Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 10 February 2025
Democracy and Church (German)
(Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland)
Trump reestablishes White House Faith Office, places Paula White-Cain in charge
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Now the UK has a new Special Envoy, what does that mean for freedom of religion or belief?
(Chibuzor, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Friday, 7 February 2025
VIRTUAL EVENT, 7 February 2025 (14.00 GMT): Human Dignity, Religion and the Law
(International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies)
The Mattone Center for Law and Religion hosts its Inaugural Directors Summit
(St. John's University)
The Religious Freedom Institute, Pepperdine University, and the International Religious Freedom Summit announce ‘IRF Summit Africa’
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Eradicating anti-Christian bias
(The White House)
Who is Paula White-Cain? Trump's pick to lead White House faith office
(Monica Sager, Newsweek)
A short honeymoon for Catholics in D.C. as Vice President Vance clashes with bishops on migration
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Latino evangelical churches gear up to face possible immigration enforcement in churches
(Deepa Bharath, Associated Press)
‘Real sanctions, real consequences’ are needed for countries on religious freedom watchlist
(Madalaine Elhabbal, Catholic News Agency)
At two prayer breakfasts, Trump calls himself champion of religion
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Religious freedom advocates at IRF Summit outline hopes for Trump’s term
(Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency)
Defunding and demonizing the government's faith-based partners will make its job harder
(Aaron Dorfman, Amanda Tyler, and Jennifer Walker Thomas, Religion News Service)
Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy
(Jonathan Rauch, Yale University Press)
South Africa: FOR SA protected church access to school venues
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Religion, Marriage and Fertility: Shall the Religious Inherit Ireland?
(The Iona Institute)
Australia: How a wave of antisemitic attacks roiled Australia and provoked claims of foreign influence
(Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press)
Australia: Querying “no religion”: State, society and spirituality in Australia
(Anna Halafoff, Andrew Singleton, & Elenie Poulos, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
‘Dismayed’ by Cooper Union blaming Jewish students, district judge lets case proceed
(Izzy Salant, Jewish News Syndicate)
University did not violate Constitution by permitting anti-Zionist encampment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news
(Eric Freedman, The Conversation)
Americans will bet more than a billion on the Super Bowl. Do faith leaders care?
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief presents key links between religious freedom and torture prevention
(Robert Johnson, The European Times)
Burkina Faso: Faith-based influencers in Burkina Faso combat human trafficking
(Davy Soma, La Croix International)
Singapore: Transforming lives through interreligious dialogue: The journey of Preet Kaur Veygal
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
CAIR-NY condemns anti-Semitic and anti-Asian hate crimes in New York
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
CAIR-LA welcomes Rep. Judy Chu’s reintroduction of NO BAN Act to prevent religion-based travel bans, calls on Congress to support bill
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
Malaysians decry rules for Muslims attending non-Islamic events
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Religion and politics in Germany
(Mark Tooley, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
Has religious freedom weakened America?
(Davison Drumm, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
How religious is Angela Merkel? This is what she writes in her Freedom memoir
(Joe-Lize Kruijsse-Brugge, Christian Network Europe)
Senator Carla Joseph calls for chaplains in schools amid student behavior concerns; Vialet opposes, citing separation of church and state
(Nelcia Charlemagne, The Virgin Islands Consortium)
Indonesia: Atheists say Indonesia denies right to live religion-free
(David Hutt, Deutsche Welle)
Expert on religious rights does not expect obligation to delete baptismal records
(Katholisch.de)
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Twelfth sitting)
(UK Parliament)
ANCA calls for Azerbaijani accountability at International Religious Freedom Summit panel
(Siranush Ghazanchyan, Public Radio of Armenia)
Brazil: Judge orders plan to provide alternative treatment for Jehovah's Witness (Portuguese)
(Mateus Mello, Conjur)
Thursday, 6 February 2025
EVENT, 6 February 2025: Religious Freedom in America (Washington, DC, USA)
(National Council for Religious Freedom)
EVENT, 6 February 2025: National Prayer Breakfast (Washington, DC, USA)
EVENT, 6 February 2025 (1:30PM ET): Standing with the Silenced – Leveraging the Frank Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List (Washington, DC, USA)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
EVENT, 6-9 February 2025: Faith and Freedom: Constitutional Law and Religious Liberty (Washington, DC, USA)
(Hudson Institute)
Trump announces plan to launch task force against ‘anti-Christian bias’
(Al Jazeera)
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
New York man pleads guilty to hate crime for threatening Jewish synagogue in Albany
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Justice Department announces formation of task force to combat anti-Semitism
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Mattone Center hosts first Directors Summit
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS, deadline 5 February 2025: Renewing the Conversation - A one-day colloquium on Africa, Article 18, Christianity and Human Rights
(University of Birmingham and Aid to the Church in Need (UK))
Nicaragua: More religious Orders forced to leave Nicaragua
(Daniel Esparza, Aleteia)
Amid criticism from religious detractors, Vance speaks at religious freedom summit
