We are pleased to report to you each month our significant activities and accomplishments, all of which are made possible by your generous support. Ā Here are the highlights for May 2014:
- On May 8, AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Robert MuiseĀ presented oral argumentĀ in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit inĀ our challengeĀ to theĀ HHS contraception mandateĀ on behalf ofĀ Priests for Life.Ā Muise argued that the mandate imposes a substantial burden on Priests for Lifeās religious exercise in violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the U.S. Constitution.
- Immediately after the hearing, Muise and AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel David Yerushalmi spoke at aĀ religious freedom rallyĀ [seeĀ hereĀ andĀ here] held outside of the courthouse.Ā Other speakers included several members of Congress, includingĀ Senator Ted Cruz, and numerous national pro-life and pro-family leaders.
- On May 13, a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitĀ upheldĀ the Trademark Trial & Appeal Boardās (TTAB) denial of the trademark application for āStop the Islamisation of AmericaāĀ or āSIOA.āĀ In its ruling, the court agreed with the TTAB and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that the trademark disparaged Muslims and linked them to terrorism.Ā AFLC will likely seek review of this ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court.
- On May 22, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth CircuitĀ affirmedĀ a lower court decision that the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and two of its senior police officials did not violate the constitutional rights ofĀ Captain Paul Fields, a Tulsa police officer who was summarily punished for objecting to an order mandating attendance at an Islamic proselytizing event held at a local mosque based on his religious beliefs.Ā AFLC will be filing a petition for full court review of this erroneous decision.
- On May 23, AFLC filed a renewed motion for summary judgment in itsĀ caseĀ defending theĀ Center for Security PolicyĀ (CSP) and others who were sued byĀ CAIRĀ for conducting an undercover documentary designed to expose CAIRās nefarious activities. Ā In this motion, AFLC highlighted the courtās errors in its prior ruling and thus requested that the court reconsider its decision and grant summary judgment in AFLCās favor on the few remaining claims. Ā The court previously denied CAIRās motion in its entirety.
- On May 27, MuiseĀ appearedĀ onĀ Fox NewsāĀ The Kelly FileĀ to discuss the recent ruling in Captain Fieldsā case.
Thank you once again for all of yourĀ support, past and present. Ā May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America!