliance Defense Fund’s website. “Each win for the Body of Christ is a loss for the opposition. It’s that black and white. Will you help us win?” Council members expressed relief that the Alliance Defense Fund is willing to foot the city’s legal bills.

FoxNews: “Christian students shouldn’t be censored at public elementary schools because district officials think that religious speech may be offensive, which isn’t justified by the Constitution” said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “The LAUSD did the right thing by recognizing the student’s constitutional rights and lifting its censorship of religious speech at the talent show.”

The First Amendment Center (AP): The mother was asked, “Can he pick a song that doesn’t say Jesus so many times,’” said David Cortman, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian-based legal organization that represents the mother.The mother noted that the talent show had not listed any restrictions on the content of performances and was offended when she was told that several other students were told to change their songs because they contained profanity, Cortman said.“The mother was troubled that [the principal] had just compared Christian speech to vulgarity,” he said.

The New American: Joseph Infranco of the Alliance Defense Fund, which helped to represent the firefighters, told OneNewsNow.com that the four men “were subjected to hours of just graphic, lewd exhibits and gestures and catcalls and all that sort of thing…. It’s shocking to think that the city would tell firefighters that they have to participate in a parade and be subjected to all this sort of lewd, sexual behavior.”

Christian Post: “Christian students shouldn’t be censored at public elementary schools because district officials think that religious speech may be offensive, which isn’t justified by the Constitution,” commented ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman.
“The LAUSD did the right thing by recognizing the student’s constitutional rights and lifting its censorship of religious speech at the talent show.”

The National Organization has prepared this ad that appears on YouTube for the Rhode Island marriage battle.

Aiken Standard: For those that say there is no separation of church and state and that it’s not in the Constitution, then you’re in for a big surprise. The senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, has been quoted as saying, “It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state.” | See Erik Stanley response

LAIST: The National Alliance Defense Fund, who are Christian attorneys who work on cases regarding religious freedom, are on the case, and are speaking on behalf of the boy whose identity is not being released. “The courts have time and time again established that Christian students cannot be discriminated against for wanting to express their religious beliefs at schools,” says attorney Matt Sharp.

California Catholic Daily: Christian students shouldn’t be censored at public elementary schools because district officials think that religious speech may be offensive, which isn’t justified by the Constitution” said ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “The LAUSD did the right thing by recognizing the student’s constitutional rights and lifting its censorship of religious speech at the talent show.”

Religion Clause Blog: “Alliance Defense Fund issued a press release announcing filing of the lawsuit.”

Charisma (includes photo of David Cortman): Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorneys filed a lawsuit Friday against Los Angeles Unified School District officials on behalf of the student. “Christian students shouldn’t be censored at public elementary schools because of their beliefs,” says ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman. “When religious content is censored by a public school while the content of other performances discussing similar topics is allowed, we have a major violation of a student’s constitutional rights.”

Contra Costa Times: Christian attorneys who advocate for religious freedom, filed suit late last week against Los Angeles Unified on behalf of the unidentified boy. “What this boils down to is that our client, like other students, wanted to be allowed to (perform) to a song about love and dancing. Only in his song he talked about his love for Jesus,” said Matt Sharp, a National Alliance attorney working on the case. “The courts have time and time again established that Christian students cannot be discriminated against for wanting to express their religious beliefs at schools.” The lawsuit seeks to overturn whatever school or district policy is prohibiting the boy from performing in the talent show scheduled for Friday. [ADF Media has asked the paper to correct ADF name references]

Media Matters: “The Alliance Defence Fund, a Christian legal group, has given her free legal advice; she is receiving support from the Washington, D.C.-based CRC Public Relations, a conservative PR firm that played a role in the Swift Boat Veterans …

CNA News (Spanish edition – translation by Google): Attorney Joseph Infranco of the Alliance Defense Fund, in charge of the defense of the firefighters, expressed hope that “this decision terminates the city’s efforts to defend his conduct to compel people to participate in events of a sexual nature that are against their personal and moral convictions. ”

One News Now: The Ninth Circuit asked the high court this month whether California law allows Proposition 8 proponents the right to defend the measure when state officials refuse to . . . “Politicians should not be able to nullify a democratic act of the people by refusing their duty to defend it,” contends Jim Campbell, litigation staff council for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). “The people of California have a right to be defended.”

