Law and Religion Headlines

---

Saturday, 13 July 2019

Ukrainian church leaders meet with Pope Francis
(RISU, Russia Religion News)

Colombian bishop hopes holy water will curb city’s crime
(Fernando Vergara, Associated Press)

U.S. and Britain putting a new emphasis on religious freedom abroad
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Kuwait arrests Muslim Brotherhood members wanted in Egypt
(Associated Press)

July 2019 Legislation Factsheet: Prosecution of Mass Atrocity Crimes
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

USCIRF issues fact sheet on prosecution of mass atrocity crimes
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Catholic school teacher fired for gay marriage sues Archdiocese of Indianapolis
(Catholic News Agency)

Teacher sues Archdiocese for directing Catholic high school to fire him over same-sex marriage
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Rabbinic human rights group calls planned ICE immigrant raids ‘inhumane’
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

US religious freedom envoy insists Vatican-China deal should be made public
(Elise Harris, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Twitter updates its rules against hateful conduct to include religion
(Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman, The Jerusalem Post)

Faith in religion is dwindling, but when will British politics reflect that?
(Polly Toynbee, The Guardian)

U.S. conference to host victims of religious persecution
(Reuters)

California confession bill on hold
(Alison Lesley, World Religion News)

Christian Porter says religious freedom bill won't erode state LGBT protections
(Paul Karp, The Guardian)

Conversion of marriage to civil partnership
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Wake up, reporters: Some Muslims are calling for a boycott of their faith’s holiest festival
(Richard Ostling, Get Religion)

Searches and arrests of Jehovah's Witnesses in southwest Russia and occupied Crimea
(Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)

Anti-Christian attacks in France quietly quadrupled. Why?
(Richard Bernstein, RealClearInvestigations)

Time for deeper conversations around “heartbeat” bills
(Marie Griffith, Religion & Politics: Fit for Polite Company)

When is a religious symbol not a religious symbol?
(Benjamin Marcus, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)

Germans support democracy, but are concerned about Islam
(Deutsche Welle)

Defeat of California’s attempt to break seal of confession a victory for religious liberty
(Charles C. Camosy, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Declaration proliferation: The international politics of religious tolerance
(Annelle R. Sheline, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Truck hits Mennonite carriage, killing boy and injuring 4
(Associated Press)

Nigerian police disperse anti-government protests by Shiites
(Associated Press)

Vatican hailed for lifting apostolic nuncio's immunity
(Nicolas Senèze, La Croix)

Vatican waives diplomatic immunity of Apostolic Nuncio in France
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Settlement reached in discrimination suit against Michigan Chautauqua village
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Kazakhstan: Fined for worship, funeral prayer rooms
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Bosnian Muslims mark 1995 massacre of thousands with burials
(Darko Bandic, Associated Press)

Federal lawsuit challenges surveillance of pastor for immigrant ministry
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Ohio man sentenced to prison for 30 months for hate crime
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Man sentenced to 30 months for religiously motivated hate crime
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Religious expression is under attack in Canada – and not just in Quebec
(Derek Ross and Kristopher Kinsinger, The Globe and Mail)

New York's new vaccine law faces lawsuit challenge
(Bethany Bump, Albany Times Union)

Suit challenges repeal of New York's religious exemption from vaccination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Mayor says prayer will return to council meetings
(Nick Phillips, Nogales International)

China blasts 22-nation letter criticizing Xinjiang policies
(Associated Press)

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Poland calls for action to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief for all
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Christian requirement at Northern Michigan resort illegal, federal government says
(John Agar, M Live Media)

Australia: Debate rages between coalition members over religious bill
(The Epoch Times)

Reporters will need help from canon lawyers to correctly explain California’s confession bill
(Clemente Lisi, Get Religion)

Conservative legal groups are suing public school yoga and mindfulness programs. This explains why.
(Candy Gunther Brown, The Washington Post)

U.S. faith leaders issue call for diplomacy, not war, with Iran
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

Sikh motorcyclists in Germany obliged to wear helmets
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

German court: Sikhs have to wear helmets on motorbikes
(Deutsche Welle)

Liberté, egalité, laïcité Western governments are telling Muslim women not to cover up
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])

Priest's statement that women are less smart than men is nonsense - Russian human rights council head
(Interfax-Religion)

Rights of sexual minorities should not be violated in Russia – Moskalkova
(Interfax-Religion)

Ukrainian church posts anti-Russian election message
(RISU, Russia Religion News)

Democratic candidates are hiring faith outreach directors — but to reach out to whom?
(Tara Isabella Burton, The Washington Post)

