Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 8 March 2024
India steps up ‘anti-Christian’ laws in some states to prevent ‘magic healings’ and evangelism
(Open Doors)
RLUIPA cases prove costly for governments, favorable to religious groups
(Steve Lieberman, LoHud)
Religious freedom of women key to global peace, President Johnson tells European Union Parliament
(Church Newsroom)
The tribulations of indigenous religious communities
(Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
Japan: Anti-Muslim sentiment in Japan on rise after Israel's attacks on Gaza
(Ömer Faruk Madanoğlu, Anadolu Agency)
Ghana's LGBT terror: 'We live in fear of snitches'
(Favour Nunoo and Thomas Naadi, BBC News)
Nigeria's Boko Haram crisis: Dozens of women feared abducted in Gamboru Ngala
(Mansur Abubakar, BBC News)
Why hospitals in many states with legal abortion may refuse to perform them
(Rachana Pradhan and McKenzie Beard, The Washington Post)
Florida public schools could make use of chaplains under bill going to DeSantis
(Brendan Farrington, Associated Press)
Baltimore to pay $275k in legal fees after trying to block far-right Catholic group’s 2021 rally
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Zelensky and Greek PM visited Odesa Cathedral hit by Russian missile
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Human rights claims and the Orthodox in America
(A. G. Roeber, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Use of cremation ashes for jewellery (again)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
UN experts urge Britain to repatriate former ‘Daesh bride’ Shamima Begum
(Arab News)
English bishops support countering ‘devastating consequences’ of jailing child caregivers
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Charity law in England & Wales: updated guidance
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
“All the world’s a stage” – or perhaps not: Omooba
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
KAICIID hosts pivotal 2024 spring leadership meeting in Lisbon: Shaping the future of sustainable development through interreligious dialogue
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Census: Seattle the least-religious big city, Atlanta the most observant
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Vietnam: Government declares two exiled human rights groups as terrorist organisations
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is at it again. On the non-ratification of the credentials of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation
(Anca Ailincai, Strasbourg Observers)
Advancing religious literacy in governance: The religious freedom around the world subcommittee hearing
(Harvard Divinity School)
Church tax – should Swiss companies be forced to pay?
(Le News)
China: Xinjiang authorities are retroactively applying laws to prosecute religious leaders as criminals
(China File)
Iraq: Christians in Iraq still fear insecurity
(Jean Charles Putzolu and Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)
Iran: Unprecedented and inhumane: More than 30 Baha’i new graves razed by Iranian authorities
(Bahá’í International Community)
Israel and Palestine are now in a religious war
(Caroline de Gruyter, Foreign Policy)
Jerusalem Palestinians prepare for Ramadan amid holy month’s uneasy politics
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Thursday, 7 March 2024
EVENT, 7 March 2024: Robert P. George Lecture: The Constitution and Civic Virtue (Provo, Utah, USA)
(Wheatley Institute, Brigham Young University)
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Paris Olympics poster criticised for removing cross on site of Napoleon’s tomb
(Susie Coen, The Telegraph)
French police hunt an assailant who attacked a man leaving a Paris synagogue
(Associated Press)
Globally, government restrictions on religion reached peak levels in 2021, while social hostilities went down
(Samirah Majumdar and Sarah Crawford, Pew Research Center)
Indonesia officially adopts Indonesian term for ‘Jesus Christ’
(Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch)
WEBINAR, 6 March 2024 (12:30PM EST): Catholic Sisters Working To Eradicate Human Trafficking
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Divided Ninth Circuit rejects Apache religious challenge to mine development on sacred land at Oak Flat
(Arienne Calingo, University of Notre Dame Law School)
In Guatemala, public schools turn to Bible study to boost reading and resist gang culture
(Catherine Pepinster, Religion News Service)
Slain pregnant Amish woman had cuts to her head and neck, Pennsylvania police say
(Mark Scolforo and Peter Smith, Associated Press)
No twerking. No drinking. No smoking. But plenty of room for Jesus at this Christian nightclub
(Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski, Associated Press)
‘A global sisterhood of peacemakers’: President Johnson emphasizes religious liberty for women during address at the European Union Parliament
(Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News)
Law professor sheds light on ongoing Native American religious discrimination case
(Aynslee Dellacca, The Observer)
Abdelsalam: Religions must work together for brighter future
(Vatican News)
Nine years after Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, Muslims launch a counterpart
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Teen suspect in stabbing of Jewish man in Zurich expressed solidarity with Islamic State group
(Jamey Keaten, Associated Press)
Exclusive: Police interrogate and beat Tibetans arrested in dam protest
(Kalden Lodoe and Tenzin Pema, Radio Free Asia)
Mozambique jihadist attacks: Fears for 70 missing children
(Jose Tembe and Gloria Aradi, BBC News)
Priest battles ‘hate crime’ charges for criticizing Islam
(Catholic News Agency)
Church authorities in Greece slap religious ban on local politicians who backed same-sex marriage
(Associated Press)
African American religions and the voodoo label
(Danielle N. Boaz, Oxford University Press)
Faith in God, themselves, and the people: Black religious activist-educators
(Almeda M. Wright, Oxford University Press)
