Religion and the real estate agent
October 29, 2008
The Post had a story the other day on Christian real estate agents who market themselves to other Christians. Not that it’s an exclusive phenomenon — there are Jewish referral networks and agencies that cater to observant Muslims, for example — but in recent years, the Post says, “an increasing number of real estate agents have begun using Christian messages to market their businesses.”
From the article:
Nonetheless, groups such as the Christian Real Estate Network, or brokers such as [Philip] DeLizio, are walking a fine line, even if they use a disclaimer, said Connie Chamberlin, president of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting housing discrimination.
“If this said black real estate network, or white real estate network — looking for a white real estate agent to buy or sell a home? — how would that sound?” Chamberlin said. She added that eventually the courts will weigh in. “Some day one of these things is going to be litigated all the way to the Supreme Court — because there is so much of it.”
What do you think? Have you seen this type of religion-centered pitch among lawyers?
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentFighting for freedom of (or from) religion
July 9, 2008
Army Spc. Jeremy Hall doesn’t mind putting his life at risk to protect his country. What he does mind is having religious beliefs pushed on him by the government — and being punished for his lack of faith.
That’s why he filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, among others, claiming that his First Amendment right to religious freedom had been violated.
According to CNN, Hall, a former Baptist-turned-atheist, claims that the military discriminates against non-Christians. Unlike most plaintiffs, Hall isn’t asking for money. Instead, he wants the military to guarantee religious freedom for all soldiers.
What do you think? Should the military be allowed to encourage religious exercise and accommodate religion, or does the First Amendment prohibit any commingling of church and state?
CHRISTINA DORAN, Assistant Legal Editor
Sphere: Related ContentA different sort of ‘preacher problem’
June 10, 2008
Via the ABA Journal blog, a law professor says he was denied communion because he backs Barack Obama, an abortion-rights supporter. The prof, Pepperdine University’s Douglas Kmiec, writes a column for the Catholic News Service and used to be dean at Catholic University.
A spokesman for Cardinal Roger Mahoney has confirmed the event occurred in the Los Angeles Archdiocese and called the priest’s action “absolutely indefensible.”
What do you think about this?
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentCreationism in sheep’s clothing?
June 4, 2008
Whether it’s “creation science” or “intelligent design,” courts have generally barred public schools from teaching religious belief in the science classroom.
But according to an article in today’s New York Times, people who emphasize the “theory” in the theory of evolution hope another species of argument will prove to be a little more fit. They hope to convince the state education board of Texas to include a discussion of the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution in the curriculum.
While proponents say the strengths-and-weaknesses movement is just trying to provide balance in the classroom — “Why in the world would anybody not want to include weaknesses?,” the chairman of Texas’ education board says in the article — critics call this another example of “antievolution policies in sheep’s clothing.”
What do you think?
CHRISTINA DORAN, Assistant Legal Editor
Sphere: Related ContentAttack of the giant nuns
August 28, 2007
It sounds like the premise for a bad horror flick, but it’s all too real: there are 28 giant nuns on the streets of Baltimore’s central business district.
Seriously.
Don’t panic, though. They’re just 8-foot-tall cardboard cutouts (whew!) of the Sisters of Mercy.
Their mission? To guide troubled drivers to safe harbor, aka Mercy’s Saratoga Garage (227 St. Paul Street).
See, the medical center has closed its Old Pleasant Street Garage, which will face the wrath of the wrecking ball this fall.
Maybe the powers that be at Mercy figured it’s harder to grumble about parking woes to an instrument of God?
Or maybe it was just a thinly veiled (get it?) attempt to grab a headline.
Either way, it’s all to make way for Mercy’s new $400M inpatient building, which should grace downtown Baltimore in 2010.
-JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor
Photograph by Stephanie Miller.
Sphere: Related Content-
Business
Business posts- UnderArmour to supply apparel for SEC
- The next Great Depression: How ya like them apples?
- It’s all for the kids
- Will CEG shareholders support EDF’s bid?
- Battle of the Beltway
- Any price is too high if you’re broke
- Maryland: 10th-fastest internet speeds in nation
- Where the deals are
- Phelps named Sportsman of the Year
- Can SUV sales make a comeback?
Law
Law posts- Tis’ the season for layoffs
- A case of mistaken identity
- Beware of the blogging juror
- Inmate sought to intervene in Wells Fargo suit
- What’s behind that law firm’s headcount?
- Law blog round-up
- This week in Maryland Lawyer
- A history of football in Baltimore, courtesy of a lawsuit
- Baltimore crime stuck at 12th-worst in U.S.
- First a mongrel Mercedes, now a botched Bentley
Recent Posts
- Tis’ the season for layoffs
- UnderArmour to supply apparel for SEC
- The next Great Depression: How ya like them apples?
- A case of mistaken identity
- It’s all for the kids
Recent Comments
- Jacki Pearlman: Unfortunately, the game will not live up to it’s hype. I am a diehard Redskins fan after being...
- Isolde: Anybody remember GreedyAssociates.com? That’s basically a forum for ads and political weirdos now. Why?...
- Liz Farmer: Thanks for chiming in guys. Ed, you are exactly right. I did not include this in my original post but...
- Rick Rigini: Did you ever read the children’s book Norman the Doorman?
- Ed Waters Jr.: In many articles, it seems the writers tend to overlook the fact that some people need an SUV (or...
On Commenting
We ask that our readers follow a few guidelines, noted below.Please do not post any personal attacks, profanity, spam or other advertisements — they will be removed. Also, please post using only one name or pseudonym, as this consistency helps establish a sense of community. We will delete posts if they are signed with different names but originate from the same IP or email address. And if you’re going to comment using a proper name, please make it your own. Deliberate misrepresentations will be removed.