09/99, the Christian Coalition filed suit in federal court against Maine's campaign finance disclosure laws that require groups who take sides on ballot issues to register as PACs and disclose donors.
2002, State law requires businesses and health insurance companies to include coverage of contraceptives, but there is an exemption for companies that have a religious objection to providing such coverage. (Source: http://www.covermypills.org)
06/21/02, The Salvation Army could lose up to $60,000 in annual funding from the city of Portland because it refuses to provide equal healthcare benefits to the domestic partners of its homosexual employees. Under a municipal ordinance approved last year requiring all city-funded community groups to provide such benefits, the Salvation Army faces a funding cut-off on July 1. The Portland City Council rejected a move to exempt religious organizations like the Salvation Army from the new regulation." Funding will come with strings attached," said Council Representative James Cloutier, a supporter of the equal rights provision. "Portland has a well-established element of non-discrimination..." (Source: American Atheists’ AANEWS, June 21)
Restrictions on sale of liquor on Sunday seem to have been repealed.
Blue laws in the Maine code. Restrictions on
business for Sundays (referred to as "the Lord's Day) between noon and 5pm, some exceptions made. (3204)
Strange Blue Law! State statutes forbid the possession of hunting equipment in public or in one's vehicle on Sundays unless it is securely covered, securely fastened, or carried in pieces such that it cannot be fired. (7406, subsection 4 and 7945)
Another Strange Blue Law! "The Sunday Amateur Sports Law" (3205) outlines exactly what sports can and cannot be played or watched on Sunday evenings.
Local governments have to hold a vote in order for theaters to show movies on Sunday, between 1pm and 11:30pm (3207)
The Preamble to Maine's Constitution says in part, "…acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring God's aid and direction in its accomplishment,…"
In talking oaths or affirmations, the phrase "this I do under the pains and penalty of perjury"
may be used instead of "so help me God". (1991, c. 655, §2. And 1991, c. 518, §22 and 1253 and 1977, c. 114, § 16 )
The Maine state code refers to natural disasters as "acts of God".
Prisoners are to have access to Bibles and other materials of a "moral or religious tone" without cost and "excluding those of the opposite nature". (30A-MRSA-1653)
03/24/02, Religious schools are protesting their exclusion from a state program to provide $30 million worth of laptop computers to schools for seventh and eight-graders. According to the Maine Department of Education, this new technology will only be going public schools, or private schools where the state is paying for students to attend. This program is not including Maine's Parochial school system. “Private means private," said a DOE spokesperson. "We don't regulate them; we don't fund them." (Source: American Atheists AANEWS, March 24th)
Does have vouchers, but only for secular private schools. Four families tried to sue to get vouchers for religious schools, but in 4/99 in Bagley v. Raymond School Department (and also in Strout v. Albanese, appeals court) the Supreme Court said that not only was it permissible for
Maine to exclude religious schools from the program, but that public funding of
religious schools would be unconstitutional. More recently, (10/99) the Supreme Court
has held to this decision by refusing to hear another appeal.
1999, Voucher legislation (LD 781, LD 2170, LD 2080) was introduced in the
Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. They were heard in Committee on April 12 and
voted down. The House voted LD 2170 down, 125-20.
1999, Tuition tax credit
legislation (LD 1380, LD 1786) was heard in the Taxation Committee on March 19 and voted
down.
08/00, Lawrence S. Lerner, who had been
asked by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation to assess the quality of state science education standards for public
schools, gave this state a grade of F for the treatment of evolution.
(Reports of the National Center for Science Education, Aug./July 2000, p.44)
"[A] child shall not be considered to be abused or neglected, in jeopardy of health or welfare or in danger of serious harm solely because treatment is by spiritual means by an accredited practitioner of a recognized religious organization."
Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 22, Section 4010(1)
"When medical treatment is authorized under this chapter, treatment by spiritual means by an accredited practitioner of a recognized religious organization may also be considered if requested by the child or his parent."
Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 22, Section 4010(2)
Refusing a child's medical care on religious grounds* can be used as a penal code defense of child endangerment. (Maine Revised Statutes Annotated title 17A, section 557)
Parents may refuse to immunize their children for religious reasons
