Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 11 August 2025
Executive Order targets religious and political discrimination by banks
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Sudan issue update
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Moderator holds constructive talks with the leaders of Scotland's biggest political parties
(The Church of Scotland)
Clergy authority and civil liability for sex abuse from a comparative perspective
(Nicolás Zambrana Tévar, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
A Nigerian prisoner of conscience is free, but others remain in danger
(Freedom House)
Families foster belonging in Australian neighborhoods
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Religions for Peace World Council in Istanbul to restore the sacred in a time of global crisis
(Religions for Peace)
Honoring Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A call to abolish nuclear weapons
(Religions for Peace)
Tthe bread we share: what a border village taught me about the potential for covenantal pluralism in Georgia
(Tornike Metreveli, Institute for Global Engagement)
Not in my neighborhood: A rabbi fighting to root out anti-Semitism in his community
(Jayla Ward, First Liberty)
“Persecution will not deprive me of happiness”
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
Belgium– UK: The role of the media in the stigmatization of religious minorities
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Colombia: Minister indicates government will reject bill that would increase control over religious entities
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
How America losing religion is hurting the birth rate
(Jordan King, Newsweek)
Around the web - 11 August 2025
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Islamic court in Indonesia sentences 2 men to public caning over sexual acts: kissing and hugging
(Yayan Zamzami, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 11 August 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Schools are looking for chaplains, but the understanding of who – and what – chaplains are varies widely
(Wendy Cadge and Amy Lawton, The Conversation)
Vatican ties with Azerbaijan under fire amid accusations of cultural genocide
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
Cameroon archbishop issues critique of the Biya government ahead of elections
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The illusion of the repugnant client: Hindu ethics in American legal practice
(Sai Santosh Kumar Kolluru, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Opponents of Ten Commandments display law seek to block its enforcement as school year begins
(Andrew Schneider, Texas Public Radio)
Friday, 8 August 2025
Qatar: UN experts gravely concerned about discrimination against the Baha’i religious minority
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
The pursuit of justice for the Yazidi genocide must continue
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Statement on Gaza and peace in the Middle East
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Colombia: New film highlights efforts toward environmental restoration
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest July 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Pastor Rudy Palacios Vargas dared to speak out against injustice in Nicaragua. For that he has been labelled a murderer and a terrorist.
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Unification minister asks for Buddhist community's role in improving inter-Korean ties
(Korea Times)
At meeting of African Catholic leaders, bishops urge peace on the continent
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Vatican steps in where others can’t: Bridging Russia and the West
(Gaetano Masciullo, The European Conservative)
Bond between Iran, Islam unbreakable: Tehran mayor
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Viet Nam promotes religious solidarity in new era
(Hoang Thu Trang, Nhan Dan)
Houthi factsheet
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Indonesian faith leaders unite for safeguarding religious freedom
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Trump’s push for drilling, mining sharpens debate for Alaska Natives about land they view as sacred
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Trump energizes conservative Christians with new religious policies
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
From Bibles to prayer groups: What Trump's new religion memo for federal workers means
(BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today)
Bureaucratizing faith
(Stephen Eide, Law & Liberty)
5th Circuit: Anti-vax belief in bodily autonomy can support Title VII religious discrimination claim
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
7th Circuit: Jury must decide whether religious accommodation would create undue hardship
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
9th Circuit: Ministerial exception requires dismissal of customer service representative's Title VII suit
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Anti-Shariah conspiracy theories, a staple of 9/11-era rhetoric, resurge around Mamdani
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Outrage as Spanish town bans Muslim festivals after migrant protests
(Isambard Wilkinson, The Times)
Center for Countering Disinformation: The Kremlin has intensified its use of the Russian Orthodox Church to promote the war
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russian violations of the ECHR: Ukraine and The Netherlands v Russia
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Moldova Prime Minister pledges: ‘We will not allow antisemitism to take root’
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)
Why religion matters in Europe’s fight against racism
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Religious schools fill gaps amid Afghanistan’s fractured education system
(Al Jazeera)
Ban Christian priests from villages, Hindu group tells Indian state
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
In visit to Korea, WCC general secretary will walk with churches for reconciliation and peace
(World Council of Churches)
The UK government’s efforts to produce a definition of Islamophobia could prove counterproductive
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Transfer of sacred Apache land inevitable, feds tell judge
(Joe Duhownik, Courthouse News Service)
Legal Journal Number 9 (20): July (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
A world without nuclear weapons is needed, Japanese cardinal says
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Joint interfaith statement marking 80 years since the first use of nuclear weapons
(Parliament of the World’s Religions)
Religious group can close Jersey Shore beach access on Sundays, judge says
(Nick Caloway, CBS News)
Land use in Texas: Muslims for Christian secular values
(Sharmin Sadequee, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Curriculum and conscience
(John O. McGinnis, Law & Liberty)
Conference in Estonia will explore role of churches in countering disinformation
(World Council of Churches)
China: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly Digest July 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Chinese government has 'final say' in Dalai Lama reincarnation, Tibetan official says
(Reuters)
Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly Digest July 2025
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Religion: Beware of testimonies of former members. The case of J.A.
