Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act is facing a constitutional challenge in Federal Court in Philadelphia. The Independence Law Center and the Thomas More Society have stepped in to defend the traditional “one man, one woman” definition of marriage in the court in the case called Cozen O’Connor v. Tobits. Attorneys for a lesbian woman who [...]
The King’s Men, a group of Christian men were sued in both state and federal court for holding signs in front of a porn shop and turning men back from the temptations and snares inside the store. Not only was the state court proceeding put on hold (pending the outcome of the federal case), but [...]
Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel of the Independence Law Center, and Lindsey Hoban, an allied attorney with Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia, tried a case in Common Pleas Court in Wyoming County on behalf of the Northmoreland Baptist Church. The hearing went well, providing ample opportunity for the pastor of the church to talk about the gospel [...]
Just before Christmas of 2010, the Independence Law Center filed an amici brief on behalf of the Pa. Family Institute, the Pa. Pro-Life Federation, the Pa. Catholic Conference, and about 60 state legislators in a case called In the Interest of Jane Doe, which involved a minor seeking an abortion. State law requires a minor [...]
An elementary school student at the Pocono Mountain School District in Pennsylvania was told by school officials that she could not invite classmates to a Christmas party at her church. Sometimes when the government is confronted with the unconstitutional and frankly preposterous nature of their restrictions they quickly back down and change their policies—and no [...]
A middle school student in York County recently wore a t-shirt to school stating, “Abortion is not Healthcare.” One might applaud the student for caring about issues that really matter and communicating truth to those around him. And in light of the messages we’ve all seen on t-shirts, we might also praise him for good [...]
The Independence Law Center worked with a man who was prohibited by his probation officer from attending church. After receiving advice from the Law Center, the man was able to work out the situation with the probation officer so that his right to attend Sunday services and Wednesday evening Bible studies has been restored.
A Methodist Church in suburban Philadelphia took seriously the scriptural call to help the poor. They opened a homeless ministry to allow persons facing homelessness to stay at the church free of charge and to receive counseling while they got back on their feet financially. The Township zoning officer took a different view of the [...]
Two churches have been in contact with the Independence Law Center after they were told they were violating zoning by meeting in a theater. One of the churches, meeting in a theater in Montgomery County, was told that they were in violation because “religious uses” were not permitted in a “shopping” zone. The Independence Law [...]
The Independence Law Center, along with the Alliance Defense Fund, lent assistance to a religious organization being prosecuted by the State of New Jersey because it refused to allow its boardwalk pavilion to be used for a lesbian “wedding” ceremony. While the organization has allowed the pavilion to be used for weddings in the past, [...]
The Independence Law Center won two cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit involving the use of a public alley by pro-life counselors outside of an abortion clinic in York, Pennsylvania. Police, paid for and directed by Planned Parenthood, arrested one pro-lifer for merely entering a public alleyway in order [...]
Good news: Coyotes, a nude dance club in Bucks County, Pa, has closed for business, and the building is going up for sheriff’s sale! The Independence Law Center was on the case, helping local activists and township officials take steps to restrict and possibly even shut down this strip club. Working with a local men’s [...]
Daniel Gowen regularly preaches in public places, including the downtown square in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He describes his preaching as Gospel-centered that leads to an audience stopping and listening. Earlier this year, however, he was cited by a mounted policeman for violating the City’s noise ordinance. Noise ordinances, while designed to serve the public, are often [...]