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May 20, 2013
Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star
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May 13, 2013
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation
David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church
May 10, 2013
Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be
May 8, 2013
Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas
Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate
Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility
May 6, 2013
May 3, 2013
Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine
April 29, 2013
Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust
Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?
Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA
April 26, 2013
Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty
April 24, 2013
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Jewish World Review
'Right to Pray' amendment passes
By
Dave Helling
Missouri move could become model for other states
JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT)
Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment that supporters said will protect religious freedom.
The measure Amendment 2 says Missourians' right to express religious beliefs can't be infringed. It protects voluntary prayer in schools and requires public schools to display a copy of the Bill of Rights.
With all but two precincts statewide counted, 779,628 voted yes on the measure and 162,404 voted no, roughly a 5-1 margin.
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Many supporters referred to the measure as the "Right to Pray" amendment.
Missouri voters believe "religious liberty is pretty important to them and a high priority," said Kerry Messer, president of the Missouri Family Network, as the votes were counted. "The public feels like the Supreme Court took this away from them over 50 years ago" with a ruling against mandatory school prayer.
Alex Luchenitser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington D.C.-based group opposing the amendment, said he was disappointed but not surprised at the vote.
"This amendment promotes unconstitutional conduct," he said. "It's going to result in a whole lot of litigation."Any immediate impact of the amendment, which takes effect in 30 days, is still unclear.
The new amendment broadly expands the protections in the state's constitution by adding new sections on religious issues.
In addition to protecting voluntary prayer in school, the amendment:
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Ensures the right to pray individually or in groups in private or public places, as long as the prayer does not disturb the peace or disrupt a meeting
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Prohibits the state from coercing religious activity.
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Protects the right to pray on government property.
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Protects the right of legislative bodies to sponsor prayers and invocations.
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Says students need not take part in assignments or presentations that violate their religious beliefs.
That last provision may soon become the subject of litigation, some critics warned. They said it could lead to students skipping science classes or assignments when they disagree with teaching about the origins of man.
Supporters said those fears are overblown.
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© 2012, The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) Distributed by MCT Information Services
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