Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 18 April 2025
Abortion views across all 50 states: key insights from PRRI's 2024 American Values Atlas
(PRRI)
Brazil: Adventist judoka has the right not to graduate from belt level on Saturday (Portuguese)
(Conjur)
Angola opens public consultation on religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Lusa, Deutsche Welle)
Angola: Secular state or regulator of faith? (Portuguese)
(Sandra Quiala, Deutsche Welle)
Puerto Rico: "You have nothing to fear": Religious groups debate the approval of a law for religious freedom (Spanish)
(Alexandra Acosta Vilanova, El Vocero del Puerto Rico)
Spain launches controversial overhaul of Valley of the Fallen
(Javier Villamor, The European Conservative)
The Committee will not submit a petition to the Government for its opinion on introducing religious education into the education system.
(Jelena Kočanović and Tina Popovic, Vijesti)
JD Vance visits Italy for tariff talks and attends Good Friday service at the Vatican
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Justice Department files statement of interest in New York in support of religious Muslim community’s land use claim
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Judgment given: For Women Scotland Ltd (Appellant) v The Scottish Ministers (Respondent)
(UK Supreme Court)
Oceanian perspectives on human dignity
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Justifiable limitations upon freedom of religion and belief in Australia’s draft human rights bill: Lessons from the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
(Paul Babie, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Australia: Muslim advocacy group to preference Greens above Labor in some seats despite disagreement on religious freedom
(Henry Belot, The Guardian)
What’s the point of church? The New York Times wants to know
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Supreme Court backs 'biological' definition of woman
(Angus Cochrane, BBC)
Multiple states, religious freedom advocates urge 9th Circuit to uphold church’s pro-life beliefs
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Judge blocks worker protections for abortion and fertility care for Catholic employers
(Associated Press)
3rd Circuit hears arguments on whether religious motivation of founders allows nonprofit corporation to assert free exercise claims
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 15 April 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Cuban government blocks Palm Sunday procession in Havana for second year
(James Rodriguez, Cuba Headlines)
Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events, seen as a major blow to rights
(Justin Spike, Associated Press)
Harvard defends its response to antisemitism in rejecting White House demands
(Grace Gilson, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Hezbollah denounces desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque isanctity
(Mehr News Agency)
Ministry of Social Affairs is ordered to delete all illegally gathered data on Muslims
(NL Times)
Mosque annoyed by conservative, far-right MP's bid to ban amplified call to prayer
(NL Times)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Leading by and with faith: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Kenya: Kindiki says church and state are partners in nation building, not competitors
(Maureen Kinyanjui, Eastleigh Voice)
“Calm approach” of new German government praised by Christians
(Evangelical Focus)
Alabama school prayer bill now includes all religions; requires Pledge of Allegiance
(Rebecca Griesbach, AL.com)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia: Criminal trial of anti-war believer begins, another continues, third awaited
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Repeated ill-treatment of Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova in a penal colony in Russia
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
Occupied Ukraine: Russian FSB raids, court cases, fines, deportation threats
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Far from being anti-religion, church-state separation is the best friend faith ever had
(Rob Boston, Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
Kansas LGBTQ+ foster kids’ rights in jeopardy under new law protecting religious parents
(Anna Kaminski, Kansas Reflector)
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
CALL FOR PAPERS, abstracts due 15 April 2025: Third World Conference for Religious Dialogue and Cooperation (North Macedonia)
(Center for Intercultural Studies and Research, Faculty of Philosophy)
Monday, 14 April 2025
Cornyn calls on DOJ to investigate EPIC city following accusations of religious discrimination, Sharia law
(John Cornyn, U.S. Senate)
Presidential Message on Holy Week, 2025
(The White House)
Egypt: Halt arbitrary arrest, disappearance and threatened deportation of Ahmadi minority members
(Amnesty International)
Prosecuting blasphemy in Russia
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF welcomes nominations to advance international religious freedom and combat antisemitism
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Rep. Smith condemns transnational repression targeting Nigerians following Congressional hearing on religious persecution
(Chris Smith, U.S. House of Representatives)
DIY religion: More Americans finding faith outside church
(James Dean, Cornell Chronicle)
Australia: The NSW Conversion Practices law, religious freedom and Government “guidance”
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
State Department wants staff to report instances of alleged anti-Christian bias during Biden’s term
(Matthew Lee, Associated Press)
Federal judge sides with Trump in allowing immigration enforcement in houses of worship
(Michael Kunzelman and Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press)
3rd Circuit rejects Title VII claim by ER doctor who was denied religious exemption from Covid vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
The Passover attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro was an attack on all Jews
