World Family Policy Center Newsletter

Governor Mitt Romney reversed course on the state's new emergency contraception law yesterday, saying that all hospitals in the state will be obligated to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims.

The decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds.

Romney had initially supported that interpretation, but he said yesterday that he had changed direction after his legal counsel, Mark D. Nielsen, concluded Wednesday that the new law supersedes a preexisting statute that says private hospitals cannot be forced to provide abortions or contraception.

''And on that basis, I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view," Romney said at the State House after signing a bill on capital gains taxes.

The unexpected decision revived an awkward political situation for Romney, who has staked out more conservative positions on social issues as he gears up for a possible presidential run in 2008. After vetoing the emergency contraception bill this summer, he declared himself firmly ''prolife" and faulted the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Yesterday, abortion opponents, who see the morning-after pill as a form of abortion, predicted a court battle over the issue, while reproductive rights advocates expressed surprise at the change of heart. Democrats accused the governor of a ''flip-flop."

Romney made his announcement a week before the controversial law takes effect. His decision resolves, for now, a debate that has raged since the Department of Public Health disclosed its position Monday. The department had said that the existing statute allowed private hospitals to sidestep the new requirement if they wished. Massachusetts is one of eight states that require all hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims.

To read entire article:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/09/romney_says_no_hospitals_are_exempt_from_pill_law/

...................

3. Ford Motor Pulls Some Ads From Gay Press

By Sholnn Freeman

Washington Post

December 7, 2005

Ford Motor Co. said it will stop running ads for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands in the gay press, helping to avoid a confrontation with conservative Christians but setting up a fight with gays and lesbians.

The American Family Association, a conservative religious group, launched a boycott of Ford this year for extending marriage benefits to same-sex couples and giving "thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda," the group said in written statement. The group criticized Ford for supporting gay commitment ceremonies and gay pride parades.

Ford spokesman Mike Moran said the move to stop advertising Jaguars and Land Rovers in gay publications such as the Advocate was based on a decision to streamline marketing budgets. Moran would not say what other magazine categories might be affected, citing competitive reasons.

Volvo, another Ford-owned luxury brand, will continue to advertise in gay publications. Ford has not advertised its U.S. brands, which include Ford, Mercury and Lincoln, in gay publications and does not plan to start, Moran said. "We've made it clear that decisions on where Ford brands advertise are made for business reasons, not as a social statement one way or the other," he said.

Ford has focused on niche markets at various times -- for example, trying to reach black families though marketing at churches and by supporting gospel music.

Gay groups denounced Ford's decision as a capitulation to the religious right. "It looks pretty clear that they have bowed to the American Family Association's demands," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group.

To read entire article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601733.html

Related Article: Fund Created for Ex-Employee Who Openly Opposed Homosexual 'Marriage'

By Jim Brown and Jenni Parker

December 6, 2005

(AgapePress) - A Chicago area-based charity group is coming to the aid of a Christian man who says he was fired from his job as a manager with Allstate Insurance Company's Corporate Security Division in Northbrook, Illinois, allegedly for writing a column expressing opposition to homosexual "marriage."

Matt Barber recently filed a religious viewpoint discrimination lawsuit against Allstate, claiming the insurance company wrongfully terminated him for expressing his belief that marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman. Although officials with the insurance company have denied the allegations, the State of Illinois' Department of Employment Security conducted an investigation into Allstate's actions.

In reporting its findings, the State ruled unequivocally in the fired worker's favor, determining that the "claimant (Mr. Barber) was discharged from Allstate Insurance Company because an outside organization had complained about an article he had written while on his own time." The State further concluded that Allstate intentionally chose to terminate Barber's employment for writing the article despite the fact that he had engaged in no misconduct whatsoever.

To read entire article:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/62005b.asp

....................

4. Religious Freedom for Christians in France Up in the Air, Says Observer

By Chad Groening

December 7, 2005

(AgapePress) - A Messianic Jewish leader believes the political winds in France could go either way when it comes to religious freedom for Christians. The Jewish evangelist thinks the tide has changed somewhat.

