Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 10 May 2021
Religious news from around the web May 10, 2021
(World Religion News)
Campaigners demand no loophole for religious groups in conversion therapy ban
(Kate Devlin, Independent)
No religion in Tibetan schools, China tells parents
(Radio Free Asia)
17 psychological groups call for greater protections of LGBTQ students at religious schools
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Conversion therapy bans: Enforcing a faulty anthropology on sex and gender
(Darius Lee, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
A tangle of COVID-19 challenges for European churches and society: how do we begin to unknot them?
(Conference of European Churches)
Two weeks in review, 26 April – 9 May 2021
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Saturday, 8 May 2021
A proclamation on National Day of Prayer
(The President, The White House)
National Day of Prayer inspires pleas for unity and justice
(Luis Andres Henao, David Crary and Mariam Fam, Associated Press)
Friday, 7 May 2021
Giving while Muslim: How Ramadan philanthropy has changed from 9/11 to COVID-19: Opinion
(Muhi Khwaja, Religion News Service: Opinion)
Religion Watch, Volume 36 No. 6
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
ONLINE EVENT, 6-7 May 2021: Freedom of Religion in Europe Today: Under Critical Investigation
(Institute for the Study of Freedom of Religion or Belief)
IS-land: Has the age of southern African terrorism properly begun?
(Richard Poplak, Daily Maverick)
Pittsburgh’s black Muslim history uncovered
(Jourdan Hicks, Public Source - stories for a better Pittsburg)
A story of how Pittsburgh was once a refuge for black Muslims
(Chris Hedlin, Public Source - stories for a better Pittsburg)
The biggest threat to Christian vitality is state support
(Nilay Saiya, Christianity Today)
Global pressure mounts for Nigerian atheist’s release after year in detention
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Majority of World’s Population Lives in Countries That Violate Religious Freedom, Report Says
(Ines San Martin, The Tablet)
West African Christians say they are marginalized during Ramadan
(Karim Kamara and Omar Wale, DW)
African education group calls for code of conduct to be developed in Ghana public high schools
(Modern Ghana)
US Rep. Juan Vargas discusses religion in public life
(Maryam Beshara, The Observer)
Don’t expect an al-Qaida reboot in Afghanistan
(Daniel L. Byman, Brookings)
EJC partners with Christian, Muslim and Buddhist communities in EU-awarded grant to protect houses of worship
(European Jewish Congress)
Another Christian nurse falsely accused of blasphemy in Pakistan
(Morning Star News)
Ramadan in China: Faithful dwindle under limits on religion
(Ken Moritsugu and Dake Kang, Associated Press)
Ramzan in China: Faithful dwindle under limits on religion
(The Indian Express)
Are Christians in China next in line for ‘re-education’?
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
A Finnish politician is facing jail for her Biblical beliefs: could the same happen in the UK?
(Julia Mann, Christian Today)
Burqa ban undermines national security and human rights
(Savitri Hensman, Ground Views)
Statement of the presidents of COMECE and CEC at the launch of the Conference on the Future of Europe (PDF)
(Conference of European Churches)
Russia: Special bimonthly digest on freedom of religion (16-30.04.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Legislators urge Biden to address global religious persecution
(Catholic News Agency)
Call to protect free speech as MPs accuse media of anti-religious bias
(Henry Zeffman, The Times)
Artificial intelligence: Challenges and opportunities
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Denial of insurance coverage for gender dysphoria violates ACA
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Women-only gym sections give Connecticut justices pause
(Nick Rummell, Courthouse News Service)
Connecticut Supreme Court hears arguments in challenge to gym's women's section
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court enjoins enforcement of NJ township's ordinances aimed at Orthodox Jewish community
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Eviction of church did not violate RLUIPA
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Judge tosses Rasta lawsuit against city and officials over shuttered Downtown church
(Ed Treleven, Wisconsin State Journal)
Rachel Zoll, much-admired AP religion writer, dead at 55
(David Crary, Associated Press)
Ethiopian Orthodox Church patriarch blasts Tigray ‘genocide’
(Cara Anna, Associated Press)
Palestinians, Israel police clash at Al-Aqsa mosque; 53 hurt
(Joseph Krauss, Associated Press)
Al-Aqsa worshippers protest Palestinian evictions in Jerusalem
(Al Jazeera)
AP Photos: Dwindling Armenians show Easter faith in Romania
(Andreea Alexandru And Vadim Ghirda, Associated Press)
Archdiocese sues Wisconsin over prisoner visit restrictions
(Associated Press)
Prison guard says he has been target of anti-Muslim hate
(Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press)
Black religious leaders decry Missouri bills as biased
(Associated Press)
Amid political crisis, Salvadoran bishops call for ‘authentic democracy’
(Rhina Guidos, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
New German law could ban headscarf for public employees
(Anadolu Agency)
Ban mock Jewish star at COVID protests, German anti-Semitism czar urges
(Deutsche Welle)
EPRID welcomes new EU Special Envoy
(European Platform against Religious Intolerance and Discrimination)
Kyrie Irving’s recent conversion puts a spotlight on athletes observing Ramadan
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)
A Christian college sues to protect its values against the federal leviathan
(George Leef, The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal)
U.S.A. demonstrates support for Ukrainian church
