LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jmthane)

I'm still finding things to add to the Illinois section of "Bad Laws" on the Wiki, and I came across one that made me think. The religious type of jobs would like to be excluded from having to hire someone that doesn't follow their faith or belief systems - there's a bill pending that would make that so in Illinois.

I don't have a problem with that, really. If, say, a Baptist church doesn't want to hire a secretary that's a Pagan - I don't mind. (I also don't know how many Pagans want to work for a Baptist church, but that's beside the point.)

But I think there ought to be some equinamity to that. If you are applying for a public service position and your religion makes it impossible for you to perform that position as required in the job description, then you should not be hired for that job. Kinda like a conscientious objector in the Army. Or thought of in another way, if you're religion means you are anti-abortion, you can't become a pharmacist, because your religion is going to interfere with the full and complete performance of your job.

This would, of course, have the hypocritical fundies screaming "DISCRIMINATION"!!!"

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This article talks about the rejection of a religiously motivated lawsuit over an evolution website:

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against the University of California, Berkeley, that claimed an evolution education Web site unfairly promoted religions that accept the theory.

Jeanne Caldwell of Roseville, who sued in October in U.S. District Court, failed to prove her religious beliefs were offended enough to amount to a concrete injury, a judge ruled Monday.

The "Understanding Evolution" site, created by the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education, has links to evolutionary theory teaching materials and religious groups who say the theory does not violate their beliefs.

The suit claimed the university was unconstitutionally expressing preference for religions accepting the evolutionary theory.

It names two UC Berkeley professors and a National Science Foundation administrator as defendants. The judge has not ruled on the science foundation's motion to dismiss.

"We are very pleased with the judge's decision and are hopeful that the defendants can now concentrate on helping to educate students about science," university counsel Christopher Patti said Wednesday.

The "Understanding Evolution" Web site is at http://evolution.berkeley.edu.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY exotic_princess)

Israeli rabbi says bird flu is God's punishment for being cool with gay marriage

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY fannyfae)

This is ABSOLUTELY great news! Please post it far and wide and let EVERYONE know. If more states try to ban abortions, look to Sovereign American Indian Nations to tell them where to get off!!

Note to Mods, if this is inappropriate to the list, let me know.


Giago: Oglala Sioux president on state abortion law
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

"When Governor Mike Rounds signed HB 1215 into law it effectively banned all abortions in the state with the exception that it did allow saving the mother’s life. There were, however, no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. His actions, and the comments of State Senators like Bill Napoli of Rapid City, SD, set of a maelstrom of protests within the state.

Napoli suggested that if it was a case of “simple rape,” there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli’s description of rape as “simple.” He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by “simple rape.”

The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, was incensed. A former nurse and healthcare giver she was very angry that a state body made up mostly of white males, would make such a stupid law against women.

“To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,” she said to me last week. “I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction.”

Strong words from a very strong lady. I hope Ms. Fire Thunder challenges Gov. Rounds and the state legislators on this law that is an affront to all independent women."

From:

http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/013061.asp

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jehovahsfitness)

Yeah, because having all three branches of government filled almost entirely by Christians isn't enough.
That statement from the Daily Kos article on Mike Huckabee in response to his claim that that Christianity is not represented "nearly enough" in Washington makes me wonder who in the three branches isn't Christian. I know Paul Wolfowitz, Rep. Bernie Sanders, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are of Jewish background. I guess you could count the Catholics too, if you wanted, because everyone knows they're not real Christians. Actually, because of the popularity that kind of rhetoric, I was really surprised that the Protestant Harriet Miers was opposed by the Right while the Catholic Roberts and Alito had smooth sailing. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent. Any other non-Christians in the Executive or Legislative branches that come to mind?

Addendum: This site may come in handy, if you're interested enough, or in the future for research on the wiki.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY dunesong)

Hello all :)

Here is an interesting bit from the Pandas thumb:

http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/03/what_were_up_ag.html

Excerpt:

An elementary school teacher in Bennett, Colorado, has been suspended for showing her class a 12-min portion of the opera Faust, according to reports in the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post, and the Los Angeles Times.

-snip-

Parents accused Ms. Waggoner of devil worship and, in at least one instance, of not being a Christian, as if not being a Christian were somehow reprehensible. In fact, Ms. Waggoner, herself an opera singer, describes herself as a Christian and has two Christian recordings among her credentials.


For those interested in the evolution - creation/ID side of things that have been popping up here as of late Pandas Thumb is a good resource. Another is http://www.talkorigins.org/