Stephen Pacht spent 14 years in France serving as station chief for Jew for Jesus in Paris until his transfer to London this summer. The Messianic Jewish believer says many Christians in France believe their religious freedom of speech is being curtailed by the government. "That remains to be seen," he says -- but notes hopefully that some in the government are sympathetic to Christians.

To read entire article:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/72005c.asp

Related Article: Attorney Advises Christian Teachers Caught in Christmas Dilemma

By Allie Martin

December 8, 2005

(AgapePress) - Christian teachers in public schools that censor religious expression during Christmastime are being advised to respectfully educate their superiors on what can and cannot legally be done to celebrate Christmas on campus.

Steve Crampton

This time of year many Christian teachers are finding themselves at odds with school policies that ban use of the words "Christmas" or "Christ" in December events. Steve Crampton, an attorney with the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy (CLP), has some advice. He says while teachers certainly owe allegiance and respect to their employer, they should contact groups -- such as the CLP -- that can take quick action to correct instances of Christmas censorship.

But before taking that step, Crampton suggests teachers respectfully approach their employers to explain that the law is, as he puts it, "perfectly accommodating" on such points. "Try to educate the school officials who, oftentimes, are working off of the talking points of the ACLU and the Left," he advises, asserting those officials have "just gotten bad information."

Crampton notes that teachers are perfectly within their constitutional rights to share the Christmas story or sing Christmas carols with their students. He cites a recent legal case he feels is relevant.

To read entire article:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/82005b.asp

Related Article: Florida Towns Face Lawsuit After Banning Nativity Scene

By Allie Martin

December 8, 2005

(AgapePress) - Two Florida cities are being sued after both banned a private display of a Nativity scene on public property. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ken Koening against Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach near Jacksonville.

Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach share joint control over a town center park that has a forum containing a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree. Also, both towns have approved an application by a private group to erect a large Menorah in the Park. However, when Koening wanted to display a Nativity scene in the same forum, both towns denied his request.

[Photo compliments of Liberty Counsel]

Mat Staver

Mathew Staver is president of Liberty Counsel, the pro-family legal organization that filed the lawsuit against the two Florida towns. He says their denial of Koening's request to erect a Nativity scene is "absolutely ridiculous" and constitutes unlawful discrimination against the Christian display.

"These cities have taken the position that the Christmas tree is okay, that the Menorah is fine, but the Nativity scene -- since it's religious in their view -- is unconstitutional," Staver says. "The problem is that the Jewish Menorah is indeed religious."

The Liberty Counsel spokesman feels the Florida city officials are engaging in the worst sort of constitutional violation. "What these cities have done," he asserts, "is they have violated the clear commands of the First Amendment. They say that the Christmas tree is secular. They erroneously say that the Menorah is secular -- it's not; it's religious."

To read entire article:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/82005c.asp

.................

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

COMING EVENTS

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES IV

Warsaw, Poland - 2007

Meeting in Rockford, Illinois (October 23-25), a planning committee of the World Congress of Families chose Warsaw, Poland as the site of the 4th World Congress. The Warsaw Congress will be held in May, 2007.

The Polish Federation of Pro-Life Movements, an organization with over 130 affiliates throughout the nation, will serve as the local host for WCF IV.

For more information: http://www.profam.org/press/thc.pr.051027.htm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Note: The Featured Articles excerpts are highlights of current events and

do not necessarily represent the views of the World Family Policy Center

or Brigham Young University.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Newsletter created and distributed by:

World Family Policy Center

J. Reuben Clark Law School

Brigham Young University

Managing Director: Richard Wilkins

Executive Director: A. Scott Loveless

Newsletter Editors: Joy S. Lundberg and Gary B. Lundberg

If you have any articles, editorials, or papers you would like

circulated through the WFPC News network, you may submit them to

lundberg@lawgate.byu.edu

If you do not wish to receive a copy of WFPC News you may unsubscribe

by sending an email to listserv@listserv.byu.edu. The subject should be

left blank and the body should read, "unsubscribe wfpc-news".