Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 26 August 2022

Germany: Görlitz: Evangelical Frauenkirche devastated (German)
(Idea)

Poland: Further falls in religious belief and practice in Poland, finds study
(Notes from Poland)

Court: CA mandate that forced churches to cover abortions is unconstitutional
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

8th Circuit upholds injunction on gender transition procedures ban
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Sikh Marine recruits lose bid for turbans and unshorn hair during recruit training
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Synagogue's suit over zoning denial is dismissed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

India: HC tells Kerala to shut religious places functioning sans permit
(Hindustan Times)

How India’s ‘Hindutva pop’ stars use music to target Muslims
(Hanan Zaffar and Hamaad Habibullah, Religion News Service)

Iran: My sister is in an Iranian prison for the 4th time
(Iraj Kamalabadi, Religion News Service)

Three weeks in Iran: 200 incidents of Baháʼís being targeted as international community roundly condemns “sweeping crackdown”
(Bahá’í World News Service)

Iran: Targets of opportunity: Iran's Bahá'í community faces new repression
(Knox Thames, Newsweek)

Recent incidents from New York to California buttress concerns about Hinduphobia
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

New DACA rule preserves temporary relief but Congressional action is needed
(Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC))

NCEA joins religious and non-profit organizations to appeal broadened scope of Title IX
(National Catholic Educational Association)

Turkey: Gulsen: Arrest of Turkish pop star over joke sparks criticism
(Deutsche Welle)

Turkish pop star jailed over joke about religious schools
(Associated Press)

Would Prophet Muhammad punish Salman Rushdie?
(Mustafa Akyol, Acton Institute)

Why the Evangelical movement is in ‘disarray’ after Dobbs
(Ezra Klein, The New York Times)

"It's a shame that the Pope faces another communication crisis," - Myroslav Marynovych
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

SBU and National Police urge Hasidim not to go to Uman for Rosh Hashanah because of potential provocations
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

The aggressor does not deserve to be called an "innocent victim": Former Polish ambassador to the Vatican writes a letter to Pope
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

MFA Ukraine summons apostolic nuncio to express disappointment over Pope's comment
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Crimea: Catholic priest latest fined for failing to use full name
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Podcast: Journalists should ask if faith-based schools clearly state their doctrines on sexuality
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)

Yemen: 160-year Jewish cemetery in Yemen is being restored with help from breakaway government faction
(Caleb Guedes-Reed , Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Church and the State in the contemporary social teaching of the Orthodox Church
(Kostadin Nushev, The European Times)

Somalia: Church workers talk to newly elected Somali officials, discuss dialogue, relief aid
(La Croix International)

Providing the skills for a more peaceful future: Stories from KAICIID’s e-learning programme
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

China: UN rights chief under ‘tremendous pressure’ over Xinjiang report
(Al Jazeera)

China warns its Catholics to resist 'foreign infiltration' as faith app shuts down
(Hsia Hsiao-hwa and Sun Cheng, Radio Free Asia)

China: At least three churches raided in China, multiple leaders arrested
(International Christian Concern)

The battle to remain Palestinian in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter
(Arwa Ibrahim, Al Jazeera)

Parliament joins Emerging Leaders Summit hosted by Interfaith America
(Parliament of the World's Religions)

Should pastors be political?
(Ben C. Dunson, First Things)

Philippines: Church and state must protect children from abuse
(Shay Cullen, Union of Catholic Asian News)

SC lawmakers who sponsored $1.5M earmark for Upstate Christian school claim misunderstanding
(Zak Koeske, The State)

Now more than ever: Let’s get the Equal Rights Amendment finalized
(Ani Zonneveld, Lisa Sharon Harper, Mary E. Hunt, Valarie Kaur, Sharon Brous, Allyson McKinney Timm, Religion News Service)

Muslims report more religion-based police harassment than any other faith community, study finds
(Elizabeth Trovall, Houston Chronicle)

Putin has a new great data base of religious (and non-religious) “extremists”
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Afghanistan: Advocates: Religious freedom wiped out in Afghanistan
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)

Embassies in Vietnam release statement condemning religiously motivated violence
(International Christian Concern)

Spain: a letter to the Iranian ambassador about the case of four sentenced Christians
(Evangelical Focus)

Church where cannabis and magic mushrooms are 'sacrament' claims discrimination in permit fight
(Jenna Greene, Reuters)

UK: Links to judgments &c on “church treasures”
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Thursday, 25 August 2022

EVENT, 25 August 2022 (6PM ET): [Documentary launch] Presentación de Documental “Cuba Crucis” con Yoe Suárez
(Outreach Aid to the Americas)

Wednesday, 24 August 2022

VIRTUAL EVENT, 24 August 2022 (12PM ET): Jihad and Christian Persecution in Nigeria: How to Manage a Persistent and Metastasizing Threat
(In Defense of Christians (IDC))

U.S. Supreme Court asked to revive postal worker's religious bias claim
(Daniel Wiessner, Reuters)

WEBINAR, 24 August 2022 (10:30AM ET): Religious Freedom in Afghanistan: One Year Since the Taliban Takeover
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Ex-postal worker told to work on Sundays asks Supreme Court to review religious-exemption rules
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Taner Kılıç v. Turkey (no. 2): Court, don’t disregard Article 18 all too easily!
(Tobias Mortimer, Strasbourg Observers)

