Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 12 December 2022
Free speech, same-sex marriage, and anti-discrimination laws (podcast)
(Joshua Matz, Eugene Volokh, Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center)
Spain: A hate speech campaign against the Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
EU: Guide for interviewing religion-based asylum seekers
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
The Hindutva threat outside India
(Paul Marshall and Lidia Papp, European Eye on Radicalization)
Don’t refer to caste, religion in House: Om Birla takes strong exception to Telangana MP’s comment
(The Hindu)
New report explores intersection between freedom of religion or belief and indigenous rights
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Modi regime chips away at Indian Muslims’ rights – analysis
(P. K. Balachandran, Eurasia Review)
Oklahoma takes 'momentous' step to allow taxpayer-funded religious schools
(Juan Perez Jr., Politico)
Israel and Iran: does religious extremism threaten war?
(Ian Linden, The Article)
Israel: Christian leader warns Netanyahu about anti-Christian forces in new government
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Iran hands new 10-year sentence to Baha’i figures: Group
(Al Arabiya News)
Paxton sues Biden to defend religiously-affiliated adoption agencies from federal government’s “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” rules
(Texas Attorney General)
Canada: Government holiday traditions should be inclusive, say critics — and that doesn't mean a war on Christmas
(Darrell Roberts, CBC News)
Canada Policy Brief: Increasing Ontario’s charitable tax credits
(Cardus)
Brazil: MP initiative to combat religious racism wins '2022 Innovare Award' (Portuguese)
(George Brito, Ministério Público Bahia)
Brazil: Government and City Hall of Rio launch actions against intolerance (Portuguese)
(Lucas Coelho, EBC)
Joint statement on upcoming Human Rights Day
(British High Commission Dhaka, GOV.UK)
Law and religion round-up – 11th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby chooses silence on gay marriage
(Kaya Burgess, The Times)
Friday, 9 December 2022
Religion and peace
(Daniel Philpott, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Catholic healthcare providers can't be forced to do gender surgeries: U.S. court
(Daniel Wiessner, Reuters)
Federal court blocks Biden mandate forcing religious hospitals to facilitate gender transitions
(Caroline Downey, National Review)
Catholic clinics religious rights win on transgender care upheld
(Bloomberg Law)
Restaurant refuses service to Christian group, citing staff ‘dignity’
(Emily Heil, The Washington Post)
Masking as religious obligation vs. masking for public safety
(David Zeligman, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Richmond restaurant refuses service to Family Foundation
(Kate Andrews, Virginia Business)
Why I stay: LGBTQ people of faith find ways to belong where doctrine rejects them
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Younger evangelicals in the U.S. are more concerned than their elders about climate change
(Michael Lipka, Becka A. Alper, and Justin Nortey, Pew Research Center)
New book: American Shtetl: The Making of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Village in Upstate New York
(Nomi M. Stolzenberg and David N. Myers, Princeton University Press)
The majority of LGBT Americans are religious: Who they are and why they matter
(Tyler Lefevor, PRRI)
What targeting of children has to do with genocidal atrocities
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Genocides persist, nearly 70 years after the Holocaust – but there are recognized ways to help prevent them
(Kerry Whigham, The Conversation)
‘Freedom of expression and the courage to express oneself go hand in hand’ – an interview with John Dayal
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Cuba and Nicaragua on US list of worst violators of religious freedom. They deserve it
(Teo A. Babun, Miami Herald)
Tribe searches for remains at California construction site
(Sophie Austin, Associated Press)
Pennsylvania panel updates anti-discrimination regulations
(Mark Scolforo, Associated Press)
Jewish Americans confront antisemitism with resolve, worry
(David Crary, Holly Meyer and Jessie Wardarski, Associated Press)
Azerbaijan: Multiple fines for Muslims meeting for prayer in homes
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Sadiq Khan recommits to ‘tackling antisemitism’ in talks with Jewish leaders
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)
Banning Black Gods: Law and Religions of the African Diaspora
(Danielle N. Boaz, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religion is good for democracy, but is democracy enough?
