Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 8 July 2022
Russia: Oral statement at the UN for prosecution of Patriarch Kirill
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Lebanon: WCC delegation listens to concerns and hopes of Middle East churches on path to assembly
(World Council of Churches)
WCC reiterates right to life for migrants, decries lives lost in border crossings
(World Council of Churches)
GEM School grounds economic justice biblically
(World Council of Churches)
Philippines divorce bill dismays Church leaders, youth group
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Philippines: Bishops to assess Church’s influence in Philippine election
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Sri Lankan religious leaders urge army to stop attacking citizens
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Indonesia: Church joins call for Indonesian schools to cover human trafficking
(Katharina R. Lestari, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Timor-Leste to promote 'human fraternity' through interfaith music
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Pennsylvania town threatens churches with $500 fines for providing free meals, counseling services
(Christian Britschgi, Reason)
Israel asks Saudis to let Mecca pilgrims fly in from Tel Aviv
(Al Jazeera)
Russia: Bashkortostan may become special administrative district as optimal system for Islamic financing model
(Interfax-Religion)
Progressive Christians: Don’t look to the Bible for abortion rights arguments — women’s autonomy is not a Biblical value
(Rhiannon Graybill and Jill Hicks-Keeton, Religion Dispatches)
Ukraine says it will not allow in Uman pilgrims for Rosh Hashanah
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Exiled from Russia, Pinchas Goldschmidt is formally out as Moscow’s chief rabbi after 29 years
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Faith institutions announce divestment from fossil fuel companies
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Fumbling the First Amendment: ‘Kennedy v. Bremerton’ is stunningly bad jurisprudence
(Michael Peppard, Commonweal)
Biden honors Greek Orthodox priest, Catholic nun with Medal of Freedom
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
The patriotic Virgin: How Mary’s been marshaled for religious nationalism and military campaigns
(Dorian Llywelyn, The Conversation)
A Christian approach to America’s standoff on gun safety reform
(Raymond Chang, Religion News Service)
Religion summit shines bright light on the real human toll of religious violence, persecution
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)
Religions must ‘double-down’ on doing good, being civil, CORL leaders say during visit with church
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)
Does religious freedom protect a right to an abortion? One rabbi’s mission to find out
(Madeleine Carlisle and Abigail Abrams, Time)
Religious liberty divides American Jews
(Nathan Lewin, The Wall Street Journal)
U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carson v. Makin reconfirms availability of municipal bond financing for religious organizations
(Marc Bauer, Jenna Magan, and Stephen Spitz, JD Supra)
Attitudes about transgender issues vary widely among Christians, religious ‘nones’ in U.S.
(Michael Lipka and Patricia Tevington, Pew Research Center)
The West is wrong about Islam: MEMO in conversation with Peter Oborne
(Middle East Monitor)
When religious freedom means freedom for religious violence
(Frederick Clarkson, Religion Dispatches)
Iraq: The challenge of reintegrating Kyrgyz children of ISIS fighters in Iraq
(Scott Worden, The United States Institute of Peace)
Historic Welsh synagogue gets over $600,000 to reopen as cultural center
(Madeline Fixler, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A significant step towards friendlier Jewish-Muslim dialogue
(Ephraim Mirvis, Jewish News)
“Net zero”, church heating, and the consistory courts – IV
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
UK: JK Rowling says women making gender-critical claims safer after 'free speech' tribunal
(Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph)
Wednesday, 6 July 2022
CAIR welcomes appointment of Imam Mohamed Magid to U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
Biden appoints imam to USCIRF
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
10 facts about religion and government in the United States
(Rebecca Leppert and Dalia Fahmy, Pew Research Center)
International Ministerial Freedom of Religion or Belief Conference 2022: Foreign Secretary's opening speech
(Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP)
Faith leaders to pray together ahead of government FoRB conference
(Catherine Goodier, Independent Catholic News)
Freedom of belief fundamental freedom amid today's 'appalling persecution': British foreign secretary
(Ahmet Gurhan Kartal, Anadolu Agency)
Currently Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, says Hungarian Minister
(Daily News Hungary)
UK: Independent assessment of FCDO support for persecuted Christians around the world: FCDO's response to the findings
(Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon)
Christian organisations join large religious freedom conference of the UK government
(Evangelical Focus)
UK: Truss backs drive for Foreign Office to take religious persecution more seriously
(Francis Martin, Church Times)
Chief Rabbi warns of ‘threat’ to circumcision and kosher slaughter across Europe
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
UK: Assisted dying debate
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Changes to legislative prayer in the Isle of Man
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – June (II)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Law and religion round-up – 3rd July
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Liz Truss slams Putin’s false ‘holy war’ as synagogues ‘reduced to rubble’
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
Today’s fight for religious freedom
(Thomas F. Farr, First Things)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 6 July 2022 (2PM in London): State Responsibility for the Yazidi Genocide
(The Yazidi Justice Committee)
Turkey should face international court over Yazidi genocide, report says
(Patrick Wintour, The Guardian)
There is 'heavy hatred against Christian values' in Western society, says MP prosecuted over sexuality beliefs
(Ryan Foley, Christian Today)
ODIHR panel of experts on freedom of religion or belief
(Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
Cuba: USCIRF releases report on the new constitution and religious freedom in Cuba
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
EVENT, 6 July 2022 (1:30PM EDT): Cuba. One year after July 11. Perspectives on freedom of religion or belief and human rights.
