Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 27 May 2019
‘Terrible mistake’: US govt. religious freedom watchdog slams Vatican’s deal with China
(Steven Mosher, Lifesite News)
Sunday, 26 May 2019
Message of the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to the scientific community on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si’, 24.05.2019
(His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson)
Friday, 24 May 2019
Central African Republic: is justice being sacrificed for the illusion of peace?
(CSWPress, FoRB in Full (a blog by CSW))
European Jehovah's Witness gets six years in Russian jail for joining 'extremist organization'
(Callum Paton, Newsweek)
New Trump administration rule would weaken protections for transgender people in health care
(Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post)
Sharing Ramadan: How a Memphis Muslim tradition builds interfaith solidarity
(Sarah Macaraeg, Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Taiwan recognized same-sex marriage for the first time. Here are the scenes of joy.
(Keith McMillan, The Washington Post)
What we misunderstand about religion's role in the abortion debate
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News InDepth)
Thursday, 23 May 2019
'It should be a secular process': The implications of religion in Parliament
(Zane Small, Newshub)
“The precarious state of Christianity,” and of religious pluralism, in the Middle East
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Bishops from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia call for disarmament of herders
(Fredrick Nzwili, Catholic News Service)
Church review of Bishop Whitsey case
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Dane jailed by Russia in Jehovah's Witnesses crackdown loses appeal — spokesman
(Moscow Times)
Deadly Jakarta riots revive fears of religion-fueled killing
(Philip Heijmans and Arys Aditya, Bloomberg)
Digging into the complexities of religion and abortion — and how politics influences views
(Bobby Ross Jr., Get Religion)
Douglas Strang: Sharing religious beliefs at work – a human right?
(Douglas Strang, Scottish Legal News)
How the fight for religious freedom has fallen victim to the culture wars
(Tom Gjelten, National Public Radio)
If Francis wants to mediate US/Iran, his best odds may be with Tehran
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
India’s Modi paints image of Hindu ascetic called to power
(Emily Schmall, Associated Press)
India’s Modi wins resounding election victory with potent appeal to nationalism
(Joanna Slater and Niha Masih, The Washington Post)
Italy’s Catholic bishops ‘morally obliged’ to report abuse
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Modi surges to victory in India on Hindu-first platform
(Emily Schmall, Associated Press)
NPR story explores the fractures surrounding “religious freedom” today
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
President Nelson thanks Tongan king for religious liberty in meeting at oceanside royal palace
(Tad Walch, Deseret News Faith)
Priest sexual assault case settled
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Protestant pastor fined for conducting regular worship
(Vladimir Ozolin, Religiia i Pravo)
Religion Watch, June 2019, Volume 34 No. 6 and 7
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Retired pastor faces potential eviction for hosting Bible study in his apartment
(First Liberty)
Russian appeals court upholds sentence of Jehovah's Witness
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Russian Foreign Ministry confirms support to Christian communities' role in Middle East
(Interfax-Religion)
Sacramento Catholic diocese settles priest sex abuse lawsuit involving Woodland woman
(Michael McGough, Fresno Bee)
Senior community management sued over ban on Bible study groups and public prayer
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Supreme Court refuses to take Tree of Life RLUIPA case
(Evan Seeman, RLUIPA-Defense)
The impossible future of Christians in the Middle East
(Emma Green, The Atlantic)
USCIRF condemns Russian court’s decision to uphold conviction of religious prisoner of conscience Dennis Christensen
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
West African bishops pledge church help to counter terror attacks
(Catholic News Service)
Yes, abortion activists use religious language. But it's still about politics
(Daniel Burke, CNN)
EVENT, 22- 23 May 2019: Religious Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace
(The Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought of Yeshiva University, the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Law Society, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
EVENT Registration: 22-23 May 2019, What's Next for Religious Freedom, New York City
(Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought of Yeshiva University)
USCIRF statement on Senate committee's holding China’s human rights abusers accountable
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
China’s alarming AI surveillance of Muslims should wake us up
(Tim Weinhold, The Washington Post)
Wednesday, 22 May 2019
3rd Circuit hears arguments in contraceptive mandate case
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Actions against Jehovah's Witnesses in four Russian cities
(Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Anti-Catholic ‘Blaine Amendments’ harm children now, in the 21st century
(George Will, National Review)
Brunei’s pernicious new penal code
(Human Rights Watch)
County courthouse crosses to stay in San Jacinto, Texas dispute
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
In central Africa, Islamist militias complicate church efforts to battle Ebola
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Most American Jews are concerned about anti-Semitism and disapprove of Trump, survey finds
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Nuns push court for moral exclusion to birth-control mandate
(Emilee Larkin, Courthouse News Service)
Religion and politics should be separate says former Moroccan head of government
(Morocco World News)
Russia: Imprisonment completed, citizenship stripped, awaiting deportation
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Russian city cancels cathedral construction after protests
(Associated Press)
States and cities sue administration over expanded health care conscience rules
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
The debate grows over what religious freedom means
(Tom Gjelten, National Public Radio)
Washington state legalizes human composting
(Deutsche Welle)
Week of protests against building church produces results
(Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Israel, European Jewry watching carefully as EU votes for new parliament
(Herb Keinon, The Jerusalem Post)
Pope urges China’s Catholics to unify after bishop deal
(Associated Press)
China’s Orwellian war on religion
(Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times)
Tuesday, 21 May 2019
‘Chick-fil-A’ bill reignites LGBT opposition in Texas
(Paul J. Weber, Associated Press)
Burma’s identity crisis
(CSWPress, FoRB in Full (a blog by CSW))
Can the Brits define ‘Islamophobia’?
(Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review)
District Court rejects Free Exercise challenge to Colorado nondiscrimination law
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Gay conservative: Equality Act would crush religious freedom. Trump is right to oppose it.
(Brad Polumbo, USA Today)
Guest opinion: How lawyers are distorting religious freedom
(Asma Uddin, Deseret News)
House passes Equality Act to ban LGBTQ discrimination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Infecting people isn’t a religious right
(The Editorial Board, The New York Times)
Kremlin takes action to resolve dispute over building a church
(Credo.Press, Russia Religion News)
LGBTQ Equality Act passes House, pushing back on Trump’s religious freedom policies
(Sandhya Raman, Roll Call)
New rules for federal workers' comp time to make up for religious observance
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
New Zealand mosque shooting: Gunshots shattered a day of prayer, but gave rise to interfaith resolve
(Tad Walch, Deseret News Faith)
On eve of divorce referendum, Irish Church urges more support for marriage
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Populist wave continues: Nationalism and Catholicism collide in run-up to European elections
(Clemente Lisi, Get Religion)
Provocative behavior of migrants causes nationalism, anti-Islamic terrorism - Bortnikov
(Interfax-Religion)
Religion can play a role in Myanmar's development
(John Zaw, La Croix)
Semi-Islamic sect activity punished in Russia
(Argumenty i fakty, Russia Religion News)
States sue over rule allowing clinicians to refuse abortions
(Larry Neumeister, Associated Press)
Uzbekistan: Torture, no pardon, for prisoner of conscience
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
With Ontario court's ruling on doctors, the revolution continues
(Barry W. Bussey, National Post)
Study: It’s easier to be a ‘none’ in Canada than in the US
(John Longhurst, Religion News Service)
New York in court to bar move of Sheen remains to Peoria
(Associated Press)
Monday, 20 May 2019
Bitter Winter’s Tiananmen movie premieres in Budapest
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)
British divorce case poses catch-22 for Jewish husband
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Certiorari denied in California reparative therapy ban challenge
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Christian wedding services owner loses challenge to Colorado's public accommodation law
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Employment and religion: Don’t talk (too much) about religion at work
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Europe’s sanctuary movement: Why churches enter immigration debate
(Christian Science Monitor)
FLDS bishop cobvicted By Canadian court in marriage of his minor daughter
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Former B.C. polygamous leader guilty in taking child bride to United States
(Amy Smart, The Canadian Press)
Iraqi Christian asks SCOTUS to stop his deportation because he’ll be persecuted, court declines to get involved
(Elura Nanos, Law and Crime)
Italy’s Catholic establishment faults Salvini for rosary
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
James Madison understood religious freedom better than Jefferson did
(Steven Waldman, National Review)
Jehovah's Witnesses frustrated by arbitrariness in Finland
(Svetlana Niberliain, Idel.Realii)
Law and religion round-up – 19th May
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Nigerian bishop says sharia law has failed in the north of the country
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pete Buttigieg shouldn’t lead the religious left. There shouldn’t even be a religious left.
(Justin DaMetz, The Washington Post)
President Nelson meets New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, says church will donate to mosques
(Tad Walch, Deseret News Faith)
Q&A: Why Latter-day Saints loom large in the history of religious freedom law
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News Faith)
Religious Freedom in Focus, volume 80 – May 2019
(Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice)
Review denied in deportation of Iraqi Christian
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
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