LifeNews: “Leading pro-abortion activists are using the issue of rape as a method of attacking a new bill in Congress that would ban taxpayer funding of abortions across all governmental programs and agencies.”

Engage Family Blog: “ADF and Separation of Church/State – Have the great wall tearing down attorneys at the Alliance Defense Fund capitulated to the idea of separating church and state? Hardly.”

HSLDA: “While Alliance Defense Fund Attorney John Anthony Simmons is representing Mrs. Voydatch, HSLDA has been consulting with the ADF and its attorneys to ensure that the liberty of all homeschoolers is protected.”

David French writes at Patheos: “But revolutions can also be a prelude to unspeakable horror. As we watch the unfolding dramas in Tunisia and Egypt, we should remember the Reign of Terror that followed the storming of the Bastille; Lenin, Mao’s, and Pol Pot’s communist genocides; and the revolutionary Islamic Republic of Iran that stands today, busily building the bomb while supporting worldwide terrorism and uttering apocalyptic threats against Israel and the Jewish people . . . ”

PR Newswire: “Hanon McKendry/Integrated Brand Connections is a multi-platform branding firm that helps clients weave all their customer interactions together into one seamless brand experience . . . Hanon McKendry has worked extensively with high-profile corporate clients including Rayovac Batteries, Rubbermaid Home Products, Furniture Row Shopping Centers, Cole’s Quality Foods, Wilsonart and Zondervan (a division of Harper/Collins Publishing). The firm has also earned national recognition for its cause and issue-based campaigns and brand development for clients such as the Alliance Defense Fund, Salvation Army, National Arbor Day Foundation, World Vision, Young Life, Focus on the Family and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Hanon McKendry is a Gravity Six Alliance partner. ”

Presidential Prayer Team: “Though the brief acknowledges that ‘in the end, the large majority of states today do not recognize same-sex marriage,’ Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel [Dale Schowengerdt] criticized the defense as being ‘deficient,’ asserting that the Department of Justice is giving a weak defense of DOMA because the president is in favor of its repeal.”

OneNewsNow: “Two women have filed suit against a California school district because the scripture-bearing bricks they purchased to contribute to a high school campus sidewalk path would not be included in the project . . . ‘They use that phrase that we hear all too often for trying to justify this, and it’s the so-called “separation of church and state,”‘ reports [David Cortman], senior counsel for ADF.”

Blair Scott of American Atheists writing at Opposing Views: “The irony in all of this is that the churches are suddenly in favor of the separation of church and state! Alliance Defense Fund lawyer [Erik Stanley] said, ‘It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state.’”

Vanderbilt Orbis: “The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian non-profit organization, filed a civil rights complaint on January 11 for a Mississippi woman looking to apply to the program. ‘You can’t create a better way to screen out pro-life applicants if you try,’ said David French, director of the Alliance Defense Fund.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State: “[Erik Stanley], senior legal counsel for the ADF, told the Religion News Service, ‘It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state.’ Yes, you read that right. The ADF has admitted that the separation of church and state is in fact a part of the U.S. Constitution.”

OneNewsNow: “‘The university is the entity that decided to let the students choose, and then once the students chose overwhelmingly to include prayers in the ceremony, the university decided that . . . it would not allow that to happen,’ reports Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorney [Travis Barham].”

WorldNetDaily: “‘The government cannot single out Christians because their religious viewpoint does not coincide with campus orthodoxy,’ said ADF Senior Counsel [David Cortman]. ‘Christians have the same First Amendment-protected rights as everyone else does on public school campuses, and their messages are no less worthy of exposure than other individuals.’”