A new Holocaust Museum shows how three-quarters of Dutch Jews were deported and killed
(Associated Press)
Christian organization challenges grant rule barring religious favoritism in hiring
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Christian employers protected from requirement to provide insurance for gender transition procedures
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Certiorari denied in ministerial exception case
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Chaplains, faith groups, and civil rights organizations oppose public-school chaplain programs
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Costa Rica: Catholic activists denounce growing migrant crisis in Costa Rica
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pakistan: Karachi's dwindling Goan Christian community
(Mohammad Salman, Deutsche Welle)
A misuse of religious freedom at the border
(Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, National Review)
Ukraine: Latest draft Law targets Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Russian links
(Dmytro Vovk, Forum 18 News Service)
The anti-family right
(Matthew Schmitz, First Things)
Alabama rules that embryos are children
(Emma Waters, First Things)
Sub Deo Ep. 2: In which we discuss the Alabama Supreme Court IVF ruling with a colleague
(Marc DeGirolami, Mirror of Justice Blog)
Philippine Church seeks justice, peace on massacre anniversary
(Ronald O. Reyes, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Israel to allow same numbers into Al-Aqsa during start of Ramadan as in previous years
(Reuters)
Religious Freedom Restoration Act sees revival of state support
(Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
3 unsettled questions regarding the constitutionality of public funding of religious schools
(Bruno V. Manno, Reason)
Churches' challenges in health and healing work highlighted by global panel
(World Council of Churches)
W.A. and Others v. Italy: Is a cry for help not enough to trigger non-refoulement?
(Juan Ruiz Ramos, Strasbourg Observers)
Faithful Catholics ask court for freedom to adopt children in need
(Becket)
Nicaragua: Female prisoners punished for praying out loud
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Could churches help solve Arizona's housing crisis? What to know about 'Yes in God's Backyard' bill
(Ray Stern, Arizona Republic)
UN Human Right Council 55: Statement on freedom of religion and belief
(UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva))
UK: Muslim student accused of anti-Semitism wins case against politician
(Anealla Safdar, Al Jazeera)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – February 2024
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Weekly update - 28 February 2024
(UK Human Rights Blog)
Brazil: Prison Pastoral highlights restrictions on religious assistance to prisoners (Portuguese)
(Evandro Éboli, Correio Braziliense)
March 2024 Newsletter
(The Association of Religion Data Archives)
Tuesday, 5 March 2024
EVENT, 5 March 2024 (5PM GMT): Palace of Westminster: Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and Business (London, UK)
(All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Monday, 4 March 2024
Lankford introduces resolution supporting international religious freedom
(James Lankford, U.S. Senate)
Biden administration finalizes rule on religious liberty protections
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
American Atheists celebrates restoration of religious freedom protections for recipients of federally funded social services
(American Atheists)
Ben-Gvir demands limit on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan
(Middle East Monitor)
WCC expresses solidarity as Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemn “wanton attack against innocent civilians”
(World Council of Churches)
Member of Fiqh Councils in Europe and North America: The Islamic Nation must wage jihad to help the Palestinians; Sykes-Picot borders have no legal status in religious laws of jihad
(The Middle East Media Research Institute)
EVENT, 4 March 2024 (3PM CET): Inspire Inclusion: Empowering women's freedom of religion or belief, European Parliament (Brussels, Belgium)
(Ms. Anga Haga MEP (EPP, Netherlands), European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
EVENT, 4 March 2024 (18:00 GMT): Weaponisation of Faith Against Uyghur Women (London, UK)
(Rachel Harris, Rahima Mahmut, Ewelina U. Ochab, René Cassin)
Iraq: Unregistered marriages harm women and children
(Human Rights Watch)
The political views of these Christian nationalists might surprise you
(Anthea Butler, MSNBC)
Support for Christian nationalism in all 50 states: findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas
(PRRI)
Girl Scout troop resolved to support migrants despite backlash
(Sara Herschander, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
A message for nonprofits: Black churches are powerful potential allies
(Drew Lindsay, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
The 19th Explains: Will states follow Alabama in ending IVF access?
(Shefali Luthra, The 19th)
Why a US state court ruling on the rights of children before birth is unjust
(Dominic Wilkinson, The Conversation)
Hulu will let Texas church promote services after reversing ‘religious indoctrination’ ban
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Half of evangelicals see immigrants as drain on resources, new poll shows
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Canadian measure would remove free speech protection for quoting Bible, sacred texts
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
EU Court rules on asylum seeker's religious c/onversion: impact on international protection standards
(Olalekan Adigun, BNN)
French bishops lament progress of vote to enshrine abortion
(John Burger, Aleteia)
A/HRC/55/47/Add.2: Visit to Sweden - Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea (Advance unedited version)
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
The Catholic Church in Hungary is deeply politicized—and shrinking
(Bridget Ryder, America: The Jesuit Review)
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