Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 7 December 2022
Catholic church sues Michigan over sex and gender civil rights protections
(Ben Orner, Michigan Live)
'Not left or right, but deep': How people of faith can help to heal America's divisions
(Bob Boisture, USA Today)
Religious repression → economic stagnation
(Brian Grim, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
USCIRF releases report on blasphemy charges in Turkey
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Mysterizing Religion
(Marc O. DeGirolami, SSRN)
State Department blacklists are only one tool to foster international religious freedom
(Knox Thames, Religion News Service)
December 2022 newsletter
(The Association of Religion Data Archives)
Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center reopens at last
(Karen Matthews, Associated Press)
Taliban allow high school graduation exams for Afghan girls
(Rahim Faiez, Associated Press)
South Dakota Legislature tackles Christian marks in Capitol
(Stephen Groves, Associated Press)
Catholic parish sues Michigan over expansion of its Civil Rights Act
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Street preacher loses his free speech lawsuit
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
En banc rehearing denied in challenge to courtroom invocations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
New Zealand court OK's hate speech law that does not cover LGBTQ victims
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Indiana judge backs a religious right to abort
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Abrahamic Youth Council wants to ‘change ideology’ of next Middle East generation
(Jotam Confino, Jewish News)
Ukrainian special services searching Ukrainian Orthodox Church premises in Cherkassy, Volyn and Kherson regions - media
(Interfax-Religion)
"They will try to convince you of persecution," - religious scholar on the "church sanctions list" of the National Security and Defense Council
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Ukrainian Orthodox Church urges Ukrainian authorities that attacks on Church unacceptable
(Interfax-Religion)
Bill that allows seizing Ukrainian Orthodox Church's property submitted to Verkhovnaya Rada
(Interfax-Religion)
Authors protest ‘banned books’ list in Florida that includes Shabbat picture book
(Beth Harpaz, Forward)
How dangerous are Germany's far-right Reichsbürger?
(Lisa Hänel, Deutsche Welle)
As fear of local extremism grows, Germany approves first-ever government plan to combat antisemitism
(Toby Axelrod, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
CCEE-CEC Joint Committee discuss peace and security in Europe, and ecumenical dialogue
(Conference of European Churches)
CAIR-Ohio presents proponent testimony on religious accommodations bill for college students
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
Idaho Christian law students, adviser, claim victory in settlement with university
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
EU Bishops congratulate the new EU Special Envoy on FoRB and call on the EC to provide adequate resources
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
EU appoints Belgian diplomat as special envoy for freedom of religion outside EU
(The Brussels Times)
Christian schools Norway talk to politicians about grant cut
(Christian Network Europe)
Anglicanism in the Public Square Conference – Part 3
(Collin Bastian, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
Russia: Concerns about the infiltration of FECRIS’ Russian branch in Belgium
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
California bill would exempt church-sponsored housing projects from hellish zoning laws
(Christian Britschgi, Reason)
How the ERLC is advocating for life and religious liberty in appropriations
(Hannah Daniel, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
In the shadow of Russia: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Central Asia
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)
US focus on Vietnam’s religious record may not be enough, spiritual leaders say
(Radio Free Asia)
Why ‘persecuted’ is not the best way to describe Christians in the Gulf
(Hrayr Jebejian, Christianity Today)
Monday, 5 December 2022
Oral Argument: 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (audio and transcript)
(Supreme Court of the United States)
The Supreme Court is about to ask the wrong question about the First Amendment
(David Cole, The New York Times)
Case page: 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis
(SCOTUSblog)
Alito invokes brief by Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
(Bobby Miller, National Review)
Justices spar in latest clash of religion and gay rights
(Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman, Associated Press)
The right to stay silent
(Sherif Girgis, Law & Liberty)
Justice Gorsuch accuses Colorado of forcing Christian baker to undergo ‘reeducation program’
(Caroline Downey, National Review)
Conservative justices come to same-sex marriage controversy with minds made up
(Joan Biskupic, CNN)
Supreme Court debates whether web designers can be forced to make gay wedding pages
(Scott Shackford, Reason)
Justices hear major case on free speech, faith and LGBTQ equality
(Devin Dwyer, ABC News)
Supreme Court appears sympathetic to Colorado designer who opposes creating same-sex wedding sites
(Melissa Quinn, CBS News)
Religious freedom designations
(Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State)
Human rights ‘foundation for human dignity, cornerstone of peaceful, prosperous societies’, Secretary-General says, marking International Day
(United Nations)
States must renew their commitment to international cooperation to achieve global development goals and realise human rights
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
