Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
A Virgin Mary statue controversy in West Springfield
(Elysia Rodriguez, 22 News Springfield)
Statement clarifies charges that military has been hostile to Evangelical Christians
(Joint Statement, Southern Baptist Concern)
Anglican Church in New Zealand faces discrimination claim
(World Magazine)
Anti-blasphemy protests in Bangladesh turn violent
(Jim Yardley, The New York Times)
Pakistan's minorities have no faith in democracy
(Kathy Gannon, ABC News via AP)
Iran warns Syrian rebels after report of shrine desecration
(Thomas Erdbrink, The New York Times)
Bodies pour in as Nigeria hunts for Islamists
(Adam Nossiter, The New York Times)
Pakistan bombing again targets Islamist party
(Alex Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times)
Israel detains Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric after scuffles at al-Aqsa mosque
(Albawaba News)
CSAN calls for legislation to support positive contribution of people coming to UK
(Independent Catholic News)
Myanmar: Dalai Lama to speak before Assembly
(Patrick Marley, Journal Sentinel)
Dalai Lama condemns Buddhist attacks on Muslims in Myanmar
(Big News Network)
Kenya: Bishop roots for women leaders
(Reuben Olita, The Star)
Comments about Islam spark Morocco firestorm
(Mohamed Saadouni, Magharebia)
Burma: Thien Sein assures Muslims protection of basic rights
(Radio Free Asia)
Mobile-phone masts, planning law and faculty jurisdiction
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Louisiana Supreme Court strikes down state's school voucher system
(Sean Higgins, The Washington Examiner)
Delaware, continuing a trend, becomes the 11th state to allow same-sex unions
(Erik Eckholm, The New York Times)
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Report finds Iran among worst violators of religious freedom
(Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News)
Draft Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the draft EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief
(Rapporteur: Laima Liucija Andrikiené, European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs)
World celebrates Orthodox Easter
(RT)
Uzbekistan: Continuing denials of prisoners' freedom of religion or belief
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18)
Military says no court martials for sharing faith
(Bob Smietana, The Tennessean)
Queen’s Speech: Legislation from 2012-13
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Ghana: Journalists should focus on religion's relationship with the media
(Ghana Web)
Ireland abortion legislation: Catholic church dangles threat of excommunication over lawmakers
(Mark Hanrahan, Huffington Post Religion)
Battered and bullied, Pakistan’s religious minorities say they have little faith in democracy
(The Washington Post)
Rights groups reject religious freedom award for Yudhoyono
(Margaret S. Aritonang and Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post)
ACLJ calls on defense secretary to cut ties with anti-Christian extremist used by pentagon as advisor on religious tolerance
(The Wall Street Journal)
Caught in Methodism’s split over same-sex marriage
(Sharon Otterman, New York Times)
Martyred for Christ: 800 victims of Islamic violence who will become saints this month
(Damian Thompson, The Telegraph)
Europe needs more appropriate powers to fight racism: Germany's Westerwelle
(Tom Heneghan, Reuters)
Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz says he was sidelined in crackdown of U.S. nuns
(Alessandro Speciale, The Washington Post)
Bombing of new Tanzanian parish surpasses other attacks
(Estefania Aguirre, Eurasia Review)
Church leaders tackle the stigma of mental illness
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish college wins $10.6 million in public funds
(Jarrett Renshaw and Kelly Heyboer, The Star Ledger)
In the Turkish-Israeli dispute, only losers
(Judy Dempsey, Strategic Europe)
Joe Biden tells religious leaders immigration reform comes first
(Josh Lederman, Huffington Post)
Monday, 6 May 2013
ACLU to investigate Georgia school for holding extended prayer
(Sarah Rae Fruchtnicht, Opposing Views)
Uganda priest ostracized for publicizing sexual abuse
(Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times)
For Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, there is a peaceful solution
(Wadah Khanfar, The Guardian)
Sudanese Islamist group comes under fire for gifting Quran to US diplomat
(The Sudan Tribune)
Kenya: Garissa Muslims condemn police raid on mosques
(Ramadhan Rajab, The Star)
Religious militancy: A big challenge to Pakistan stability – OpEd
(Amna Razzaq, Eurasia Review)
Muslim monarch restores Jewish ancient cemetery in Cape Verde: Wonderful lesson of religious tolerance- OpEd
(Said Temsamani, Eurasia Review)
Hungary: Inside the far-Right stronghold where Hungarian Jews fear for the future
(Colin Freeman, The Telegraph)
In our opinion: Americans should encourage spreading religious freedom across the globe
(Editorial, Deseret News)
Burmese refugees flock to Iowa meatpacking town
(Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press)
