The Liberty Blog

Has the traditional family become "social and moral nonsense?"  Tim Rutten, writer for the Los Angeles Times, apparently thinks so.  This is the phrase he uses describe the recent California Supreme Court decision upholding the validity of Proposition 8, which amends the California constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.   Rutten's views seem par for the course for the "chattering classes" of professional opinion shapers.  This group seems largely bent on more... (66 Comments)

The jury trial is fundamental to the American system of ordered liberty. Jury trials are not limited to criminal matters, but are also vitally important to resolve civil rights disputes. Today, millions of American workers have lost the right to have their civil rights cases heard in court, by juries. Instead, they are forced into arbitration by employment contracts they did not really agree to, but were forced to sign as a condition of obtaining more... (18 Comments)

Jay S. Bybee, now a federal judge on the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, has come under intense scrutiny for his role in writing a legal memo defining torture during the George W. Bush administration.  Bybee was head of the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department when his office was asked to prepare a legal brief on the use of aggressive interrogation techniques on the war combatant prisoners held by the more... (62 Comments)

"I cannot and will not recant anything.  For to go against the conscience is neither right nor safe."   Those famous words were spoken on April 18, 1521 by Martin Luther as he stood before Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire.  Individuals of conscience have always been a thorn in the side of politicians.  Those who stand for conscience are such an uncompromising group - they exasperate those in power by their refusal to compromise more... (75 Comments)

"That man is bad!" declared Margaret More as she perceived the avarice of Richard Rich, the man who's later perjury would be responsible, as far as Robert Bolt's retelling of the story is concerned, for the beheading of her father Sir Thomas More.  "There is no law against that," Sir Thomas noted.  Butting in unceremoniously to the conversation was the young Roper, Margaret's suitor.  Roper, as rash as he was young, bellowed after Thomas, "There is! God's more... (33 Comments)

Marriage was not the only thing on trial in the California Supreme Court on March 5 as the justices heard arguments about the constitutionality of Proposition 8, itself a constitutional amendment approved by the voters to define marriage as a man and a woman. Also on trial was the fundamental constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government.  Our founding fathers inserted such a guarantee into the constitution long before there was a more... (75 Comments)

The United States Supreme Court handed down its opinion in a controversial and confusing case of Pleasant Grove City, Utah v. Summum. The Summum Church wanted to display a monument containing the "seven aphorisms." The church teaches that these aphorisms were handed down by God to Moses on the same tablets containing the Ten Commandments, but the Israelites were not ready to receive them, so they were kept secret. They insisted that because the city more... (25 Comments)

The most pervasive topic of discussion in Washington these days is the economy.  Everything else pales in comparison.  The President and his cabinet - leaders of the House and Senate are all talking about the economy.  The effects of the stimulus bill will take some time before you or I feel it on "Main Street".  The jury is still out as to its ultimate effect - it may prove to be too much of a more... (46 Comments)

  Last Thursday, February 5, President Obama signed an executive order creating the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  At the annual National Prayer Breakfast he stated that “The goal of this office will not be to favor one religious group over another--or even religious more... (70 Comments)

I denied God on a flight from St. John’s (Newfoundland) to Toronto (Ontario).  I have since imagined how Peter must have felt (only to a small degree of course) when he denied he even knew Christ.  I was returning to boarding school – Kingsway College.  That was a time when air travelers got a more... (31 Comments)