Charisma: “[T]he Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education seems confused by an Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) lawsuit defending two California women who’s brick pavers were rejected as part of a sidewalk because they were inscribed with the Word of God.”

Charisma: “‘Christian professors should not be discriminated against because of their beliefs. Disagreeing with an accomplished professor’s religious and political views is no grounds for refusing him promotion,’ says [ADF attorney David French]. ‘Opinion columns are some of the clearest examples of free speech protected by the First Amendment. Mentioning them on a promotion application does not change that.’”

Religion Clause: “[T]he school refused to install pavers from two donors who had Bible verses inscribed on theirs . . . Alliance Defense Fund issued a release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.”

Care2 / get political: “‘”It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state,” argues [Erik Stanley], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing Catholic and Baptist churches in the city of 10,000.’”

Christianity Today Politics Blog: “Hawaii’s state Senate is the first state legislature in the United States to end the practice of daily invocations, the Associated Press reported on Friday . . . While some commentators hail the decision as a victory for separation of church and state, the Alliance Defense Fund argued, ‘Governments should take a stand for this cherished historical practice.’”

Pink Paper: “‘For almost two years, the National Organisation for Marriage and the Alliance Defense Fund, along with Bishop Harry Jackson, have fought a losing battle to shamelessly harm gay and lesbian couples in D.C. who seek nothing more than to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.”

Charisma: “‘Christians shouldn’t be discriminated against and excluded from expressing their faith on public high school campuses when that door of communication is open to virtually everyone else,’ says ADF Senior Counsel [David Cortman].”

LGBTQ Nation: “The nation’s largest LGBT legal group –- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund — took in $17 million in its most recent fiscal year, 2009, compared to $677,360 in 1987 and $26 million in 2008. By comparison, the right-wing’s largest political group -– Focus on the Family — expected $100 million in 2010 and the largest right-wing legal group – the Alliance Defense Fund — has an annual budget of $32.7 million in 2009, according to its website.”

Rationalism Examiner: “These property owners include two local churches, First Baptist Church of Mission and St. Pius X Catholic Church. The Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian association of attorneys is now suing on their behalf . . . And yet, [Erik Stanley], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund is quoted by Adelle M. Banks for the Religious News Service saying, ‘It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state.’”

Bridgette P. LaVictoire writing at LezGetReal (“A Gay Girl’s View on the World”): “‘It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state.’ Those words were spoken by [Erik Stanley], a senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund.”

PressTV: “‘It makes no sense to tax churches and to limit their ability to provide their services, and it does damage to the constitutional separation between church and state,’ says [Erik Stanley], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which represents Catholic and Baptist churches in the small city of 10,000.”

Charisma Magazine: “Will West Virginia University-Parkersburg officials reverse their decision to eliminate all student speakers from its nursing program’s pinning ceremony on account of a prayer request? Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorneys have sent a second letter strongly urging the school to do just that . . . ‘Christian students shouldn’t be censored for expressing their beliefs. Retaliating against students who simply asked to exercise their freedoms at a public graduation ceremony by removing all student speakers is simply unacceptable,’ says ADF Litigation Counsel Travis Barham.”

Candace Chellew-Hodge writing at Religion Dispatches: “‘In America, we respect the right to vote. That right is explicitly protected by the D.C. Charter, but the government has succeeded for now in suppressing the voice of D.C. citizens,’ said [Austin R. Nimocks], senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund.”

The New American: “Defend Life filed suit against Harford County, the superintendent of the Maryland State Police, the state troopers, Bel Air police officers, and the town of Bel Air. The plaintiffs are being represented by the Thomas More Society, a pro-life public-interest law firm based in Chicago, which is working with other lawyers in the case, including the Alliance Defense Fund, Chris Ferrara of the American Catholic Lawyers Association, and Matt Paavola, former president of Maryland’s Christian Legal Society.”

