Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 17 August 2022
The increasingly dangerous variants of the "most-favored-nation" theory of religious liberty, Part II: The origins of MFN
(Andrew Koppelman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
The increasingly dangerous variants of the "most-favored-nation" theory of religious liberty, Part III: Misconstruing the state interest
(Andrew Koppelman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Swiss church target of vandalism
(Christian Network Europe)
Psychedelics as a sacrament? Lawsuit says drugs are a religious right.
(Julian Mark, The Washington Post)
‘In God We Trust' signs going up in Carroll ISD schools
(Julie Fine, NBC DFW)
On Poland trip, students reflect on religion, international law, and atrocities
(Josh Stowe, University of Notre Dame)
Brazil: Lula and Bolsonaro trade religious barbs in battle for evangelical vote
(Marina Lopes, The Washington Post)
Sri Lanka: How religious groups should respond to Sri Lanka’s crisis
(Rebecca L. Root, Devex)
Pakistan: International Human Rights Committee record yet another brutal murder of an Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan as Naseer Ahmad was savagely stabbed to death at the main bus stop in Rabwah
(David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool)
Weekly Highlight #217: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Assessing the varied and shifting impacts of the COVID-19 crisis
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Why Pew Research Center typically can’t report the views of smaller U.S. religious groups
(Besheer Mohamed, Pew Research Center)
Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Campus activists call for the murder of Jews
(Jewish News Syndicate)
Monday, 15 August 2022
Kennedy v. Bremerton: The wall separating church and state just got a little shorter
(Brett A. Geier, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
The increasingly dangerous variants of the "most-favored-nation" theory of religious liberty, Part I: The new law of free exercise
(Andrew Koppelman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Kazakhstan: Evolution of Islam in Kazakhstan: How modern Kazakh Muslims balance their religious identity, the Soviet legacy and national traditions
(Aibarshyn Akhmetkali, The Astana Times)
Religion and the wrong defense of abortion rights
(Andrew Koppelman, The Hill)
Interfaith Advisory Board, partners host successful seal and expungement event
(Miami's Community News)
Turkey: Erdogan’s visit to an Alevi temple angered the large Sunni community
(The European Times)
Faced with a rise of extremism within its ranks, the US military has clamped down on racist speech, including retweets and likes
(Dwight Stirling, The Conversation)
White House appoints Va. mosque leader to religious freedom commission
(Adelle M. Banks, The Washington Post)
Qamar Rafiq writes that the London “FoRB Summit emerged as an indispensable global effort to give a voice to the planet’s most vulnerable.”
(David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool)
Letter to the UK Foreign Secretary on Bahá'ís in Iran
(Twitter, Ruth Jones)
Iran denies involvement but justifies Salman Rushdie attack
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
Kenya: A call to calm, patience, and peace
(National Council of Churches of Kenya)
Around the web - 15 August 2022
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Did Hamas win Israel-Islamic Jihad war in Gaza?
(Al-Monitor)
Establishing a successful faith-based ERG
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Egypt: Al-Azhar extends condolences over deadly church fire in Egypt
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Egypt: Safety concerns after deadly fire rips through Egypt church
(Samy Magdy, Associated Press)
Clergy, social workers fear fallout from Okla. abortion laws
(Sean Murphy, Associated Press)
New Zealand river’s personhood status offers hope to Māori
(Nick Perry, Associated Press)
Nicaraguans celebrate Mass peacefully after procession ban
(Gabriela Selser, Associated Press)
Nicaragua: Ortega regime prevents Marian image from being displayed in diocese
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Tension between Nicaragua and the Catholic Church
(Gabriela Selser and María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
USDA clarifies Title IX religious institution exemption
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
In response to ADF lawsuit, USDA agrees to automatically respect Title IX exemptions for all religious schools
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Articles of interest - 15 August 2022
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Cameroon’s bishops object to new law allowing for artificial conception
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The Atlantic: Rosaries are worse than firebombings
(Dan McLaughlin, National Review)
LGBT activism in sports is increasingly forcing Christians off the field
(Joseph D'Hippolito, The Federalist)
Justice Alito is living up to promises to supporters of his nomination
(Duncan Hosie, The Washington Post)
Russia: New registers of "extremist" people and literature
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Russia finally releases Danish Jehovah's Witness Christensen
(Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
Over 70% of Russians think authorities should be involved in promoting moral climate in society
(Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian clergy say Russian occupiers target them with threats, violence
(Ian Lovett, The Wall Street Journal)
Thinking about missing pieces of Axios report on changes in Latino life, politics and, yes, faith
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Book review: Islam's lessons for liberalism
(Jeffrey Bristol, Law & Liberty)
Two weeks in review, 1 August – 14 August
