US Department of State spokesman comments on Belgium Legal Action against Scientology
September 4th 2007 – Belgium
A US Department of State spokesman commented on the recommendation of a Belgian prosecutor that the Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a ten-year investigation, which concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization. The spokesman said that if authorities have evidence that Belgian law was violated, appropriate legal steps should be taken, consistent with Belgium’s obligations to protect freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. He reiterated, however, that the US would oppose any effort to stigmatize a group based on its religious beliefs, and would be concerned about any infringement of individual rights based on religious affiliation.
Orthodox Church tells Catholics to give up Russia missions.
August 29th 2007 – Russian Federation
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexiy II, told an Italian paper that a first meeting with Pope Benedict would only make sense if the Vatican gave up any missionary ambition to
spread Catholicism in his country.
European Commission considers probe into Italian church tax breaks.
August 28th 2007 – Belgium
By Lucia Kubosova.
The European Commission is considering whether to launch an investigation into tax exemptions provided by the Italian state to the Catholic Church in Italy. "There is no investigation for the moment. We have addressed the Italian authorities and asked them for information about this," the commission's spokesman for competition told journalists on Tuesday (28 August).
He added that the EU executive is looking into "certain tax concessions"
enjoyed by the Italian church, such as an exemption from communal tax, real
estate tax or company tax. A similar query has been launched into the activities and tax provisions for the catholic church in Spain and Belgium, the spokesman added.
Concern over 'Public Benefit' Test of Christian Charities.
August 27th 2007 – United Kingdom
By Maria Mackay.
Christians lawyers are urging Christian organisations to express their concern over a
number of ongoing Government consultations questioning the 'public benefit' of Christian charities. The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) and its partner group Christian
Concern for Our Nation (CCFON) have voiced concern over the implications of ongoing Government consultations which call into question the 'public benefit' of Christian charities.
Under the Charities Act 2006, it can no longer be presumed that the services of charities working to advance religion have a public benefit. Instead, the Government is proposing that every charity prove its public benefit on a yearly basis.
Groups failing to satisfy Government officials of their public benefit could lose their entitlement to Registered Charity status as well a number of financial benefits such as recovering tax on donations through Gift Aid.
Court takes nursing child from mother because of alleged religious affiliation.
August 27th 2007 – Serbia & Montenegro
A Serbian court in the municipality of Velika Plana has awarded custody of an 8- month- old baby girl to her father because the baby's mother was believed to be a member of
the Jehovah's Witnesses.
The mother, who says she is not a member of the religious group, is now
taking legal action against the judge responsible for the custody ruling.
Observers say the case reveals disturbing details about Serbia's judicial
procedures as well as its attitudes toward religious minorities. The judge
made his ruling in the course of divorce proceedings, and awarded primary
custody rights to the father despite the fact that the baby was still
breastfeeding.
Norwegian Christians and Muslims adopt declaration on right to covert between religions.
August 22nd 2007 – Norway
Two important Christian and Muslim groups signed a joint declaration Wednesday supporting the right to convert between religions without fear of harassment as a basic religious freedom.
The Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relation and the Islamic Council of Norway, which have met regularly since 1993, said they believe this is the world's first such joint declaration by national religious organizations.
"We reject and want to work against violence, discrimination and harassment
due to a person wanting to convert or having converted from one religion to another," said the declaration, signed by Tveit and Shoaib M. Sutlan, secretary general of the Islamic Council.
Sultan said conversion between Islam and Christianity was uncommon in Norway, "but it is still important to establish this important principle."
Conference of Religious Leaders with Presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission discuss human dignity.
May 15th 2007 – Belgium
Leading representatives of the three monotheistic religions met on 15 May 2007 in the Berlaymont building on the initiative of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Together with German Chancellor and European Council President Angela Merkel
and European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, President Barroso
co-hosted the discussions, which were attended by 20 leading representatives
of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths in Europe. He had hosted similar
meetings in 2005 and 2006, but this is the first time such a gathering had
taken place under the auspices of Commission, European Parliament and
Council Presidencies. The topic chosen for this year's discussion was
"Building a Europe based on human dignity".
European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering said: *"Tolerance, one of
the European Union's core values, is the basis for a dialogue between
cultures that has as its goals cooperation, partnership and mutual respect
between cultures and religions. Mutual respect based on human dignity is a
shared European value. The different religious traditions in Europe can all
make a positive contribution to the public debate and the shaping of a
European Union of values. This is why we need to have an ongoing dialogue
between the European Union's institutions and the churches and religious
communities."
African Religious Leaders Convene in Istanbul
November 3rd 2006
The Summit for Religious Leaders of Muslim Countries and Communities of Africa, hosted by the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey, began with a ceremony on Wednesday at the Dolmabahce Palace on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul.
No place for religious intolerance in India
November 2nd 2006 – India
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said promotion and safeguarding the unity and integrity was a national cause, adding India’s democracy was built on its civilisational commitment to pluralism. Presenting the 21st Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to noted Hindi film lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, the prime minister emphasised that religious intolerance was alien to both the country’s culture and its constitutional values.
Decision on Salvation Army Case
October 5th 2006 – Russian Federation
The European Court of Human Rights has handed down a ruling on the "CASE OF THE MOSCOW BRANCH OF THE SALVATION ARMY v. RUSSIA." The court found in favor of the Moscow Branch and awarded 10,00 Euros in damages.