(Bryan T. McGraw, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Czech EU Presidency: Ecumenical delegation meets with Czech Prime Minister Fiala
(Conference of European Churches)
Faith leaders in Benin worried about violence in upcoming elections
(Juste Hlannon, La Croix International)
The International Dialogue Centre celebrates a decade of existence and starts a new cycle from Lisbon
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Despite rising attacks against Christians, US removed Nigeria from religious freedom watch list
(Ekpali Saint, Religion Unplugged)
West Bank City’s Christian residents face uncertain future as emigration takes toll
(Gil Zohar, Religion Unplugged)
Religion vs. gay rights: Friction over LGBTQ issues escalates around the world
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
Photos of the week: Nativities and more
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
And then there were ‘nones’: Americans identifying as non-religious plateaus in yearly Gallup survey
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Korean religious groups seek to dispel Islam fears
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Indian bishops ask govt not to oppose quotas for Dalit Christians
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Conservative cancel culture comes to Kurdistan
(Matthew Petti, Reason)
The veil in Iran has symbolized patriarchal norms, but leaders have used it differently
(Amy Motlagh, Religion News Service)
WCC, Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue share visions for justice and peace in Iran
(World Council of Churches)
African church leaders, scholars highlight urgency in reserving nature loss, as nations meet for UN Biodiversity Conference in Canada
(World Council of Churches)
Qatar: In the shadow of the Football World Cup, a forgotten issue: the situation of the Baha’is
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
EU: The FORB Intergroup welcomes appointment of new FORB Special Envoy
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
In the news: Breaking religious freedom stories across the country - 9 December 2022
(First Liberty)
Weekly column from Finland: Anti-Semitism raises its ugly head
(Christian Network Europe)
House hearing explores lobbying of Supreme Court by religious conservatives
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religious Freedom Index 2022: Americans remain committed to religious liberty
(Becket)
Do Gen Z’s views on religion put the future of religious freedom at risk?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
U.S. Supreme Court questions whether a web designer has a Free Speech right to refuse wedding pages for same-sex couples
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
US leaders gather to discuss rights of nonreligious people across the world
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Reject the CCP's effort to co-opt Buddhism
(Michael Rubin, American Enterprise Institute)
What is happening in China? The last few years have seen several reports about serious human rights violations in China, and especially atrocities targeting ethnic and religious minorities
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Arab nations should press China on Uyghur Muslim abuses
(Knox Thames, The Hill)
New UN rights chief vows to engage Beijing on Xinjiang findings
(Al Jazeera)
Prosecuting Tibetan Buddhists for making offerings to spiritual teachers is a violation of freedom of religion and belief
(The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy)
Combating global corruption and human rights abuses
(U.S. Department of State)
Ukraine hunts collaborators in its divided church
(Jamie Dettmer, Politico)
Knox Thames on the role of religion in the Ukraine war
(On Peace Podcast)
Scrutiny of Ukraine church draws praise, fear of overreach
(Peter Smith And Vasilisa Stepanenko, Associated Press)
Rada committee recommends passage of Ukrainian Orthodox Church ban
(Interfax-Religion)
Parliament’s committee recommends passing draft law to ban ‘Moscow Patriarchate’
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Belgium still among best countries for atheists or freethinkers
(Lauren Walker, The Brussels Times)
Understanding right to dignity in Islam
(Umer Riyaz, Kashmir Images)
A Native student barred from graduation over a sacred feather: Why her lawsuit was revived
(Mark Walsh, Education Week)
Poll: Few Israelis support stronger religion-state link
(i24 News)
Canada: Local Edmonton leaders seek solutions to Islamophobia and hate
(Twitter, National Council of Canadian Muslims)
Brazil: Statue of legendary Candomblé priestess set on fire in Salvador
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Brazil: Patroness of the Amazon and religious freedom (Portuguese)
(José Ricardo, Amazonas Atual)
Brazil: Dr. Silvana defends the creation of a project that guarantees religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Agência de Notícias, ALECE)
Wednesday, 7 December 2022
Supreme Court seems to side with web designer opposed to same-sex marriage
(Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
Justices eye free speech's limits in wedding website case
(Vin Gurrieri, Law360)
The odd hypotheticals in the High Court's LGBTQ hearing
(Jimmy Hoover, Law360)
Will the Supreme Court rule for a web designer who won’t work on same-sex weddings?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Christian web designer at the Supreme Court: How reporters covered 303 Creative case
(Julia Duin, GetReligion)
Conservative justices seem poised to side with web designer who opposes same-sex marriage
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
EVENT, 7 December 2022 (7PM ET): 2022 Lantos Human Rights Prize Ceremony
(Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice)
WEBINAR, 7 December 2022 (2PM in London): Inequality, injustice and violence - experiences of women from Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious communities
(Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID))
BJC leaders say religious liberty fears about Respect for Marriage Act are overdrawn
(Jeff Brumley, Baptist News Global)
Case details: Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland - Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Northern Ireland) Bill
(The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom)
Supreme Court says bill to ban anti-abortion protests at clinics is lawful
(BBC News)
Statement in response to UK Supreme Court ruling
(ADF UK)
Charedi man who opposed female social worker assessing son loses appeal court fight
(Jewish News)
Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021
(Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom, Census2021)
Orthodox Judaism can still be a difficult world for LGBTQ Jews – but in some groups, the tide is slowly turning
(Orit Avishai, The Conversation)
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff to host roundtable focused on antisemitism
(Eugene Scott, The Washington Post)
Indonesia passes criminal code banning sex outside marriage
(Frances Mao, BBC News)
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