Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 18 August 2025
‘Islamophobic’: Spanish town’s ban on religious gatherings sparks criticism
(Al Jazeera)
Church membership may be declining, but many churchgoers are double-dosing
(Yonat Shimron and Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Four years after the Taliban’s takeover, “morality law” imposes harsh religious freedom restrictions
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
What can we learn from Iraqi Christians 11 years after ISIS’s attack?
(ADF International)
Religion and foreign policy Webinar: Pope Leo XIV's first 100 days
(Council on Foreign Relations)
Around the web - 18 August 2025
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Argentina’s bishops criticize Javier Milei’s economic policies
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Bishops of Uruguay respond to preliminary bill approving euthanasia
(Kielce Gussie, Vatican News)
US archbishop’s meeting with Putin denounced as ‘betrayal of Christian witness’
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
French leader Macron vows justice after unknown attackers chop down tree honoring murdered Jew
(Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 18 August 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Why has Canada embraced euthanasia?
(Mark Silk, Religion News Service)
The persecution of the Little Sisters of the Poor
(National Review)
UCCRO Statement: All-Ukrainian Council of Churches strongly opposes special status for Russian language and legitimization of Russian Orthodox Church
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Law and religion roundup – 17th August
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
2025 Season of Creation: European churches call for Peace with Creation
(Conference of European Churches)
From Roman holiday to religious feast, a history of an Italian summer tradition
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)
Western Muslims for public Christianity
(Jacob Williams, First Things)
Delving deeper: Conversations from Day Three of the G20 Interfaith Forum
(Luisa Banchoff, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
From advocates to agents: Takeaways from Day Four of the G20 Interfaith Forum
(Luisa Banchoff, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Global mosques urged to unite in defense of Al-Aqsa on World Mosque Day
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Islamophobia on the rise in Australia and majority of incidents are not reported, report says
(Nino Bucci, The Guardian)
Mozambique: Archbishop Inácio condemns illegal seizure of church land, mosque built on seminary grounds
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest August 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Solomon Islands prime minister hails church’s role in national transformation at evangelism event
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
German evangelical leader says political influence brings opportunity — and danger, emphasizes need to 'keep our hearts pure'
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
Ninth Circuit issues mixed ruling in fight over Oregon youth ministry’s hiring practices
(Matt Simons, Courthouse News Service)
Editor in Chief of the ACN Religious Freedom Report 2025: “If religious freedom is denied for one faith, soon, it will be denied to others”
(Aid to the Church in Need)
Saturday, 16 August 2025
WEBINAR, 10-16 August 2025: Interfaith Awareness Week
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Friday, 15 August 2025
Opinion: Foothills Christian Ministries, et al. v. Johnson, et al.
(Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
Mercyhealth to pay over $1 million to settle EEOC COVID-19 vaccine mandate-related religious discrimination charges
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
On Faith and Fellowship Tuesday at the Great American Farmers Market, Secretary Rollins Reaffirms USDA’s commitment to upholding religious liberties
(U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Ubuntu is our compass: Day One of the G20 Interfaith Forum
(Luisa Banchoff, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
In good company: Highlights from Day Two of the G20 Interfaith Summit
(Luisa Banchoff, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
German CDU prevents pro-choice candidate from becoming judge: a victory for Christians?
(Wolfgang Stock, Christian Network Europe)
Denial of state reimbursement for religious home school material does not violate 1st Amendment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
After a contentious election, Romania’s few Jews remain on guard against antisemitism
(Larry Luxner, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
How new laws are changing Colorado school policies on religion, library materials
(Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News)
Men who sprayed water at Orthodox Jews apologise
(Dan Wareing, BBC)
Why Muslim charities face disproportionate scrutiny in the UK
(Jaffer A Mirza, Middle East Eye)
Spiritual conviction, medical ethics and the Court of Protection: YD
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
When mere defamation Isn’t enough: “serious reputational harm” in Hegab
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
How local religious leaders are shaping global peacebuilding: Reflections from the 2025 Kofi Annan Faith Briefings
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
CAIR-Ohio supports Solicitor General’s right to religious-cultural symbol after online backlash against ‘Bindi’
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
Will feds weigh in on religious vax carveouts?