Religion and Law round up – 5th May
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Demand to have Alevi on ID turns into vicious circle
(Doğan News Agency, Hürriyet Daily News)
Top U.S. court to decide whether to hear Greece prayer case
(Meaghan M. McDermott, Democrat and Chronicle)
Kazakstan: Religious freedom to suffer in anti-extremist programme?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18)
Russian Patriarch prays for peace in Middle East
(Interfax)
Struggling Catholic schools strategize to draw new students
(Mary Wisniewski, The Chicago Tribune)
PLO slams Israel over treatment of Palestinian Christians
(The News International)
Many young Muslims in America struggle to understand themselves and their faith
(Michelle Boorstein and Farah Mohamed, The Washington Post)
Prayers for rain in drought plagued western states spurs resurgence of faith
(Susan Montoya Bryan, Huffington Post Religion)
Bangladesh Islamists battle police; 4 dead
(Farid Ahmed and Josh Levs, CNN)
North Carolina school board member resigns over litigation risk from proposal to open meetings with prayer
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Baptist children's home cannot challenge Kentucky's settlement of establishment clause case
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Bangladesh clashes rage over blasphemy law
(Al Jazeera)
Extended prayer at North Georgia school ignites debate
(Aungelique Proctor, My Fox Atlanta)
Lawsuit: Church to blame for rape
(Tim Evans, USA Today)
Sunday, 5 May 2013
American female converts to Islam facing growing scrutiny
(Omar Sacirbey, Religion News Service)
Russia celebrates Easter as Holy Week draws to an end
(RT)
Growing anti-Semitism: World Jewish Congress takes on Hungary
(Keno Verseck, Der Spiegel)
Despite stalled Arab Spring, Muslim nations grasp for democracy
(The Christian Science Monitor)
State Department withdraws honor for Egyptian activist over anti-American, anti-Semitic tweets
(Hannah Allam, McClatchy)
Debate over Easter greetings roil Egypt’s sensitive religious tension
(Nancy A. Youssef, McClatchy)
No RLUIPA violation in zoning denial for faith-based treatment facility
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Rockingham school board member resigns over prayer
(Winston-Salem Journal)
Saturday, 4 May 2013
‘Religious institutions forcing caste-based voting system’
(B.S. Satish Kumar, The Hindu)
Church of Ireland defends itself after cleric turns down post
(Steven Alexander, Belfast Telegraph)
Dozens of Islamists demonstrate in Khartoum demanding release of detainees
(Sudan Tribune)
Egypt: Shura Council approves final draft of Islamic bonds law
(Aswat Masriya)
Ghana: Presbyterian church speaks on national issues
(William N-Ianjerorr Jalulah, The Chronicle)
Judge's ruling in St. James case puts cloud on many former Episcopal properties in California
(A. S. Haley, Anglican Curmudgeon)
Lebanon’s first civil marriage raises hope for change
(Ya Libnan)
Nigeria: “terrorism and corruption are the main plagues”
(Interview with John Cardinal Onaiyekan by Fr Joe Vella Gauci, EuropeInfos)
Pakistan: Musharraf's party to boycott May elections
(Big News Network)
Palestine: Hamas slams Arab League peace initiative
(Pan Armenian)
Police arrest two in new anti-Muslim unrest in Myanmar
(The West Australian via AFP)
Political Islam is post-Gaddafi Libya
(James Maxwell, Think Africa Press)
Rhode Island becomes 10th US state to allow gay and lesbian marriage
(The Guardian)
South Sudan official defies orders and weds 'underage' girl
(Sudan Tribune)
Tunisians react to Egyptian cleric Mohamed Hassan visit
(Jamel Arfaoui, Magharebia)
Turkish Airlines crew banned from wearing red lipstick and nail polish
(The Guardian)
Uganda: Tension as Masaka braces for Mubajje faction
(Manuel Zinga, The Observer)
Friday, 3 May 2013
64 percent of Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan support the death penalty for leaving Islam
(Max Fisher, The Washington Post)
A distressing map of religious freedom around the world
(Max Fisher, The Washington Post)
ACLU files First Amendment, religious freedom lawsuit in Westboro Baptist Church flag desecration case
(ACLU of Iowa)
AFLC challenges HHS mandate in D.C. Federal Court on behalf of Catholic company
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Are military leaders and the MSM embracing an anti-Christian extremist?
(David French, National Review Online)
Azerbaijan continues to restrict freedom of religion violating its international obligations
(Eurasia Review, Panorama AM)
Cardinal: Enforcing abortion legislation 'a denial of religious freedom'
(Irish Examiner)
City wins zoning battle with Jewish school
(Bill Smith, Evanston Now)
Conscientious objection to abortion: Catholic midwives win appeal
(Alasdair Henderson, UK Human Rights Blog)
Divided Arizona House overhauls religious freedom bill
(Cristina Silva, Danbury News Times)
Divorce decree's provision allowing mother to take children to Sunday School does not violate establishment clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
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