7th Circuit: U. of Wis.-Madison cannot deny funding to Catholic student group

CHICAGO — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled Wednesday that University of Wisconsin-Madison officials violated the First Amendment by refusing to fund events of a student Catholic organization while providing funding for the events of other student organizations. The university refused funds from student activity fees because the student group’s events contained religious expression, including prayer, worship, and proselytization. The court affirmed lower court rulings that concluded the funding refusal amounted to unconstitutional discrimination based on viewpoint.  Read more >>

Federal court halts Obama administration’s embryonic stem cell policy

WASHINGTON — The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Monday issued an order that prevents the Obama administration from carrying out its embryonic stem cell research policy while a lawsuit against it proceeds in court. The court concluded that the policy, which allows such research, is likely to be in violation of a federal law known as the “Dickey/Wicker Amendment” that prohibits federal funds from being used on research that involves the destruction of human embryos.  Read more >>