Law and Religion Headlines

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Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Churches are 'uniquely positioned' to make a difference in human trafficking fight: expert
(Jeannie Law, The Christian Post)

Biden reestablishes White House Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Equality Act puts Christian hiring policies in ‘jeopardy' without religious exemptions, ADF warns
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Supreme Court says Alabama prison cannot execute inmate unless pastor is present
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Romanian Orthodox Church's full-immersion baptism ritual under fire after infant dies
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

Church must tackle scourge of human trafficking
(Ben Joseph, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Catholicism and Taiwan: A model of growing together
(Rock Ronald Rozario, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Christianity thrives in Nepal amid trials and tribulations
(Rock Ronald Rozario, Union of Catholic Asian News)

‘Daughters of Kobani’ tells story of all-women Kurdish combat units who fought IS
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)

Celebrating Ash Wednesday in a pandemic? There’s an app for that
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)

Vatican Museums reopen, but visitors decry lack of social distancing
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

Jordan’s Orthodox archbishop moves to deny evangelicals full legal recognition
(Daoud Kuttab, Religion News Service)

Iraq full of historic sites important to understanding Christianity
(Dale Gavlak, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Muslim Scholar: Human Rights Policy Needs To Focus On Religious Scholars, Not Just Activists – OpEd
(James M. Dorsey, Eurasia Review Opinion)

COVID-19 response: Challenges for Faith Inspired Organizations (FIOs)
(The Ahimsa Fund, G20 Interfaith Forum)

Weekly highlight #143: COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions: Trending topics: Vaccination, government/religion relationships, and religious events
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

Rite of burial for victims of COVID-19
(Religions for Peace)

Exchange of Apache sacred land does not violate RFRA or Free Exercise Clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Judge refuses injunction to stop sacred Oak Flat land give away and destruction (PDF)
(Apache Stronghold)

9th Circuit rejects church's challenge on COVID restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

8th Circuit: Arkansas anti-boycott of Israel law violates 1st Amendment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Eighth Circuit revives suit challenging Arkansas’ pro-Israel law
(Joe Harris, Courthouse News Service)

Suit challenges disqualification of ministers ordained online as marriage officiants
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Universal Life Church files lawsuit against Bucks County Clerk, alleging that their ministers are being denied the right to freely practice their religion
(Press Release, Universal Life Church Ministries)

Iranian converts have to prove their faith to obtain asylum in France
(Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner, La Croix International)

Hindu nationalist regulation squeezes Christian charities in India
(Luke Scorziell, Christianity Today)

Anti-conversion law will be introduced in Gujarat soon, says CM Vijay Rupani
(Scroll.in India)

The bitter truth about caste in India
(John Dayal, Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: 23 ‘forced’ conversion cases filed in 23 days of new anti-conversion law
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

Assam BJP manifesto to seek law that asks couples to disclose religion, income
(Utpal Parashar, Hindustan Times)

Freedom of worship in the Valais: The Council of State repudiated
(fsspx.news)

A step in the right direction for free speech on UK campus
(ADF International)

Respect for the life and dignity of women needs to be promoted by all churches
(Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, World Council of Churches)

Spanish lawyers act to prevent removal of crosses by local officials
(The Catholic Universe)

Philippine president approves amnesty program for rebels
(Jim Gomez, Associated Press)

Philippine police storm Catholic school to arrest students
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)

U.S. Supreme Court sides with Alabama death row inmate, declines to lift stay of execution over state’s refusal to allow clergy in chamber
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Christian nationalism cannot unite us
(Amanda Tyler, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Why is the BBC so scared of criticising Islam?
(Brendan O'Neill, Spiked)

Russia: Early release applications denied
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Russia: Appeals fail to overturn "extremism" convictions
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Russia: Special Bimonthly Report on Freedom of Religion (01-15.02.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Biden-Harris memo on protecting women’s health elides real health issues, enlists religious dissenters in funding abortion
(Laura Bramon Hassan, Religious Freedom Institute)

Biden re-establishes White House Office for Faith-Based Partnerships
(Chelsea Langston Bombino, Religion Unplugged)

Biden’s Secular Vision Of Faith-Based Programs: Op-Ed
(William Donohue, Eurasia Review Opinion)

Catholic leaders call on Biden to rescue reeling Puerto Rico
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Executive action on international LGBTQI rights: Progressive prejudice against faith and tradition?
(Todd Huizinga, Religious Freedom Institute)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 20 February
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Golders Green mosque applicants ‘shocked’ by hostility to planned Islamic centre
(Jenni Frazer, Jewish News)