(Religiia v Ukraine, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
New podcast: Religious wars over vaccines? They're more complex than those headlines
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
The politics of Holy Communion and what it says about news coverage of Joe Biden
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)
Pope Francis swears in 34 new recruits for world's smallest army
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
14 Essex rabbis sign letter of solidarity after Muslims pelted with eggs
(Jewish News)
UK urged to stay away from ‘anti-Jewish’ Durban conference by community leaders
(Michael Daventry, Jewish News)
Montenegro's limited coalition hammers away at perilous religion, nationality issues
(Andy Heil and Aneta Durovic, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
Ken Starr is right about religious liberty, but that might not be enough
(Casey Chalk, The Federalist)
Christians in Nepal persecuted by religious and political decree
(Rock Ronald Rozario, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Church autonomy and the corpus mysticum tradition
(Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
On the present disorders afflicting Catholic social teaching
(Law & Liberty)
Thursday, 6 May 2021
BOOK LAUNCH ONLINE, 6 May 2021 (19h00 CET): COVID-19 y libertad religiosa [COVID-19 and religious freedom]
(Rafael Palomino Lozano, Belén Rodrigo Lara, Javier Martínez-Torrón, Ana María Celis Brunet, Real Academia de Jurisprudencia y Legislación de España - Sección de Derecho Canónico y Eclesiástico del Estado)
WEBINAR, 6 May 2021 (1PM EDT): National Interfaith Prayer Service for Repentance and Reflection
(Religions for Peace)
WEBINAR, 6 May 2021 (2PM ET): Should I defend everyone's religious freedom?
(Becket)
WEBINAR, 6 May 2021 (12PM EDT): The Visit of Pope Francis to Iraq: Its Significance for Religious Relations
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
WEBINAR, 6 May 2021 (4PM in Zurich): Challenges faced by European churches and society during the pandemic. Where does this lead us?
(World Council of Churches)
WEBINARS, May 6 - June 3 2021: The Faith + Food Dialogues Series
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Wednesday, 5 May 2021
USCIRF welcomes President Biden’s announcement to raise the refugee ceiling
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Statement by President Joe Biden on the occasion of Orthodox Easter
(The White House)
WEBINAR, 5 May 2021 (9AM EDT): Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
Gender-based persecution as a crime against humanity: A milestone for LGBTI rights before the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace
(Susann Aboueldahab, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Croatia’s first Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly established in landmark election
(Baha'i World News Service)
Lantos Foundation challenges Biden to take stance on Uyghurs, other human rights issues
(Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice)
Grandma take me home! Visiting rights of (grand)parents and Roma discrimination in Italy: two systemic problems? – Terna v. Italy
(Francesco Luigi Gatta, Strasbourg Observers)
Religious identity contributing to resilience and inclusivity in Nigeria
(Fola Aina and Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs)
Commission appoints Christos Stylianides as Special Envoy for promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside EU
(gavriella, in-cyprus)
Bob Abernethy, host and founder of ‘Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly,’ dies at 93
(Adelle M. Banks, Reigious News Service)
Philanthropists and politicians: Religion is not a problem to solve, it’s a partnership opportunity
(Michael Wear, Religion News Service)
To break Ramadan fast, many Muslims turn to apricot drink with ‘lunar’ name
(Jospeh Hammond, Religion News Service)
National Day of Prayer to be marked with petitions for racial justice
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Catholic bishops who want to deny Biden Communion may have to reckon with the pope
(Jack Jenkins and Claire Giangrave, Religion News Service)
Pope imposes drastic new anti-corruption rules at the Vatican
(Loup Besmond de Senneville, La Croix International)
The interfaith groups preventing Muslim-Christian violence in Nigeria
(Innocent Eteng, Religion Unplugged)
Weekly highlight #154: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: India’s crisis; seeking distinctive religious responses
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
After 2 year vacancy, EU appoints new religious freedom envoy
(ADF International)
9th Circuit hears arguments on Idaho ban of transgender women in sports
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Montana makes it more difficult to obtain transgender name change on birth certificates
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Montana governor signs bill requiring surgery before trans people can amend birth certificates
(John Riley, Metro Weekly)
Seventh Day Adventist loses failure to accommodate claim
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Monthly news digest about Baha’is in Iran in April (05.05.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Iranian authorities break up mixed-gender party, arrest 16
(Associated Press)
The Biden administration should put human rights at the center of its Iran policy
(Karen Kramer, Foreign Affairs)
USCIRF releases new report on violent Islamist groups in the central Sahel
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
“A critical moment for the future of faith in Ireland”: Court challenge must continue as Ireland announces partial lifting of worship ban
(ADF International)
When a tweet can land you in jail: Criminal charges brought against Finnish MP
(ADF International)
Meeting in the middle on religious and LGBTQ rights
(Jonathan Rauch, Deseret News Faith)
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