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Citing ancient Church teachings, Vance prioritizes religious liberty at IRF summit
(Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency)
Metropolitan Tikhon participates in International Religious Freedom Summit
(The Orthodox Church in America)
Why conservative American evangelicals are among Israel’s strongest supporters
(Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)
Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges including Columbia and Berkeley
(Collin Binkley, Associated Press)
Requirement for church to obtain permit before hosting homeless encampment is upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Teacher booted from classroom over crucifix sues district, alleges religious discrimination
(National Review)
Ukrainian delegation to the U.S. speaks to world experts about Russian terror aimed at churches
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Crimea: Two more Jehovah's Witness prisoners of conscience jailed
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
The push away from religion and the pull toward secularity: the rise of the nones in the US
(Jesse M. Smith and Ryan T. Cragun, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religion and the Republic
(Jerome E. Copulsky and Mark Noll, Law & Liberty)
Iraq: Mosul's landmarks rise again after IS destruction
(Sebastian Usher, BBC)
Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights
(Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press)
Faith groups, Department of Justice back Catholic religious freedom case at Supreme Court
(Daniel Payne, Catholic News Agency)
Almere violated Muslims' fundamental rights by secretly infiltrating mosques: Ombudsman
(NL Times)
DRC: WCC calls for dialogue for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
(World Council of Churches)
China: Catholic Church in China: The strange case of Bishop Ji Weizhong
(He Yuyan, Bitter Winter)
55 pct of Muslim supporters of Erdoğan’s party back sharia-based legal system, most Turks oppose: survey
(Turkish Minute)
US freedom of religion conference held without delegates from Vietnam
(Radio Free Asia)
Supreme Court to weigh whether religious parents have right of opt-out from controversial curriculum
(Sarah Parshall Perry, The Federalist Society)
Talitha Kum: Fighting human trafficking through faith and action
(Stefano Leszczynski and Linda Bordoni, Vatican News)
UAE hosts Global Tolerance and Human Fraternity Conference in Abu Dhabi
(Emirates News Agency WAM)
Angela Rayner could appoint Tory to lead council on Islamophobia
(Caolán Magee, The Times)
Brazil: Former employee to be compensated for religious intolerance of superior (Portuguese)
(Migalhas)
Puerto Rico: Religious freedom project: a sea of doubts (Spanish)
(Zoé Laboy Alvarado, El Nuevo Dia)
Reverence for the sacred waters of the Ganga and belief in its power to wash away sins bring millions to India’s Maha Kumbh festival
(Sudipta Sen, The Conversation)
Tuesday, 4 February 2025
EVENT, 4-5 February 2025: IRF Summit 2025 (Washington, DC, USA)
Religious leader: Protecting human rights is vital to peacemaking and essential for believers
(Church Newsroom)
Attacks on Bishop after Trump confrontation undermine ‘religious freedom’ claims
(R.G. Cravens, Southern Poverty Law Center)
Refugee aid groups face furloughs after Trump halts program, refuses to reimburse work
(Jack Jenkins and Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Monday, 3 February 2025
KRG Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs meets with Stefanus Alliance International
(Kurdistan Regional Government)
Bahrain: Foreign Minister emphasises Bahrain’s commitment to promoting respect for religious, cultural diversity
(Bahrain News Agency)
Faith-based cooperation is vital to uphold human rights for all
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
EVENT, 3 February 2025: Global Faith Forum: Together for Peace in a Time of Outrage (Washington, DC, USA)
(Multi-Faith Neighbors Network)
EVENT, 3 February 2025: IRF Summit University Partnership Program 2025 (Washington, DC, USA)
(IRF Summit)
Australia: Religious faith, medical procedures and minors- H v AC
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
The UN: reform or dissolve it? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)
Pakistan: Making sense of Imran Khan’s politics and the limits of secular liberalism
(Syed Hammaad Mehraj, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Notes on researching religious plural spaces
(Chris Chaplin, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
EVENT, 7 March 2025 (12PM ET): Are Religion and Politics Indivisible? Models for Pluralist Democracies (Washington, DC, USA)
(Amy E. Black, Faith & Law)
Friendship and hope
(YouTube Video, Elijah Interfaith Institute)
Constitutional Intolerance: The Fashioning of the Other in Europe’s Constitutional Repertoires
(Marietta van der Tol, Cambridge University Press)
BIC Geneva: UN Member States raise concern about Bahá’ís during Iran’s Universal Periodic Review
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Wanted: A Zimbabwe of grassroots covenantal pluralism
(David Maxwell, Institute for Global Engagement)
Michigan county will remove ‘peacemakers’ Bible verse from jail entrance
(Associated Press)
Syria: US-backed commander says his Kurdish-led group wants a secular and civil state in post-Assad Syria
(Bassem Mroue, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 3 February 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Can a charter school be religious? The Supreme Court decision about St. Isidore, a Catholic school in Oklahoma, could redraw lines around church and state in education
(Charles J. Russo, The Conversation)
Musk spotlights federal funds for Lutheran aid groups, calls them 'illegal payments'
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Nigeria: Anambra traditionalists reject homeland security law, accuse Soludo of religious bias
(Ikenna Obianeri, Punch)
Nigerian bishop call on Catholics to be more engaged in African politics
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
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