(Jeffrey Salkin, Religion News Service)
A study found Black Christians often distrust American Muslims. A new program hopes to change that
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Nigeria pledges to uphold religious freedom, but actions on the ground suggest otherwise
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Russia’s Palm Sunday massacre
(Elena Davlikanova, Center for European Policy Analysis)
Law and religion roundup – 13th April
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
When vigilance turns into ideology: MIVILUDES and the Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Jan Leonid Bornstein, The European Times)
Fighting anti-Semitism shouldn’t harm Jewish students: a reflection on the limits of blunt force in academia
(Daniel Ross Goodman, Public Discourse)
Why Iranians are rejecting Islam and embracing Christianity
(John Mac Ghlionn, Religion Unplugged)
Khamenei: Iran's progress angers, confuses its enemies
(Middle East Monitor)
Let parents parent: Restore the opt-out in Montgomery County Schools
(YouTube Video, Becket)
Arsonist gets over 4 years for setting fire to Southern California church, preschool
(Edvard Pettersson, Courthouse News Service)
Canadian Conservative leader promises to deport people convicted of antisemitic crimes if elected
(The Jewish Chronicle)
Puerto Rico: Governor enacts public policy on protection of religious freedom
(The San Juan Daily Star)
Arkansas enacts religious freedom protections for adoptive parents, faith-based agencies
(Madalaine Elhabbal, Catholic News Agency)
Record number of adult baptisms in France shows surge among youth
(AC Wimmer, Catholic News Agency)
EU calls for end to Taliban’s public executions
(Amu TV)
Ecuador: Catholic bishops call on people to avoid polarization in Ecuador ahead of elections
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Senegal TV series spreads the gospel, promotes interfaith dialogue
(Charles Senghor, La Croix International)
Southeast Asia: Traffickers pose as Christian missionaries, pilgrims to exploit victims
(LiCAS News)
Bangladesh: WCC expresses solidarity with peace efforts
(World Council of Churches)
Malaysia: Mosques should be built on faith, not for show, says PM Anwar
(Opalyn Mok, Malay Mail)
Japan: In the shadow of a murder: Religious freedom versus the social good
(Roy Starrs, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs)
India: Controversy erupts over religious-based reservations in Karnataka
(Devdiscourse)
2025 IRF Summit profiles | interview series
(YouTube Video, Religious Freedom Institute)
Cantwell v. Connecticut: Can a state restrict offensive religious speech?
(YouTube Video, Mattone Center for Law and Religion)
Around the web - 14 April 2025
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Friday, 11 April 2025
Spring 2025 Schedule: Free Exercise Speaker Series (New Haven, CT, USA)
(Marc DeGirolami, James Nelson, Gabrielle Girgis, Caroline Mala Corbin, Stefan McDaniel, Thomas Berg, Yale Law School)
EVENT, 11 April 2025 (12PM MT): Preserving Religious Freedom for the Rising Generation (Provo, UT, USA)
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies and Religious Freedom Institute)
USCIRF calls on Trump Administration to seek Iranian concessions on religious freedom in Oman discussions
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Natural law defended anew
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe Blog)
Colorado bishops issue open letter to Governor Jared Polis urging veto of SB 183 abortion financing bill
(Archdiocese of Denver)
Bahraini Ambassador meets UK Special Envoy to discuss religious freedom and coexistence
(Daily Tribune)
Persecution of Christians
(UK Parliament)
Report: A Human Rights Perspective on the Multi-faceted Right (Not) to Believe in Türkiye
(Mine Yıldırım, Rümeysa Çamdereli, and Tolga Şirin, Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
Afghanistan: Taliban morality enforcers arrest men for having the wrong hairstyle or skipping mosque, UN says
(Associated Press)
In win for faith groups, federal judge rules Trump must begin admitting some refugees
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Catholics line up behind bipartisan effort to reform religious worker visas
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Israel: As war continues, Israelis express frustrations with Haredi exemption from military service
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Burkina Faso: Catholic priest praises Burkina Faso leader over commitment to bridge religious gaps
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Iraq: What to do with Iraq's 'IS families' returning from Syria?
(Cathrin Schaer, Deutsche Welle)
Oct. 7 drove Jewish and Muslim teens apart. A dialogue group in L.A. brought them together.
(Madeleine Kashkooli, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
40 faith leaders call on Trump, Rubio to help return abducted Ukrainian children
(Gina Christian, OSV News)
Speaking truth to power in challenging times: Lessons from the Arab Spring politics of Muslim jurists
(Muhammad Amasha, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Syria: Christian leaders urge Syria’s new regime to guarantee safety, rights
(Rémy Videau, La Croix International)
Pakistan: Promoting religious harmony and inclusivity through Sikh pilgrim visas
(Shaikh Moazam Khan, Eurasia Review)
Study finds New York (yes, New York) top US city for ‘Christian engagement’
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)
Filipino women fight for the right to divorce in a deeply Catholic country
(Al Jazeera)
New Washington law recognizes two Islamic holidays
(Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero, Washington State Standard)
Nepal: Christians arrested amid Hindu extremist/pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Submission to UN SR on FoRB report on freedom of religion or belief and migrants, IDPs, and refugees
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Russia criticizes Estonia's church foreign influence law
(Eesti Rahvusringhääling)
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