Ms. Magazine: “Yesterday the US Supreme Court declined to hear a case filed by Bishop Harry Jackson, the National Organization for Marriage, and the Alliance Defense Fund challenging the District of Columbia’s law allowing same-sex couples to marry.”

Human Rights Campaign press release: “‘Today’s action by the Supreme Court makes abundantly clear that D.C.’s human rights protections are strong enough to withstand the hateful efforts of outside anti-LGBT groups to put people’s basic civil rights on the ballot,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. ‘For almost two years, the National Organization for Marriage and the Alliance Defense Fund, along with Bishop Harry Jackson, have fought a losing battle to shamelessly harm gay and lesbian couples in D.C. who seek nothing more than to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The D.C. Council and Mayor courageously made marriage equality a reality last year, and the courts have since upheld the rights of D.C. residents to govern ourselves and take the necessary steps to eliminate discrimination in our community.’”

LezGetReal: “The Christian Post recently stated in one article: ‘Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel [Dale Schowengerdt] criticized DOJ’s defense as “deficient.” “The administration refuses to make the argument that the Congress made [when establishing DOMA],” asserted Schowengerdt.’”

LifeSiteNews: “Jackson and the Stand4MarriageDC coalition were represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Christian public interest firm. ‘In America, we respect the right to vote. That right is explicitly protected by the D.C. Charter, but the government has succeeded for now in suppressing the voice of D.C. citizens,’ said ADF Senior Legal Counsel [Austin R. Nimocks].”

All Headline News: “Without comment, the court refused to hear the petition from conservatives led by Bishops Harry Jackson and the Alliance Defense Fund seeking a referendum on the District of Columbia’s gay marriage law.”

SDLGN: “‘For almost two years, the National Organization for Marriage and the Alliance Defense Fund, along with Bishop Harry Jackson, have fought a losing battle to shamelessly harm gay and lesbian couples in D.C. who seek nothing more than to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The D.C. Council and mayor courageously made marriage equality a reality last year, and the courts have since upheld the rights of D.C. residents to govern ourselves and take the necessary steps to eliminate discrimination in our community.’”

ChristianNewsWire: “This week, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals roundly rejected an appeal taken by defendant police officers in a suit brought by Defend Life, a Maryland pro-life activist group, its leader, Jack Ames, and many participants in a “truth tour” sponsored by the group in August, 2009, granting a motion to dismiss the appeal filed by Thomas More Society’s special counsel, Patrick Gillen, who is also an Assistant Professor of Law at Ave Maria Law School in Naples, Florida . . . Thomas More Society is working with other lawyers in the case, including the Alliance Defense Fund, Chris Ferrara of American Catholic Lawyers Association, and Matt Paavola, of Baltimore, former president of Maryland’s Christian Legal Society.”

The New American: “On Wednesday, January 12, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee changed its policy for nurse residency applications, one day after the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) on behalf of a nursing student opposed to VU requirements that nursing residents participate in abortions.”

ChristianNewsWire: “Hundreds maybe thousands of patriotic citizens along with local and national leaders will rally tomorrow 10am PST in San Diego in relentless defense and support of the Mt Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross atop Mt Soledad near La Jolla, Ca . . . ‘It’s tragic that the court chose a twisted and tired interpretation of the First Amendment over the common sense idea that families of fallen American troops should be allowed to honor these heroes as they choose. No one is harmed, constitutionally or otherwise, by the presence of a cross on a memorial. The memorial cross should stand in honor of the sacrifice made by American troops.’ said [Joe Infranco], Senior Counsel, Alliance Defense Fund.”

Daily Inter Lake: “Kelly Burris entered his plea during a federal court session in Missoula Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch.”

Humanist Examiner: “A Tennessee county faces a lawsuit for violating the separation of church and state. Americans United filed a lawsuit on behalf of resident Ralph Stewart challenging Tennessee’s Johnson County for an unconstitutional preference for Christianity . . . The county commission rejected Stewart’s proposed display in June after consulting with the Alliance Defense Fund, a law firm dedicated to Christian advocacy”