H.M. and Others v. Hungary: Immigration Detention, Burden of Proof and Principle of Necessity: Weakeaning Safeguards at the Borders?
(Lorenzo Bernardini, Strasbourg Observers)

Does the Court really expand European fair trail rights standards in criminal proceedings with Wang v. France and Dubois v. France on ‘voluntary’ police interviews of suspects?
(Anna Pivaty, Strasbourg Observers)

Inspired by Holocaust survivor to connect hearts
(Melissa Grim, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)

Weekly Highlight #218: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Lingering court cases; xenophobia/COVID-19 links; pandemic lessons
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

Nicaragua: Baroness Hooper & Lord Alton write to UK Government Minister following credible reports of religious, and other, persecution.
(David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool)

Nicaragua silences its last outspoken critics: Catholic priests
(Alfonso Flores Bermúdez, Anatoly Kurmanaev and Yubelka Mendoza, The New York Times)

Finland: Päivi Räsänen Court of Appeal proceedings to be delayed one year
(Evangelical Focus Europe)

Germany: Berlin police are investigating whether charges can be filed against Abbas for Israel ‘Holocausts’ comment
(Toby Axelrod, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Germany: Court to hear challenge to German prayer ban near abortion counseling facilities
(ADF International)

Iraq Shiite cleric’s supporters demand assembly be dissolved
(Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press)

Serbia: If there’s any retaliation at next month’s Europride festival in Serbia it’s likely to have orthodox clerical blessing
(Katherine Kelaidis, Religion Dispatches)

Serbia: Orthodox bishop in Serbia would use weapons against gay parades
(Christian Network Europe)

New book: Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters
(Bob Smietana, Worthy Publishing)

Iran – Belgium: A couple of converts under threat of deportation from Belgium
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Angola: Archbishop Imbamba appeals to MPLA to involve church and civil societies should they win Wednesday elections
(Odiwuor Opiyo, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

Ghana: Appoint Catholics as heads of Catholic owned institutions, church appeals to state
(Arnold Neliba, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

Cameroon: Bishops oppose medically assisted reproduction as “morally illicit”
(Odiwuor Opiyo, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

Georgia Supreme Court on sincerity and religious exemptions
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Protecting people from their own religious communities: Pseudonymity in litigation
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Protecting people from their own religious communities: Jane Doe in church and state
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Ireland: Cork’s Muslim community invites public to ‘ask us anything’ event
(Irish Examiner)

Netherlands: Islamic center in Veldhoven damaged in attack; Arson assumed
(NL Times)

Netherlands: Amsterdam bans PSV fans from next Ajax match over anti-Semitic chants
(NL Times)

PRC efforts to manipulate global public opinion on Xinjiang
(Global Engagement Center, U.S. Department of State)

China: Beijing tells new Catholic leaders to ‘fend off infiltration by foreign forces’
(Mimi Lau, South China Morning Post)

China's Catholic leaders vow to accelerate sinicization
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan activists back under fire Christian group
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan: Christians are being persecuted in Pakistan
(Emma Webb, The Critic)

Think blasphemy laws are obsolete here? Think again
(Lois McLatchie, Premier Christianity)

Youth interreligious cooperation to fight racism in the Americas
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Celebration of the fifth anniversary of The Fez Plan of Action – a Global Plan of Action for Religious Leaders & Actors for Ending Incitement to Atrocity Crimes
(Bonnie Evans-Hills, Religions for Peace)

Rights groups accuse UK over arrest of Sikh blogger in India
(Al Jazeera)

Equality advocate appointed Church of England’s first Racial Justice Director
(The Church of England)

Indian politician boasts about getting Muslims killed – on camera
(Al Jazeera)

India's new voter rights in Kashmir could strangle local political parties, Muslims
(Zaffar Iqbal, Religion Unplugged)

As India turns 75, Muslim girls are suing to wear the hijab — and protect secularism
(Lauren Frayer, National Public Radio)

Indian legislator from Modi’s BJP arrested after Prophet remarks
(Al Jazeera)

Scientology in Spain will deliver on 23 September the IX edition of the Religious Freedom Awards
(The European Times)

Tip for reporters: Don't assume what Catholics believe based on politics or Internet memes
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)

Patriarch Kirill cancels Kazakhstan trip and chance to meet with Pope Francis
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Archbishop sees ‘genocidal intent’ in Putin, says Ukrainians will die before surrender
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Ukraine – Russia: Gap widening between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Ukraine: President and the First Lady took part in "Prayer for Ukraine"
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Texas judge blocks HHS enforcement of emergency room abortions, cites religious objections
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

School policy on treatment of transgender students upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Religious objections to Air Force COVID mandate dismissed for lack of standing and ripeness
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Florida activist to send Arabic 'In God We Trust’ signs to Texas schools
(Steven Santana, My SA)

University professors’ organization misunderstands the nature of antisemitism
(Steven Lubet, The Hill)

How SCOTUS rained on the Left’s anti-religious legal parade and reclaimed the First Amendment
(Rachel Chiu, The Federalist)

Vietnam: Foreign embassies in Hanoi issue joint statement on religious freedom
(Radio Free Asia)

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