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
From marginal religious groups to mainstream Christians: Why some see a shift in Supreme Court cases
(Maureen Groppe, USA Today)
Αrchon Manolis Velivasakis delivers strong message for religious freedom at World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association’s General Assembly
(Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)
From sanctuary to courtroom: Immigration and religious liberty
(Elizabeth Reiner Platt, Religion News Service)
Event report: Dialogue with UK Government Faith Minister
(Cambridge Interfaith Programme)
Can civil rights law end antisemitic discrimination?
(Tal Fortgang, Law & Liberty)
Faith leadership and missions in the fight against modern slavery
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Migration and refugee movements, human trafficking, and modern slavery
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Organized exploitation and sacred responsibility: Africa’s challenge and IF20’s call to action
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Why was religious exemption not allowed for worker refusing to comply with vaccination policy?
(Jeffrey R. Smith, Canadian HR Reporter)
In Italy, antisemitism seems to be on the rise
(Aart Heering, Christian Network Europe)
Organized crime’s newest targets
(Knox Thames)
Nigeria: Religious leaders are key to peaceful coexistence, says Uba Sani
(Saxone Akhaine, The Guardian)
Victory for religious freedom: Nigerian high court strikes down wrongful conviction of Christian man who faced torture
(ADF International)
Australia: Chinese national accused under foreign interference law of spying on Buddhists
(Michelle Grattan, The Conversation)
Bosnia national museum accuses Israel of ‘genocide,’ draws flak from Jewish groups
(Times of Israel)
Patiala protest march demands release of Sikh prisoners and stronger religious protection laws
(Times of India)
Purdue University student freed from ICE detention after outcry from faith leaders
(Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press)
Judge blocks 4 districts from enforcing Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in classroom
(Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press)
Challenge to church's switch in denominations fails
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
How India's sacred Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage became a spectacle of Hindutva fury
(Anuj Behal, Religion News Service)
Texas Rep. James Talarico calls Democrats' redistricting exodus an act of faith
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Eric Adams assembles religious leaders to bless his candidacy
(Dana Rubinstein, The New York Times)
Jewish passenger served kosher meal labeled ‘Free Palestine’ on Iberia Airlines flight
(Combat Antisemitism Movement)
Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics attend Pope Leo XIV's vigil at Holy Year youth festival
(Euronews)
Football and faith could return to the Supreme Court – this time, over loudspeakers
(Charles J. Russo, The Conversation)
Taliban arrests six Kabul University students over alleged promotion of ‘atheistic ideas’
(Afghanistan International)
Brazil: Denied compensation to family of Jehovah's Witness who died after fracturing his femur (Portuguese)
(Bom Dia Advogado)
Monday, 4 August 2025
Religious freedom and social polarization: A comparative perspective
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
Canada: In diverse Central Park, community concerned U.S. Christian musician's concert could sow division
(Santiago Arias Orozco, CBC News)
Quran burning in France punished with one year in prison
(Hélène de Lauzun, The European Conservative)
Short-term safety vs. long-term protection: Why cultural heritage is essential to religious freedom in the MENA region
(Salah Ali, Religious Freedom Institute)
Religious freedom at 250: Assessing the United States' new commission
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Prospects for religious liberty in the United States are bright
(Mark David Hall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Liberty for all? Concerns about Trump's religious liberty commission
(Judd Birdsall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Reaffirming America's first principles: potential contributions of the new religious liberty commission
(Eric Patterson, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The foundation of a foundational right
(Susan Hayward, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
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