Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 30 January 2026
CEO/Board brief: Faith and belief inclusion as a workplace governance issue (2026)
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Thursday, 29 January 2026
EVENT, 29-30 January 2026: 2nd Conference on Religious Freedom in South Africa (Bloemfontein, South Africa)
(University of the Free State, International Institute for Religious Freedom (Cape Town), University of Johannesburg, Rhodes University)
EVENT, 29 January 2026: Lunch & Learn and Evening Summit (Spokane, WA, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council)
(Gonzaga Law School)
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
State regulation of religion exposed: What Prof Xulu’s resignation reveals
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Ireland: Teacher uses 40-year-old law to withdraw from teaching religion
(Robbie Meredith, BBC News)
US Catholic bishops make urgent pleas to rein in ICE after recent deaths
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Swiss politician fined for shooting a pistol at Madonna and Child poster
(Associated Press)
Khartoum Anglican cathedral comes to life, three years after war forced its closure
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Spain to scrap the crime of offending religious feelings despite opposition from faith groups
(Evangelical Focus)
Spain authorities’ ‘confusion’ prevented priests from administering last rites to train crash victims
(Fionn Shiner, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
In divided central Africa, a cardinal presents ‘Family of God’ as path to peace
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The appeal of the Council of Christian Churches of Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Isle of Man formally adopts antisemitism definition 1 day ago
(Catherine Nicoll, BBC)
Global Buddhist convention focus on unity, protection – OpEd
(Subir Bhaumik, Eurasia Review)
In new memoir, Josh Shapiro confronts antisemitism, Israel and political pressure
(Jacob Kornbluh, Religion Unplugged)
Thai bishops warn Catholics about fraud, graft ahead of polls
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
‘Crisis of relativism’ threatens peace in Europe, pope says
(Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic Standard)
Protest, worship, and the core of free exercise
(Mark Movsesian, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Russia: Persecution of Yunus Abdullayev, a Russian Muslim
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Catholic couple asks court for justice after state banned them from foster care
(Becket)
French senators reject assisted dying bill, send it back to lower house
(Le Monde)
South Carolina education bill requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms sparks debate
(Anna King, WCNC News)
How to kill a religion: South Korea’s proposed “Church Dissolution Act”
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Arizona Republicans advance bill forcing schools to excuse students for Bible classes
(Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror)
Madras HC says there is no religion for encroachment, orders removal of church Madras HC says there is no religion for encroachment, orders removal of church
(Sureshkumar, Times of India)
Argentina: Catholic Church rejects Milei bill to lower age of criminal responsibility
(Buenos Aires Times)
EU rapporteur says Turkey’s membership bid stalled over democracy, not religion
(Turkish Minute)
Scott Morrison accused of ‘deeply ill-informed’ attack on religious freedom after Islam speech
(Josh Butler and Adeshola Ore, The Guardian)
OIC Secretary-General meets with Chinese vice president and foreign minister in Beijing
(Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
Canada: Quebec mosque attack anniversary renews call to end anti-Muslim hate
(Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera)
Maine is one of the least religious US states: What the data shows
(Sean Scott, Religion Unplugged)
International religious freedom in Trump’s national security strategy
(Peter S. Henne, Providence)
Monday, 26 January 2026
Jewish graves desecrated in Barcelona cemetery
(European Jewish Congress)
Spanish government report flags discrimination against hijab-wearing girls in schools
(Shia Waves)
Cuba’s Santeros offer gifts and ask deities for peace as tensions rise with US
(Andrea Rodríguez, Associated Press)
Protests inside churches are unusual despite long history of civil disobedience in the US
(Peter Smith and Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)
Articles and books of interest - 26 January 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
As Springfield's 15,000 Haitians brace for deportations, local churches train to resist ICE
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Inside the effort to organize clergy nationwide to resist ICE
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust 27 January
(United Nations)
How religious liberty sustained America
(Ayaan Hirsi Ali, National Review)
Imam sentenced after 16-year-olds married in mosque
(James Grant, BBC)
“Radical sect” gathered in St. Petersburg to pray for Zelensky, 70 arrested
(The European Times)
‘Not shrinking everywhere’: What the Amish and Mennonites can teach us about church growth
(Warren Cole Smith, Religion Unplugged)
South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis reaches the pulpit
(Vicky Abraham, Religion Unplugged)
The persecution of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: Forced conversion, derision, and systemic erasure – Analysis
(Girma Berhanu, Eurasia Review)
Mexico: Protestant family forcibly displaced after pastor's refusal to kneel and pray to Roman Catholic saint
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Maine Episcopalians respond to surge in immigration enforcement operations in the state
(Shireen Korkzan, Episcopal News Service)
Church vs state։ Sacred or political (video)