Tel Aviv suburb votes to operate public transportation on Shabbat
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Catholic schools in Memphis to reopen as charter schools this fall
(Karen Pulfer Focht, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Indiana teacher fired for same-sex marriage sues archdiocese
(Associated Press)

Pastor claims retaliation for ministering to migrants
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Veterans Administration cites cross ruling to support new religious display policies
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

Rugby chief suggests quoting Bible is hate speech
(Caleb Parke, Fox News)

Pastor surveilled after ministering to migrants sues US government
(Aysha Khan, Religion News Service)

Poll reveals lukewarm public support for religion freedom legislation
(Michelle Grattan, The Conversation)

Christians in Australia need to ‘suck it up and calm down’ over religious freedom battle
(Shannon Molloy, News.com.au)

Panel blasts Florida county over invocation choices
(Erika Williams, Courthouse News Service)

More answers to readers’ queries and comments – June/early-July
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Same-sex marriage and abortion in Northern Ireland: latest developments
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Independent review of FCO support for persecuted Christians
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Russian lawmakers politicize events affecting Russian Orthodoxy
(RIA Novosti, Russia Religion News)

America isn’t the Church and shouldn’t act like it
(Casey Chalk, The American Conservative)

Orthodox rabbi and the daughter of Tom Lantos to serve on new US human rights commission
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

New Twitter policy targets 'dehumanizing' posts about religious groups
(Deutsche Welle)

Clinic closures point to anti-religious sentiment of Eritrean government
(Shannon Levitt, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

When is it appropriate for courts to decide religious doctrine?
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)

Brevard policy on invocations at commission meetings is unconstitutional
(Dave Berman, Florida Today)

11th Circuit: County's invocation policy violates Establishment Clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Bible shortage? Publishers say tariffs could cause it
(Travis Loller, Associated Press)

Guatemalan woman living in Virginia church faces $214K fine
(Associated Press)

Israeli minister likens Jewish intermarriage to ‘Holocaust’
(Associated Press)

Catholic school to help fired teacher find new job
(Associated Press)

On migration, Europe can’t claim the moral high ground
(Rick Noack, The Washington Post)

Botswana court ruling is a ray of hope for LGBT people across Africa
(Frans Viljoen, The Conversation)

EVENT, 9 July 2019: Religious literacy in public schools: What to teach and how
(Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)

EVENT, 9 July 2019: NCSS 2019 Summer Religious Studies Institute
(Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)

Quebec forced to defend religious symbols law in court for first time
(Jonathan Montpetit, CBC News)

Quebec’s moral quagmire: What Bill 21 means for religious pluralism in Canada
(Michael W. Higgins, Commonweal)

Turkey seeks 176 officers over links to US-based cleric
(Associated Press)

Trump's proposed tariffs on China will impact the cost of Bibles
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Monday, 8 July 2019

Raising a progressive Hindu voice to counter Indian Modi’s increasing power
(Simran Jeet Singh, Religion News Service)

Religious liberals want to change what it means to be a Christian voter
(Daniel Bush, PBS News Hour)

In Kashmir’s war-torn landscape, imams take up the environmental cause
(Priyadarshini Sen, Religion News Service)

Religious liberties legal group asks school district to restore Ten Commandments plaque to middle school wall
(Heather Clark, Christian News)

Hospital settles claim of religious discrimination based on applicant’s refusal of flu vaccine
(Y. Jed Charner, National Law Review)

Keeping church and state separate does not stifle religious freedom
(Ryan D. Jayne, Freedom From Religion Foundation (via Patheos))

Jerusalem has a shared past and future for three religions. world churches body tells UN forum
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

IICSA: Some more legal views
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Law and religion round-up – 7th July
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Registration of a birth: Re T (A child)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Ecclesiastical exemption in the UK: a note
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Georgian LGBT community calls off Tbilisi action due to threats
(Interfax-Religion)

Almost half of Jewish Europeans considering emigrating over antisemitism - report
(Interfax-Religion)

Russian high court fails to resolve problems with anti-evangelism law
(Religiia i Pravo, Russia Religion News)

Disagreement is not discrimination: ‘Do No Harm Act’ is a dishonest act to eject religion
(Matt Sharp, USA Today)

Search

Go!

