Religion

Gay activists to protest outside of Exodus conference

Ellyn Pak, The Orange County Register Local members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are planning to protest religious activists' efforts to cure people from homosexuality this weekend. The demonstration will be held at the intersection of Ridgeline and University drives outside of Concordia University's campus where Exodus International is holding its annual conference…

School district dropped from anti-Christian lawsuit appeal

Scott Martindale, The Orange County Register The Mission Viejo teen who is seeking a stronger court ruling against his former high school teacher for violating his First Amendment rights is dropping the portion of his appeal targeting the school district as a liable party. Chad Farnan, a graduating senior at Capistrano Valley High School, will continue his federal appeals case against teacher James Corbett for disparaging Christianity in class. But Farnan has decided against appealing the part of the May 2009 court decision that found the Capistrano Unified School District not liable for the veteran teacher's actions…

Judge: Prayer at college events can continue

Niyaz Pirani, The Orange County Register A request that would have barred religious invocations at Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges until a lawsuit on the matter could be heard has been denied by a federal judge. The request stemmed from a lawsuit filed in November by Americans United for Separation of Church and State against the South Orange County Community College District. Judge R. Gary Klausner, a federal judge in the Central District of California, denied the request last week because the plaintiffs did not show that "irreparable injury" would be caused if the invocations are included as part of the program at college events…

The faith of our founding fathers: in context

Letters: Steve Fleming, The Orange County Register If Jim Corbett's letter, "John Adams on religion" [Nov. 2], is an example of his teaching style for Advanced Placement History, I understand why he is controversial. His quotes were incomplete and taken out of context … Revisionists like Corbett deliberately reverse Adams's position. Many other Adams quotations refer to his Christian faith and his belief that religion is an essential part of the fabric of American life...

Christian right targets school boards

Dan Froomkin, The Orange County Register Conservative agenda part of local races: The Christian right is marching on a school board near you. From Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano, about two dozen candidates for school board are running on similar, very conservative platforms. The candidates, most new to politics, by and large want students in public school to be taught that abortion is wrong and that creationism is as valid a scientific theory as evolution. They support government vouchers for private school and the infusion of what they call "traditional values" into public school. And they oppose spending for anything but the basics, which don't include bilingual education and social programs. Running in large enough numbers in some districts to sway or even take control from more moderate members, they are quietly vowing to change the face of public education…