(Public Radio of Armenia)
Legislative panel votes to outlaw Sharia law in Arizona
(Howard Fischer, Tucson.com)
Arizona bill would hit priests with felony if they fail to break confessional seal to report abuse
(Daniel Payne, EWTN News)
Efforts to repeal the death penalty model bipartisan advocacy
(Jeromiah Taylor, U.S. Catholic)
Anti-Islam rhetoric takes center stage in Texas Republican primary
(Gabby Birenbaum, Houston Public Media)
Western Thrace Turkish minority condemns Greece's mufti appointment
(Türkiye Today)
Canada is trying to combat “hate speech” by stripping religious protections
(Bryan Chai, Alliance Defending Freedom)
Lankford, Budd, and colleagues lead legislation banning foreign violators of religious freedom from obtaining US visas
(James Lankford, U.S. Senate)
Religious tolerance key to Nigeria’s unity – President Tinubu
(Mnena Iyorkegh, Voice of Nigeria)
Former ESU professor wins over $5 million in religious discrimination suit
(Bryan Grabauskas, WIBW News)
Buddhist monks braving arctic conditions near end of 2,300-mile ‘Walk for Peace’
(Travis Maurer, Fox 5 Atlanta)
Pakistan: 2 Christian nurses acquitted of blasphemy in landmark court ruling
(Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post)
Friday, 23 January 2026
Gov. Rhoden announces bill to defend religious freedom
(SD.gov)
Senator Budd leads legislation banning foreign violators of religious freedom from obtaining U.S. visas
(Ted Budd, U.S. Senate)
Secretary of State's speech to the National Society Conference
(Department for Education and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, GOV.UK)
Calls for government to define Islamophobia
(Emma Baugh Shariqua Ahmed, BBC)
Has there been a Christian revival among young adults in the U.K.? Recent surveys may be misleading
(Conrad Hackett, Pew Research Center)
HM Government announces future funding for listed places of worship
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Saints, statues, and church-state separation
(Richard Garnett, SCOTUSblog)
HHS: Illinois is violating federal law by forcing pregnancy centers to refer women for abortion
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Bearing witness after the witnesses are gone: How to bring Holocaust education home for a new generation
(Chad Gibbs, The Conversation)
Hundreds of clergy descend on Minneapolis and go on lookout for ICE
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Dialogue or dissent: US Catholic bishops navigate Trump era politics
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Trump’s antisemitism envoy rebukes European rabbi, drawing praise from Elon Musk
(Asaf Elia-Shalev, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Three people arrested over Minnesota church protest
(Rich Matthews, Andrew Hay and Andrew Goudsward, Reuters)
Christianity and the Making of Irish Law: Violence, Virtue, and Reason
(Edited by David H. McIlroy, Routledge)
Pathways for partnership with religious communities: G20 Social Summit
(Sandile Makasi, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Indian state prevents Hindu ritual inside Catholic school
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
WCC calls for renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation
(World Council of Churches)
Drawing “new borders” in Ukraine means choosing which pastors to condemn
(Steven Moore and Colby Barrett, Providence)
Massachusetts high court to decide if City of Quincy can build statues honoring first responders
(Becket)
Jamaican churches seek repair funds after Hurricane Melissa ravages island
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
The Ten Commandments return to federal court
(Stephanie Barclay, SCOTUSblog)
Yurii Sheliazhenko, conscientious objector to military service and human rights defender, under immediate threat
(CAP Liberté de Conscience)
Maldives: Why this idyllic island nation is cracking down on religion
(Sonia Sarkar, Religion Unplugged)
Why Arizonans could see more prayer at local school board meetings
(Taylor Seely, Arizona Republic)
NZ: Government announces $10m for Ringatū marae in Bay of Plenty
(Radio New Zealand)
Hate will not win: Muslim and Palestinian schoolchildren everywhere deserve safety, dignity and belonging
(Zainab Chaudry, Religion News Service)
Nicaraguan regime bans urban and rural “door-to-door” missions in the country’s dioceses
(Zenit)
Hybrid event: Tibetan democracy (in exile): Religious freedom and political empowerment
(Atlantic Council)
President of Guatemalan bishops: Peace, justice against violence
(Federico Piana, Vatican News)
Statesmanship and Religious Freedom Series (for university students)
(Religious Freedom Institute)
DESS: Wherever Russia goes, freedom of belief ceases to exist
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Pope: Catholic Social Teaching shows path to peaceful coexistence
(Devin Watkins, Vatican News)
Confidential UAE memo details plan to push France to act against Muslim Brotherhood
(Middle East Eye)
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
EVENT, 21 January 2026: 2026: The European Union and the Year Ahead (Brussels, Belgium)
(European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Religious employment and Title VII
(R. Shawn Gunnarson, James Phillips, and Christopher Bates, The Volokh Conspiracy)
‘The Vanishing Church’ makes the case for both belief and belonging
(Joseph Holmes, Religion Unplugged)
Pueblo leader Po'pay and the origins of American religious freedom
(Peter C. Mancall, Religion Unplugged)
Australia: View from The Hill: Liberals tick off deal on hate crime measures
(Michelle Grattan, The Conversation)
Australia: View from The Hill: defiant Nationals break with Liberals over hate bill, putting strain on Coalition
(Michelle Grattan, The Conversation)
ECHR to rule on fate of Christian icons in Greek courts: Atheists push for removal
(Bill Giannopoulos, Greek City Times)
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