Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 18 December 2023
Vatican Declaration: Blessing same-sex couples
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Cuba: WCC general secretary will visit Cuba to voice support for churches, communities
(World Council of Churches)
International Migrants Day, “let’s advance the cause of humanity through a fair and just EU Pact on Migration and Asylum”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Russia: Religious issues & persecution – Bimonthly Digest Dec. 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: Religious issues & persecution – Bimonthly Digest Dec. 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Guangdong Overseas Friendship Association and Buddhist Association of Shenzhen visited the WFB headquarters
(The World Fellowship of Buddhists)
New approaches to protecting religious freedom: Cultural heritage protection as a framework for IRF advocacy
(Emily K. Scolaro, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Kazakhstan: Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusion: HRWF enquires
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Ayahuasca exemption denied
(Courthouse News Service)
Iranian civil activists say forced hijab a tool for oppressing women
(Iran International)
A court ruled against itself: A strange Spanish decision on the Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Uganda: Religious leaders take stand against political party wrangles
(Monitor)
Legal Journal Number 3 (19): December (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)
Sunday, 17 December 2023
VIRTUAL EVENT, 17 December 2023 (10AM ET): Human Rights Violations & Restrictions on Religious Freedom in Colombia
(Margarita Jaramillo, International Commission for Human Rights and Religious Freedom)
Friday, 15 December 2023
How ‘After School Satan Club’ is shaking things up
(Michael Levenson, The New York Times)
Education, faith leaders denounce planned Satan club at Tennessee elementary school
(Associated Press)
What can be done to stop rise of antisemitism, intolerance and hatred based on religion?
(Council of Europe)
Advisory opinion as to whether an individual may be denied authorisation to work as a security guard or officer on account of being close to or belonging to a religious movement
(The European Court of Human Rights)
European Court advisory opinion: Security clearance may be withdrawn for supporter of religion that is threat to the state
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
A perfect moment for the Organization of American States to lead
(Emily A. Cole, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
WCC, with civil society groups, reiterates shared commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(World Council of Churches)
Colombia: WCC general secretary speaks before Colombian senate
(World Council of Churches)
EVENT, 15 December 2023 (12PM ET): Faith and Flourishing Societies (Washington, DC, USA)
(Faith & Law)
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS, due 15 December 2023: Human Rights Accountability of Non-Universally Recognised States and State-Like Entities
(Centre for Accountability and Liability Law, Utrecht University)
CALL FOR PAPERS, proposals due 15 December 2023: Law, Religion, and Artificial Intelligence: Risks and Opportunities of an Uncertain Future
(Journal of Law and Religion, Emory University)
Nonprofits help the nonreligious search for meaning in their lives
(Emily Haynes, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Pretty scary: 7 things to know about religion's decline and charitable giving
(Drew Lindsay, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Polish bishop reacts to call for changes to religion classes
(Luke Coppen, The Pillar)
Poland must legally recognize same-sex couples, European Human Rights Court rules
(Ryan Adamczeski, The Advocate)
Catholic church calls for dialogue with new government on proposed changes to school religion classes
(Notes from Poland)
Canada: Vegan firefighter loses bid to protect ethical vegans from discrimination
(Claire Hamlett, Plant Based News)
Wary court mulls religious claim over race, gender training
(Khorri Atkinson, Bloomberg Law)
Alabama’s plan for nation’s first execution by nitrogen gas is ‘hostile to religion,’ lawsuit says
(Kim Chandler, Associated Press)
Nigeria: Noise pollution: Lagos talks tough, places worship centres on close watch
(Olasunkanmi Akoni, Vanguard)
Nigeria: USCIRF alarmed by rising violence against religious groups in Nigeria
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Human rights leaders call for Nigeria to be redesignated as religious freedom violator
(Joe Bukuras, Catholic News Agency)
Christians and U.S. Policy on Armenia: Historically and Today
(Mark Movsesian, SSRN)
Japan: Law to rescue Unification Church victims: Thoroughly monitor the religious group’s assets
(The Japan News)
Japan: Law enacted to monitor asset shielding by religious corporations
(Kyodo News)
The “DiReSoM – Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies” Association is born
(DiReSoM: Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali/ Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies)
India: When 'honor'-and bureaucracy-stand in the way of marriage
(Khushbu Sharma, Zocalo)
Survey results: American Christian views on the Israel-Hamas war
(The Philos Project)
India: USCIRF deeply concerned by India’s transnational repression against religious minorities
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Top Polish leaders celebrate Hanukkah in parliament after antisemitic incident
(Vanessa Gera, Associated Press)
Protections from discrimination, or the right to discriminate: changing public perceptions of LGBTQ rights and religious freedom
(Kelsy Burke, PRRI)
'Germany will remain a home for Jews': German president (video)
(Theresa Tropper, Deutsche Welle)
Religious families urge Minnesota school district to opt-out their kids from LGBTQ curriculum
(First Liberty)
Many LGBTQ+ people are religious. Why don’t we have more data about them?
