Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 21 January 2022
U.N. adopts resolution condemning holocaust denial
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
UN General Assembly approves resolution condemning Holocaust denial
(United Nations)
Former Scientology members no longer bound by arbitration agreement
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
RFRA defense successful for tribal member charged in protest over border wall construction
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Prof. Ventura’s mandate as director of ISR ends with the publication of a new policy paper
(Annalisa Armani, Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
Sri Lanka: President opens renovated ‘Sirimathipaya’ Prime Minister’s office
(Colombo Page)
Stormy Daniels defends her religious beliefs as federal trial against Avenatti begins
(Paul O'Donnell, Religion News Service)
A new pamphlet urges understanding between Muslims and Latter-day Saints
(Newsroom: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
This new group says people of faith are under attack. Here’s how it plans to help them
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Austrian artist under fire after posting star of David made of syringes
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
African Christians face deadly violence in 2022
(Lela Gilbert, Newsweek)
Revenge of the rescheduled cases: Congressional proxy voting, the ministerial exception, and more
(John Elwood, SCOTUSblog)
Russia: Suspended sentences and fines – list
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Russia jails more Jehovah’s Witnesses, prompting calls for ‘strong measures’
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Russia: Jehovah's Witnesses from Kursk lose their appeal
(Credo.Press, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Tom Farr opening remarks: National Committee for Religious Freedom launch event
(Religious Freedom Institute)
UK: Contested heritage – A review of the Church of England guidance
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK: COVID-19: Plan B guidance to be lifted in England
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK: COVID-19 legislation and guidance update, January (II)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Religion Watch, Volume 37 No. 2
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Mali: American Center holds panel discussion on Religious Freedom
(U.S. Embassy in Mali)
Harvard clinic helps prisoners with religion at Supreme Court
(Jordan S. Rubin, Bloomberg Law)
China: State Administration for Religious Affairs explains new internet regulations
(International Christian Concern)
China: Five women from Uyghur family sentenced (in 2019) to long prison terms in Xinjiang
(Shohret Hoshur, Radio Free Asia)
Do athletes have a moral duty to protest Chinese authoritarianism? How about Elon Musk?
(Ira Rifkin, GetReligion)
Iran: My wife’s grandfather was executed for his Baha’i faith. Iran hasn’t changed enough.
(James Samimi Farr, Religion News Service)
Australia: Teachers sacked for being gay warn religious discrimination bill will empower similar dismissals
(Paul Karp, The Guardian)
Pakistan minorities at risk due to forced conversions, marriages
(Economic Times)
Pakistani court sentences woman to death for WhatsApp ‘blasphemy’
(Asad Hashim, Aljazeera)
The female victims of anti-Christian persecution
(Angelo Bottone, The Iona Institute)
Ramirez v. Collier: Will the Supreme Court expand the right to the presence of a spiritual advisor for prisoners during execution?
(Peter Wosnik, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Can you have human dignity without Christianity?
(Nathaniel Peters, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
CEC at Council of Europe: Religion and education are essential elements of dialogue
(Conference of European Churches)
Africa: Interfaith initiative sparks controversy at all-Africa football championships
(Jean François Channon Denwo, La Croix International)
Ukraine: CCEE President аppeals to Europe for the situation in Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
India: Man jailed in first conviction over 2020 New Delhi riots
(Al Jazeera)
Indian group asks bishops to take stand on anti-Christian violence
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Afghanistan: Taliban delegation to hold humanitarian talks in Norway
(Al Jazeera)
Aghanistan: The increasing effects of the Taliban on the persecuted Church: Q&A with persecution watchdog
(Heather Preston, Premier Christian News)
Fighting anti-Semitism remains challenge 80 years after genocidal Wannsee Conference
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology announces new online courses through Yale/Coursera
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Finland: Ahead of trial, Finnish MP facing jail after tweeting Bible verse says case a test of religious freedom
(Catholic News Agency)
France: President Macron calls for abortion to be added to EU rights charter
(Eurasia Review)
Facebook, Google face crackdown in Europe on race, religion and more
(HT Tech)
Vatican selling London property at heart of fraud trial
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Thursday, 20 January 2022
VIRTUAL EVENT, 20 January 2022 (14:00 CET): Health and FORB: Promoting health and well-being for all
(The International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB))
WEBINAR, 20 January 2022 (2PM ET): Racism in the Media-Manufacturing Hate
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
WEBINAR, 20 January 2022 (11AM ET): Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Listening to the Voices of Survivors
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
This innovative Christian homeless shelter is rising to California's housing challenge
(Liza Vandenboom Ashley, Religion Unplugged)
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Jewish leaders renew antisemitism fight after hostage case
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Synagogue hostage standoff reveals interfaith progress — as well as entrenched hate
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)
Synagogues forced to balance welcoming the stranger with protecting their own
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Why was Texas-Synagogue Jihadist Akram allowed to enter U.S.?
(Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review)
Colleyville rabbi who escaped synagogue hostage situation: ‘It’s safe to go to shul’
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
World Watch List 2022
(Open Doors UK)
Afghanistan tops Open Doors watch list of worst countries for Christians
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
North Korea no longer the worst persecutor of Christians on Open Doors' World Watch List
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)
Desmond Mpilo Tutu: In memoriam
(Christine Venter, Greg Marcar, Lee-Shae Salma Scharnick Udemans, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
FBI, DHS warn faith-based communities 'will likely continue' to be targets of violence
(Geneva Sands, CNN)
A Martin Luther King Day reminder: Religion matters in public life
(Mark Rienzi, National Review)
China: Human rights, China and the Winter Olympics – Boycott or not boycott?
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Warriors minority owner under fire for comments on Uyghurs
(Janie McCauley, Associated Press)
Certiorari denied in Virginia ministerial residence tax exemption dispute
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Gorsuch balks at rejection of religious tax exemption case
(Alexandra Jones, Courthouse News Service)
Over Gorsuch dissent, court denies review in dispute over definition of “minister”
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Should a religious flag fly over a government building?
(William J Haun, The Wall Street Journal)
Justices debate speech and religion in spat over flag-flying at Boston city hall
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
As Congress debates, Black Baptist leader calls denial of voting rights ‘evil’
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Let’s praise progress on religious freedom. Start with these countries.
(Knox Thames, Christianity Today)
Weekly Highlight #189: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Deja vu: Superspreader festivals and increasing prevention measures
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Church event focuses on Christian conversion in asylum procedure in Europe
(Conference of European Churches)
Congratulations to Roberta Metsola elected European Parliament president
(Conference of European Churches)
Religious Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (REDI) Awards 2021: VPs from Intel, Texas Instruments, American Airlines & PayPal
(YouTube Video, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Israel: If Netanyahu is forced out of politics, ultra-Orthodox might join coalition
(Israel Hershkovitz, Al-Monitor)
Israel: Trailblazing Arab lawmaker shakes up Israeli politics
(Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press)
Iranian churches get behind #Place2Worship campaign
(Article 18)
South Korea: Christian schools receive warning for violating religious freedom
(Bahk Eun-ji, The Korea Times)
Finland: MP who tweeted Bible verses could face prison penalty
(ADF International)
Cuba: Protestants are now Cuba's most repressed religious group, tally finds
(Yoé Suárez, Religion Unplugged)
Cuba: ‘11J’: A turning point in the repression of evangelicals in Cuba
(Evangelical Focus)
Swiss Supreme Court says Geneva ‘laicité’ law clashes with religious freedom
(Evangelical Focus)
As France prepares for presidential election, Catholic bishops issue voter guidelines
(Arnaud Bevilacqua and Vincent de Féligonde, La Croix International)
France moves closer to banning veils in sports competitions
(Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)
Inmate wants permission for hairstyle based on his religion
(Associated Press)
Knights of Malta warn Vatican reforms risk their sovereignty
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
How to combat antisemitism in your office
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Sweden: 27% of religious hate crimes in Sweden target its tiny Jewish community
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A long overdue response to campus antisemitism
(Jonathan Marks, Commentary)
Russia: Some Jehovah's Witnesses benefit from Supreme Court's ruling
(Novaya Gazeta, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Russia: Aleksei Yershov is already the second Jehovah’s Witness to be sent behind bars in 2022
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
Ukraine: Catholic clergy fear Russian invasion of Ukraine
(RISU, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Germany: Anti-Semitism is on the rise in Germany - Deputy Ambassador
(Interfax-Religion)
Uzbekistan: Targeted for being a devout Muslim woman
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
Ask this: Why did many flocks survive or thrive in pandemic, while others were hit hard?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Is America really threatened by civil war? What is religion's role in these tensions?
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Brazil: Wall Street Journal: Catholics are losing ground – rapidly – in Brazil. What else is new?
(Julia Duin, GetReligion)
Paraguay: Church leaders highlight new law’s negative effect on indigenous peoples
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Institute launches national committee aiming to protect religious freedom
(Dennis Sadowski, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Despite reducing poverty, expanded child tax credit’s future is uncertain
(Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News Service)
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