How to Get Arrested for Marrying Same-Sex Couples

There has been a lot of hubbub going around news outlets, blogs, and social media about how Republicans have changed the law in Indiana (my beloved home state) to make it a crime for same-sex couples to apply for  marriage licenses and “for clergy to conduct weddings for gay couples.” (Emphasis from Americablog.)

Nothing New Here

As several sources have pointed out (again, blog and news outlet alike), these accounts are off target. The laws are not new, and they do not explicitly target same-sex couples. The only thing that is new is the name Indiana gives to the category of crime committed.

Master Meeting Minutes (free article for a limited time from Church and Tax Law)

Free for a limited time, some helpful tips for creating great minutes for church meetings: http://bit.ly/15Q3HOx . (http://churchlawandtax.com )

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com or @LawMeetsGospel.

National Day of Prayer

It's National Day of Prayer. Pray for all who protect our freedoms and for those without those freedoms. http://wh.gov/zxwf 

Cert. Denied in Indiana Church Property Dispute

The Supreme Court of the United States denied certiorari in a dispute between the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and a congregation that decided to leave the denomination. The Indiana Supreme Court had returned the case to the trial court for facts to be determined at trial rather than by summary judgment. Access the Supreme Court list of today’s orders here, the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision here, and the vacated Indiana Court of Appeals decision here. Find audio and video of oral arguments at the Indiana Supreme Court here and at the Court of Appeals here.

The Indiana Lawyer reported the case here. It had previously reported on the Indiana Supreme Court’s grant of transfer here and its decision here. It had reported on the Court of Appeals decision here.

The case will now return to the Vanderburgh Circuit Court for further proceedings.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com or @LawMeetsGospel.

Houses of Worship Hit by Sandy Face Difficulty Obtaining FEMA Relief

The Jewish Daily Forward has a piece in this week’s issue highlighting the challenges posed bythe Federal Emergency Management Agency’s bar on grants to houses of worship. Jewish agencies are helping synagogues apply and challenge the policy.
HT to  Howard Friedman’s Religion Clause.

Don't kidnap your youth group, even to teach a lesson

Religion Clause has this entry demonstrating why it's a bad idea to try a mock kidnapping: Pastor and Church Indicted Over Mock Kidnapping Of Youth Group Members

Indiana Town Asks Church to Remove Cross from Public Property

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the Hoosier town of Dugger has asked Faith Community Church to remove a cross that says “Jesus Saves” after the town council received a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The Dugger Town Council unanimously voted to ask the church to remove the cross. Apparently the council sought to avoid a legal battle, which the town could not afford. The church’s pastor, Shawn Farris, is considering options.

The Star included comments from Americans United’s Executive Director, Rev. Barry Lyn, who said the group is “trying to provide a voice for the minority.” The report does not mention anyone in the community for whom Americans United was specifically referring to or to any comments supporting the measure on anything but financial grounds.

Dugger is located about thirty miles south of Terre Haute.