(Jasmine Mithani, The 19th)
Germany and Turkey agree to train imams who serve Germany’s Turkish immigrant community in Germany
(Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press)
Germany, Netherlands arrest 4 over Hamas plot
(Deutsche Welle)
‘Safe’ abortion zones Bill a threat to freedom of religion, belief and expression, says Catholic Primate
(Patsy McGarry, The Irish Times)
4th Circuit: Nation of Gods and Earths may qualify as a religion
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Illinois won't prosecute pro-life centers under 'deceptive business practices' law
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
How to manage the end of perpetual challenging rights? – The case of Legros and Others v. France
(Daniel Krotov, Strasbourg Observers)
NSS supports international secularism conference in Paris
(National Secular Society)
Unconstitutional religious discrimination runs rampant in state programs
(Nicole Stelle Garnett, Tim Rosenberger, Manhattan Institute)
Role of Islam in Turkish education fuels secularist fears
(Daren Butler and Birsen Altayli, Reuters)
Albania returns 20 stolen icons to neighboring North Macedonia
(Llazar Semini, Associated Press)
Virginia Supreme Court rules for teacher who refused to use student's preferred pronouns
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
We can’t take democracy for granted
(Simran Jeet Singh, RNS Column: Articles of Faith)
Dept. of Education to investigate antisemitism on at least 5 more campuses including Rutgers and Tulane
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Survey: Antisemitism at US campuses limited to select schools
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Black church coalition names reparations, voting, health equity among priorities
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
In Texas, debate over school chaplains escalates school board culture wars
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Israel-Gaza: Does Islamophobia play a part in US foreign policy? (video)
(Al Jazeera)
Crimea: Continuing Russian attempts to crush religious communities
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
SBU thwarted anti-Semitic actions planned by Russia, - Chief Rabbi of Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
EU Enlargement | COMECE President welcomes historic decision of the European Council
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
UGCC activities banned in occupied Zaporizhzhia (document)
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia is trying to use national minorities against Ukraine's interests – Ismagilov
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Kyrgyzstan: raids, closures of mosques, madrassahs, Muslim critics arrested
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
Shifting alliances and the lost consensus: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act at thirty
(Kenneth Townsend, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religious expressions, displays get new protection under 2023 defense authorization bill
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Vietnam: President invites Pope Francis to visit Vietnam
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Israeli troops kill 12 Palestinians, desecrate West Bank mosque
(Ali Sawafta, Reuters)
Development: COMECE welcomes EP recognition of the role of faith-based actors in education
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Strong and deep nexus between human dignity and religious freedom
(Jan Figel, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Tunisia: RFI announces joint report with UK officials on religious freedom in Tunisia
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Church of England to introduce same-sex blessing, as it faces ‘disestablishment’ bill in Parliament
(Catherine Pepinster, Religion News Service)
The tense battleground of religion in schools is not a Jewish Issue (opinion)
(Shimon Cohen, Jewish News)
European Parliament votes in favour of controversial Parenthood Certificate
(Christian Network Europe)
Iran: Criminalizing blasphemy: implications for Iran’s religious minorities
(Lucy Ridout and Saad Ahmad, Minority Rights Group International)
Iran: Religious minorities in Iran face cultural violence
(Fred Petrossian, Global Voices)
Italy: “Religious freedom is still caged in a political-religious culture that has not accepted pluralism”
(Evangelical Focus)
Brazil: The protection of the right to religious freedom of Afro-religious people in Brazil based on the right of response (Portuguese)
(Isabela Maria Soares Silva, Jota)
Thursday, 14 December 2023
VIRTUAL EVENT, 14 December 2023 (12PM ET): Is Our Conscience Revolted? A Conversation on Children in War, Grounded in Rights and Faith
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 14 December 2023 (4:30PM GMT+2): Upholding the Dignity of the Human Person
(Swami Sarvapriyananda and Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Elijah Interfaith Institute)
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
‘I no longer feel at home here’: German Muslims frustrated by Israel backing
(Kate Connolly, The Guardian)
Kindergarten in Germany removes Christmas tree and sparks debate
(Ivan Dimitrov, The European Times)
Berlin drops Mahmoud Abbas’ Holocaust hate speech case due to diplomatic immunity
(Toby Axelrod, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The future of freedom of religion or belief and human rights | Episode 3 (video)
(YouTube Video, European Union Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 December 2023 (11AM ET): USCIRF Conversation: Religious Freedom for Indigenous Communities in Latin America
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 December 2023 (12:30 GMT): The Impact of International Monitoring Mechanisms on Human Rights in the UK
(Linked In, Centre for European Law and Internationalisation - CELI)
Readout of White House meeting with Jewish American leaders to discuss ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism and hate-fueled violence
(The White House)
Ahead of White House Hanukkah celebration, a wave of faith-led cease-fire demonstrations
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
What philanthropy and nonprofits lose as religion fades
(Drew Lindsay, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
South Africa: Update on recent or current religious freedom issues and cases
(Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
75 years on, stop viewing religious freedom as a second-class human right
(Samuel Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett, The Hill)
Natural rights are human rights and human rights are natural rights
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe)
2nd Circuit: Jewish school prevented from purchasing site meets standing and ripeness requirements to sue
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
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