Filter by Category

Events

International

Europe

United States

Filter by Topic

Abuse Adoption Blasphemy / Offense to Religion Children and Youth Church-State Relations Citizenship Constitutional Space COVID-19 COVID-19 Resources Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (abortion case) Ecclesiastical Abstention Education Environment Espinoza v. Montana (SCOTUS school funding case) Eugenics Extremism Family Law Freedom of Expression Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Fulton v. Philadelphia (faith-based adoption agencies and same-sex couples) G20 Interfaith Forum Gender Genocide George Floyd Health and Wellbeing Human Dignity Human Fraternity ICLRS Symposium Identity Interfaith Dialogue Jewish Law June Medical Services (SCOTUS abortion case) Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania Our Lady of Guadalupe School (SCOTUS ministerial exception case) Politics Poverty Property Race Religious Food Practices Religious Freedom Religious Holidays Religious Literacy Rule of Law Russia's Extremism Laws Slavery Social Service Spirituality Technology, Innovation, Infrastructure The Economy Ukrainian Autocephaly Violence Women / Equality Abortion Accreditation Activism Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton Affordable Care Act/HHS Mandate Al-Qaeda Annual International Law and Religion Symposium Anti-Christian Sentiment Anti-Islam Film Anti-Muslim Sentiment Anti-Semitism Apartheid Apostasy Articles & Speeches Asylum Australia Same-Sex Marriage Vote Bakery cases Billy Graham Blaine Amendments Boko Haram Bostock v. Clayton County (LGBT employment rights case) Boy Scouts Braidwood v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Brexit Calls for Papers / Contests Canada's Office of Religious Freedom Censorship Charlie Gard Case Charlie Hebdo Circumcision Climate Change Conscientious Objection Copenhagen Declaration (2018) Counter-terrorism Death Penalty Defamation Definition of Religion or Belief Democracy Derogation Desecration Discrimination Dissent ECHR/ECtHR ENDA ERISA Ethics Ethnic Cleansing EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief European Court of Justice Euthanasia/Assisted Dying Events Eweida and Others Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Faith Based Law Schools Family FIDELA First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) Franciscan Alliance v. Burwell (Texas Transgender Mandate Case) Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Movement Globalism Gloucester County School Board ("Transgender Bathroom case") Government Funding of Religion Government Obligations Ground Zero Cross Hate Crimes Hate Speech Headscarf / Veil / Burqa HHS Transgender Mandate Hobby Lobby case Holt v. Hobbs Honor Killing Human Genomics Debate Human Rights Human Trafficking Humanitarian Aid Immigration Inequality Inhumane Treatment Interfaith International Law ISIS / ISIL / Daesh / "Islamic State" Jehovah's Witnesses v. Wall (Canada) Jerusalem passports case Jurisdiction Justice Scalia Kelley v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Kentucky Clerk Case Lee v. Tam (trademark case) Legislation & Religion LGBTQi+ issues Magna Carta Malaysia Allah Case Margin of Appreciation Marrakesh Declaration Marriage / Divorce / Civil Union Masterpiece Cakeshop Case Mexico Massacre Middle East Migration Military Ministerial Exception Minorities Missionary/Proselytism Mt. Soledad Cross Multiculturalism Narratives Neutrality New Religious Movements Newsletter NIFLA v. Becerra (compelled-speech case) Oaths of Allegiance Obergefell v. Hodges Orlando Massacre Pan-Orthodox Council Parental Rights Parliament of the World's Religions Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peacebuilding Pluralism Politics & Religion Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Pornography Prejudice Prisoner Free Exercise Prisoners Privacy Private and Family Life Proselytism / Evangelism Public Cross Cases Public Morals Public Prayer Publications Pussy Riot case Quebec Charter Plan Radicalization Refoulement Refugee/Migrant Crisis Registration Religion & Culture Religion & Government Religion in the Public Sphere Religious Accommodation Religious Autonomy Religious Clergy Religious Clothing Religious Conversion Religious Demographics Religious Demonstration Religious Diversity Religious Exemption Religious Free Exercise Religious Freedom & Business Religious Harmony Religious Hatred Religious Hostilities Religious Incitement Religious Intolerance Religious Oppression Religious Persecution Religious Registration Religious Symbols Religious Tolerance Reparations Restrictions on Religion RFAR RFRA Right to Effecitve Remedy Right to Fair Hearing Right to Life RLUIPA Roe v. Wade Romney Sacred Spaces Same-sex unions Secularism Security Social Justice Social Media Sovereignty Sterling v. United States (RFRA) Stormans v. Weisman (Pharmacists' Case) Surrogacy Sustainable Development Syria Tax / Finance and Religion Terrorism The Vatican Third-party intervention Title IX Torture or inhuman treatment Travel Ban Treaties Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer Trinity Western University Ukraine UN Human Rights Council UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief US Constitution US State Department Religious Freedom Reports USCIRF Utah Compromise Victims War Crimes Wedding vendor cases Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (Texas abortion case) Workplace / Employment Zubik v. Burwell ("Little Sisters of the Poor")

Filter by Country

Afghanistan African Union Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Council of Europe Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia European Union Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao PDR Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherland Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan (Republic of China) Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Tibet Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Türkiye Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Nations United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe