December is always a busy month at the Christian Law Association with thousands of calls flooding our office from Christians across America under fire for practicing their Biblical faith.  The ridiculous lengths to which some "anti-Christmas" (read, anti-Christian) activists will go to eliminate every mention of Christ in public life is sometimes amazing.  We thank God that many communities are fighting back.  In this month's case updates, you'll read about how some civic leaders, armed with the truth about their legal rights, are re-establishing Christmas celebrations and restoring the true meaning of the "holiday season."  Read about these and other legal developments in this month's case updates. 

Christmas Rules

Praise the Lord for all the cities and little towns across AMERICA that continued to keep Christ in Christmas this year. For instance, one city in TENNESSEE originally decided to ban a local church from participation in this year’s Christmas festival because the church planned to sponsor a live Nativity scene! After outrage from citizens and threats of a lawsuit, the city fathers reversed course and permitted the church to participate, as it has for decades.

Sunday Work Convictions.

Praise the Lord that a utility worker in KENTUCKY, who was being denied a Sunday work accommodation, has found a better job. Please continue to pray for employees in OHIO, TENNESSEE, and NEW MEXICO who are still attempting to resolve Sunday work situations. Pray for another worker in WASHINGTON who was fired after requesting a Sunday work accommodation. Sunday work cases are difficult because they are generally litigated only after the employee has been terminated.

Abortion Rights Trump Parents’ Rights In ALASKA And In FLORIDA

For the second time in six years, the Alaska Supreme Court has thrown out a state law that requires a minor girl seeking an abortion to obtain parental or judicial consent. In the 3-2 ruling, which Governor Sarah Palin called “outrageous,” the court decided that forcing young girls to get a parent’s permission before receiving an abortion “infringes on the child’s rights to reproductive freedom.”

In Florida, the 4th District Court of Appeals ruled that a 17-year-old girl can go ahead with her abortion, despite a previous denial by a circuit court judge. The teenager testified that she’s afraid of telling her parents about her pregnancy because of their standing in the local church. Although she “wouldn’t have sought an abortion,” she started thinking about it after her boyfriend’s parents suggested it. The appeals court overturned the initial ruling on the grounds that her decision to seek an adult’s advice showed signs of maturity.

Victories For Soul Winners

Praise the Lord that after attorneys for CLA intervened, police in TEXAS apologized for misinterpreting a door-to -door solicitation ordinance that exempted churches. Praise the Lord that a town in NORTH CAROLINA is permitting soul winning activities to continue on public streets after being threatened with a lawsuit over an unconstitutional ordinance. Council members had publicly admitted the ordinance was intended to end public witnessing.

Typo or Hostility?

Pray for parents in PENNSYLVANIA who noticed their daughter’s public school test paper contained a question comparing the “Muslim God, Allah” with the “Christian god.” When questioned, the teacher claimed the capitalization was merely a typo that had gone unnoticed. Pray as this family continues to closely monitor their daughter’s class in World Cultures for other signs of hostility towards the Christian faith.

In God We Trust

In Bakersfeld, CALIFORNIA the largest high school district in the country voted 4-1 to install displays that contain the nation’s motto, “In God We Trust,” as well as historic documents like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The decision affects over 2,300 classrooms and several district boardrooms, libraries, and administrative offices. “It’s not political, it’s not religious. It’s patriotism,” said Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan. “We are a faith-based people for the most part,” she said. “Sometimes you have to go with the majority.”

Get It In Writing

Pray for a church in OKLAHOMA that is in the middle of a building project but is not in compliance with building and zoning codes. A previous verbal agreement with a zoning official is not being honored by his successor.

Day Of The Dead Dies

Praise the Lord that after CLA published an article on the Day of Dead celebrations in public schools, one FLORIDA mother successfully challenged the holiday in her local school. Her child’s teacher had instituted this holiday without permission from the principal, and the celebration was immediately cancelled.