UAE’s first ambassador to Israel hopes to ‘foster peace and understanding’
(Joshua Salisbury, Jewish News)

Chelsea launch website for ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign
(Jewish News)

French National Assembly passes anti-extremism bill proposing stricter rules for religion
(Catholic News Agency)

Religious freedom, LGBTQ rights clash at Montana Legislature
(Seaborn Larson, Helena Independent Record)

Right-wing justices think religion is under siege. Will the full Supreme Court follow?
(Joan Biskupic, CNN)

Slaughtering religious freedom at the Court of Justice of the European Union
(Andrea Pin and John Witte, Jr., Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

In Naples, Muslim families struggle to bury coronavirus victims
(Mario Messina and Savin Mattozzi, Aljazeera)

New Italian prime minister cites pope in first parliamentary address
(Junno Arocho Esteves, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Delayed Legion of Christ extortion trial goes ahead in Italy
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

WEBINAR, 16 February 2021 (2PM EST): USCIRF Conversation: Engaging State and Local Government in Nigeria to Protect Religious Freedom
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Monday, 15 February 2021

Photos of the Week: Carnival cancellations, Lunar New Year
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

Executive Order on the Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
(The White House)

Biden order reestablishes faith-focused White House office
(Alexandra Jaffe, Associated Press)

Biden re-establishes White House faith-based partnerships office
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Biden reestablishes White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

Articles of interest - 15 February 2021
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

WRITING COMPETITION, deadline 15 February 2021: Program on Church, State & Society at Notre Dame Law School
(Notre Dame Law School)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS, 15 February 2021: Notre Dame Program on Church, State & Society Writing Competition
(Notre Dame Law School)

FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS due by 15 February 2021: IGE’s Center for Women, Faith & Leadership
(Institute for Global Engagement)

International interfaith collaboration & resilience key in "keeping the faith"
(Parliament of the World's Religions)

Israel issue complicates anti-semitism definition, potentially impacts U.S. work in middle east
(Ira Rifkin, Religion Unplugged Opinion)

Can government ban singing in worship? U.S. Supreme Court weighs in
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged Opinion)

Judge questions the court's role in managing public health orders to ban church gatherings
(CBC News)

Canada: Are churches a health hazard or essential service? A tale of two B.C. cities
(David Hunt, Vancouver Sun)

Former Canadian Prime Minister and high-ranking legal professionals call on Iranian Chief Justice to stop persecution of Baha’is in Iran
(Bahá’í International Community)

No injunction against sound ordinance because city disclaims enforcement pending revision
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Humanist organization lacks standing to challenge Texas ban on secular marriage celebrants
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Discrimination claim by Muslim employee of sheriff's office is dismissed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Another church seeks Supreme Court's intervention on COVID-19 restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Maine church goes to SCOTUS
(Liberty Counsel)

New Arkansas law limits COVID restrictions on religious organizations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Protesters say French anti-radicalism law is anti-Muslim
(Associated Press)

France’s controversial ‘separatism’ bill: Seven things to know
(Peter Yeung, Al Jazeera)

France fights hold of Islamist radicals with dragnets, laws
(Elaine Ganley, Associated Press)

Ultra-Orthodox Londoners roll up sleeves to fight COVID
(Danica Kirka, Associated Press)

Buddhist temple food pantry a lifeline for Nepalese students
(Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski, Associated Press)

Marriage & divorce amid pandemic: Couples’ challenges abound
(David Crary, Associated Press)

SC House considers bill to keep churches open in emergency
(Associated Press)

Pope hails Colombia for giving needy Venezuelans protection
(Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press)

Gender identity bill divides Spain’s feminists, left-wing
(Aritz Parra, Associated Press)

Court rules against Apaches in bid to halt proposed mine
(Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press)

Ahead of papal visit, Iraq closes houses of worship due to COVID
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Workers find connection around faith in employee resource groups
(Dennis Sadowski, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

There’s hope! Authentic connection is on the move!
(Kent Johnson, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)

The power of religious diversity in the workplace
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)

The world faces new antisemitic threats, and Biden must adopt new tools to fight them
(Sharon Nazarian, Forward Opinion)

Switzerland edges towards niqab ban absurdity
(Islam21c.com)

Leonard Leo on Theology of Judiciary
(Mark Tooley, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

Moscow court arrests 2 Jehovah's Witnesses
(Interfax-Religion)

Sputnik V vaccine halal - Gamaleya Center expert
(Interfax-Religion)

Turkmenistan: now 15 jailed conscientious objectors
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

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