(Lauren Gardner and David Lim, Politico)
‘God understands us': Inside a Nigerian church where deaf people find faith and community
(Ope Adetayo, Associated Press)
'This is domestic terror': Shaken by ICE raids, pastors rethink ministries
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
The Druze are a tightly knit community – and the violence in Syria is triggering fears in Lebanon
(Mireille Rebeiz and Said Abou Zaki, The Conversation)
Why Indigenous Americans are fighting for access to a sacred spot in Texas
(Patrick Davis, NPR)
Grave by grave, a new project in divided Cyprus tries to mend mistrust
(Menelaos Hadjicostis, Associated Press)
Qatar sentences the country’s Baha’i leader to 5 years for social media posts
(David Crary, Associated Press)
Hundreds of Catholic sisters walk Atlanta streets to pray for social, environmental justice
(Fiona Murphy, Religion News Service)
Argentinian President Javier Milei will use ‘Jewish Nobel’ to launch ‘Isaac Accords’
(Juan Melamed, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
When violence based on religion or belief amounts to international crimes
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Kyrgyzstan: Supreme Court permanently bans Reform Adventists as "extremist"
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
In Bolivia, churches and communities speak out on addressing health crisis
(World Council of Churches)
Principled pluralism is the American way
(Mark Tooley, American Mind)
Opposition PNP pledges multi-million dollar fund for church-led programs, action on gender-based violence ahead of Jamaica election
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
Church network in India rallies against ‘invisible chains’ of human trafficking
(Molly Fernandes, Vatican News)
ADF commends Bank of America’s step toward preventing discriminatory debanking
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
It's time to restore American leadership on international religious freedom
(Miles P. J. Windsor, Newsweek)
Freedom of religion in Turkey: Foreign policy implications
(Soner Cagaptay, Washington Institute)
RFI submits report on landscape of religious liberty in America to religious liberty commission
(Religious Freedom Institute)
It is time for decisive action to combat global persecution of Christians
(David K. Trimble, Religious Freedom Institute)
Thursday, 14 August 2025
EVENT, 10-14 August 2025: G20 Interfaith Forum (Cape Town, South Africa)
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 14 August 2025: Freedom of Religion or Belief in Turkey
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Hindu parents raise concerns about faith's 'problematic' depiction in classrooms
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)
An Indiana Hindu temple sign was vandalized, the fourth in a 'shocking' pattern
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)
Harvard will open new Muslim, Hindu prayer spaces after years of uneven access
(Samuel A. Church, The Harvard Crimson)
FBI releases 2024 hate crime data
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Ahead of Alaska talks about Ukraine, Commissioner for Human Rights O’Flaherty calls for anchoring peace negotiations in human rights
(Council of Europe)
Polarization and the pursuit of peace: Multi-faith appeals to human dignity
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
WCC general secretary delivers keynote at G20 Interfaith Forum
(World Council of Churches)
New York man sentenced for firearm and religious hate crimes involving the firing of shots outside of Temple Israel in Albany
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Justice Department finds George Washington University deliberately indifferent to antisemitic discrimination
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Telling stories, taking action: Insights from the Youth Interfaith Forum 2025
(Luisa Banchoff, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Ninth Circuit liberals recognize robust ministerial exception
(Ed Whelan, National Review)
PM Sharif, president vow to promote religious freedom as Pakistan marks Minorities Day
(Arab News)
India: Hindu nationalists force religious conversions
(Adil Bhat and Richard Kujur, Deutsche Welle)
Repatriation, state funeral and burial: balancing public and family interests following the death of the former President of Zambia
(Mark Hill, Law & Religion UK)
Satanic Temple blocked from suing over Idaho abortion ban
(Hillel Aron, Courthouse News Service)
Spanish bishops in crosshairs of the far-right party
(Fionn Shiner, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Jumilla stumbles over Spain’s ‘laicidad’
(X. Manuel Suárez, Evangelical Focus)
Shaolin’s ‘CEO monk’ scandal may prompt overhaul of how temples are run in China
(Meredith Chen, South China Morning Post)
Wave of church attacks in 2024 sparks concern over religious freedom in the United States
(Tim Daniels, Zenit)
China cuts ties with Czech President Petr Pavel over his meeting with the Dalai Lama
(Associated Press)
Secular organizations ask federal agency to cancel new religious expression guidelines
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
SBU investigates over 170 cases of treason and incitement brought against UOC MP priests
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Federal district court issues nationwide ruling against the Little Sisters of the Poor
(Becket)
Will the Supreme Court revisit its ruling on same-sex marriage?
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
When failure to intervene becomes constructive dismissal: Makombe
(David Scrooby, Law & Religion UK)
Israel denies entry to Italian Catholic priest who has accused country of genocide
(Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel)
Vietnam: police raid Catholic home church during Mass
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Majorities of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ U.S. adults under 50 want to get married someday
(Kiley Hurst and Blen Wondimu, Pew Research Center)
Monday, 11 August 2025
Religious freedom is at a crossroads in US foreign policy
(Thomas Farr and David Trimble, The Hill)
Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia gather to praise ceasefire with Thailand and mourn the dead
(Sopheng Cheang, Associated Press)
Advancing women’s education in Cambodia and Malawi
(Bahá’í World News Service)
A Spanish town’s ban on religious gatherings sparks outcry and accusations of Islamophobia
(Suman Naishadham, Associated Press)
Faith leaders rally to support immigrants facing deportation in Southern California
(Deepa Bharath, Associated Press)
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