WEBINAR, 5 December 2022 (12PM ET): The Vatican and Permanent Neutrality: A Book Discussion Addressing the Holocaust, Cold War, and Ukraine
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Around the web - 5 December 2022
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Why acknowledging Christmas in the workplace matters
(Jonathan A. Segal, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Against Nigeria’s blasphemy laws
(Kelsey Zorzi, The Critic)
Confusion over Iran’s religious police as women drop hijab
(Jack Jeffery, Associated Press)
Iran: Monthly news digest about Baha’is and Christians in Iran in November
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Iran: When the veil helps Iranians to unveil reality
(Mahsa Ghaffari, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
French court fines restaurant owner for banning Muslim woman
(Daily Sabah)
Sweden's ban on religious schools slammed for targeting Muslims
(Anadolu Agency)
At #PaRD22: Steering group member Mercy Munene on PaRD as a platform for collaborative learning for young people
(International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD))
Religious violence increases anxiety among Muslims and Jews, even if they have never been personally targeted
(Amy McCaig, Rice University)
China's attempted genocide of the Uyghur people (podcast)
(Nury Turkel, Hudson Institute)
Emhoff to host Jewish leaders for discussion of antisemitism
(Darlene Superville, Associated Press)
World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar’s 1 liquor store
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
Non-religious voters wield clout, tilt heavily Democratic
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 5 December 2022
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Indiana court enjoins abortion restrictions as violating state's RFRA
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
How America’s most Jewish city is also its most Catholic, Protestant and Muslim
(Diane Cole, Forward)
Antisemitic incidents are spiking in NYC and made up 60% of all hate crimes last month
(Jacob Kornbluh, Forward)
Enes Kanter Freedom’s World Cup call to action
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)
Security Service of Ukraine searching Ukrainian Orthodox Church premises in Poltava region – media
(Interfax-Religion)
Russia blocks roads to the Vatican, both literally and diplomatically
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Holy See: migrants are not just numbers
(Vatican News)
Pakistan: Ulema board, Quran and Seerat varsity bills ready
(The Express Tribune)
Religious minorities in Pakistan: Social exclusion or equal citizenship? – OpEd
(Anum Khan, Eurasia Review)
Indonesian Church decries cancellation of US envoy visit
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Indonesia’s proposed criminal code reflects the power of Islamic radicals – analysis
(P. K. Balachandran, Eurasia Review)
US adds Wagner mercenaries to blacklist for religious persecution
(Al Jazeera)
The Manresa 2022 Pact: Multireligious and multisectoral global pact for the development of resilient, sustainable, safe, and inclusive cities
(Religions for Peace)
Two weeks in review, 20 November – December 4
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Ukraine: Nationalization of the Pearl of Russian Orthodoxy in Kyiv: Controversies
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Also on religious freedom and abortion
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Spanish government wants to undo the concept of family and redefine it, critics charge
(Catholic News Agency)
Va. faith leaders call for funding crisis centers as alternative to jails
(Salvador Rizzo, The Washington Post)
Far-right Israeli leader doubles down on amending Law of Return
(Haaretz)
Photos of the week: U.S. mass shootings; Hawaiian volcano
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Cuba: Cuba criticizes inclusion on US "blacklist" on religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Agência Lusa, Observador)
Brazil: Act of religious intolerance is considered racism by Justice (Portuguese)
(O Dia, Meia Hora)
Brazil: Diversity and religious intolerance are theme of session at CMJP (Portuguese)
(Cláudia Carvalho, Câmara Municipal de João Pessoa)
Brazil: "Congado" group says they suffered 'religious intolerance' in church in Pampulha region (Portuguese)
(Jader Xavier, Hoje em Dia)
Brazil: Alesp hosts, for the first time in Brazil, the International Panel on Religious Freedom (Portuguese)
(Andrei Semensato, ALESP)
Brazil: Candomblecists and artists condemn the fire at the statue of Mãe Stella de Oxóssi (Portuguese)
(Redação, IBahia)
Law and religion round-up – 4th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Malta's bishops urge lawmakers not to back 'abortion law'
(Reuters)
The Supreme Court is hearing a case on LGBTQ rights and religion (again). Here’s what you need to know
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Friday, 2 December 2022
Biden’s Thanksgiving proclamations largely ditch theology and history for a simple message of gratitude
(Judd Birdsall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Biden admin waives Supreme Court review in key transgender fight
(Joe Davis, Real Clear Policy)
Biden administration urged to support Tibet-China resolution
(Phayul)
Biden poised to make Avi Kwa Ame a national monument in Nevada
(Dan Michalski, The Washington Post)
Legal Spirits Episode 045: 303 Creative at SCOTUS next week
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Email Subscription
The International Center for Law and Religion Studies maintains a Law and Religion Headlines service covering news about freedom of religion or belief internationally. All interested may subscribe to this service, free of charge, using the link below.
Subscribe