Canada's Chosen People Ministries loses appeal
Canada's Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal of a Federal Court ruling prohibiting Chosen People Ministries from using a stylized menorah as its "official mark" in the country.

The Canadian Jewish Congress had argued that the messianic Jewish organization cannot use any image of a menorah because it is a Christian group, and such use is "scandalous, offensive to Canadians, and deceptive."

"The Federal Court of Appeal's decision upholding the ruling of Justice Blais reinforces CJC's efforts to prevent so-called Hebrew-Christian groups from misappropriating hallowed symbols of the Jewish people for their own exclusive use," CJC national president Keith Landy said in a press release.

The court's oral decision doesn't seem to be on its website, and so far the only press coverage is from Jewish media who clearly side with the CJC. Chosen People Ministries isn't quoted in the stories and doesn't have a statement about the ruling on its website. (Unlike our other articles, Weblog doesn't include original reporting. If CPM posts a response, we'll link to it.)

Still, The Western Jewish Bulletin notes that CPM has applied for trademark status for its menorah symbol. The battle that apparently ended at the Federal Court of Appeal was over whether CPM could use its menorah as an "official mark," which offers more legal protection than a trademark. The CJC is opposing that move, too, so this fight still isn't over.

Pat Robertson's Regent University gets Saved by the Bell Weblog doesn't usually highlight higher-education appointments and promotions very often, but this one is worth noting. Regent University, the Virginia Beach school launched by broadcaster Pat Robertson, has appointed ...