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Norwegian public broadcaster to show church services regularly
(Christian Network Europe)
Saudi Arabia ambassador meets with top church leaders
(Newsroom: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The GOP’s sad embrace of Christian nationalism
(Juan Williams, The Hill)
Nigeria: What’s behind terrorist attacks on churches in Nigeria
(Oluwole Ojewale, The Conversation)
How a corporation can become religious without converting
(Keith Paul Bishop, The National Law Review)
Kosovo: Counter-petition launched against request to lift ban on religious dress in Kosovo schools
(Xhorxhina Bami, Balkan Insight)
Lebanon: Syriac Maronite Church stands firm against Hezbollah
(Richard Ghazal, Newsweek)
India at 75: A nation under siege
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
India: Himachal tightens anti-conversion law to check abuse
(Ashutosh Kumar, India Narrative)
India: Availing benefits of parents' caste/religion post conversion made punishable: Himachal Pradesh Assembly passes Freedom of Religion Amendment Bill 2022
(Sparsh Upadhyay, Livelaw.in)
India: Religious minorities ‘on a precipice’ as violent persecution spirals across India
(Open Doors UK)
India: As a Hindu, I can’t stay silent about injustices in India — committed in the name of our faith
(Akhila L. Ananth, Los Angeles Times)
75 years after India’s independence, a lost generation recovers its Hindu faith
(Murali Balaji, Religion News Service)
India: ‘Attack on a dream’: Muslims in fear as Indian democracy turns 75
(Valay Singh, Al Jazeera)
From Nicaragua to India: The global community must stand up for the work of independent civil society
(Ellis Heasley, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Indonesian Vice President demands religious moderation amid Islamic radicalism
(International Christian Concern)
The Commonwealth Games throw down the gauntlet on LGBTQ rights
(Sydney Bauer, Foreign Policy)
Boy Scouts walk back $250 mln abuse settlement with Mormon church
(Dietrich Knauth, Reuters)
France: Radical environmental activists in France seek bridges with spirituality
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Experts discuss new report on Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hate
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
Pakistan: A short history of Ahmadi persecution
(Yasser Latif Hamdani, The Friday Times)
Law and religion round-up – 14th August
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
At Lambeth 2022, many Anglican bishops could not 'walk together' to the altar
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Artwork at closed UK parish church added to national heritage register
(Claire Page, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Saturday, 13 August 2022
VIRTUAL EVENT, 7-13 August 2022: 6th Annual Interfaith Awareness Week
(World Interfaith Network)
Friday, 12 August 2022
Southern Baptists say denomination faces DOJ investigation
(Holly Meyer and David Crary, Associated Press)
Justice Department is investigating the Southern Baptist Convention for alleged mishandling of sexual abuse
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)
Russia: "Retroactively depriving Russian citizens of the right to international protection"
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
"No religion can justify the war in Ukraine", Archbishops of Finland
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia’s threats to shut down Jewish Agency raise alarm bells for those who remember the past
(Shaul Kelner, The Conversation)
Religious Nationalism in Contemporary South Asia
(Andrea Malji, Cambridge University Press)
At 75, Pakistan has moved far from the secular and democratic vision of its founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah
(Farah N. Jan, The Conversation)
Saif Ul Malook, winner of the Jinnah Award for Religious Tolerance
(Facebook, APPG for Pakistani Minorities)
Pakistan: Rights, education and religious freedom: effective laws and policies for the protection of minorities are urgently needed
(Agenzia Fides)
India at 75: dreams of a Hindu nation leave minorities sleepless
(France 24)
Two Utah lawmakers seek to end ‘clergy exception’ to child abuse reporting
(Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News)
Mormon lawmaker pushes abuse reporting reform in Utah
(Brady McCombs, Associated Press)
Colorado to spar over discrimination case in Supreme Court
( Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press)
Iraq: Rival Shia groups square off over Iraq leadership vacuum
(Al Jazeera)
Iraq: Rival Iraq protests underscore inter-Shiite power struggle
(Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press)
Fear, shock, questions follow the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
Albuquerque Muslims help bid to keep killings suspect jailed
(Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press)
ReAwaken Tour host says he feels harassed by NY prosecutor
(Associated Press)
Pope Francis meets transgender guests of Rome church
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Afghanistan: Taliban say bombing kills prominent Afghan cleric in Kabul
(Associated Press)
Australia: NSW becomes second state to ban Nazi flag and symbols
(Australian Associated Press, The Guardian)
Nicaragua: Religious freedom in Nicaragua in 2022
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Nicaragua: The history behind the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua
(Eduardo Berdejo, Catholic News Agency)
Nicaraguan police prohibit religious procession in capital
(Associated Press)
Suspension of attorney did not violate her free exercise rights
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Opinion: Mohamed Sabra v. Maricopa County Community College District
(United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
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