(Outreach Aid to the Americas and CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Judges dismiss Jewish couple’s suit alleging adoption bias
(Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press)
Mexican bishops to put photos of dead priests in churches
(Associated Press)
Vandals spray Madison church with abortion graffiti
(Associated Press)
ADA does not justify lower priority for employees with religious, rather than disability, exemptions from vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 4 July 2022
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Lesson on ancient Mesopotamia did not violate Establishment Clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
S3, Ep. 20: Forcing states to fund religion: Carson v. Makin decision
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
The Supreme Court came together on religion this term. Then, it fell apart
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Does patriotism have a place in American religious life?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
What does ‘Judeo-Christian’ mean?
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)
Photos of the week: Eid al-Adha preparations; Italian drought
(Jessi Dodge, Religion News Service)
A devout Catholic, she opposed abortion. Now she performs them.
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Church destroyed during 9/11 attacks consecrated as national shrine
(Marika Proctor, Religion News Service)
Some say court’s emphasis on religious liberty meant to clear up confusion
(Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service)
Saudi Arabia's new hajj lottery has many Muslims fuming
(Jennifer Holleis and Razan Salman, Deutsche Welle)
Brazil: Judge gives Brazilian pastor who called for a second Holocaust historic 18-year prison sentence
(Marcus M. Gilban, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Founding Fathers never intended U.S. to be secular or hostile to religion
(Everett Piper, The Washington Times)
Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to Pope Francis' readiness to visit Kyiv
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
"UOC-MP is a collaborative entity poised to cooperate with any government," - George Kovalenko
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Crimea: "Punished simply for conducting communal prayers"
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Life after Roe: What role will churches and faith play in work of pro-life Democrats?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Establishing religious freedom
(Patrick M. Garry, Law & Liberty)
Morocco: The growing phenomenon of "house churches" in Morocco
(Rémy Pigaglio, La Croix International)
Will Pakistan’s Taliban ties blunt its crackdown on anti-India jihadists?
(Tom Hussain, South China Morning Post)
India normalises discrimination against religious minorities
(Evangelical Focus)
India: Fear and anger in India’s Udaipur where Hindu tailor was killed
(Samriddhi Sakunia, Al Jazeera)
Kashmir: Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir resumes after two years, days after targeted killings
(Zaffar Iqbal, Religion Unplugged)
In Kashmir, ‘conscious music’ tests India’s limits on speech
(Sheikh Saaliq and Aijaz Hussain, Associated Press)
US settles lawsuit alleging abuse of men detained after 9/11
(Al Jazeera)
One million set to perform Hajj as COVID-19 restrictions ease
(Al Jazeera)
Islamic call to prayer shows Muslims ‘belong’ in Minneapolis
(Cinnamon Janzer, Al Jazeera)
Highlights from Religions for Peace-Guinea
(Cissé Hadja Mariama Sow, Religions for Peace)
Step Forward: At the Service of Humanity and Islam | Shedding Light on Muslim Women | May 2022 – Issue 2
(Religions for Peace)
Two weeks in review, 20 June – 3 July
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Myanmar junta 'ignoring pleas not to target churches'
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Sri Lanka: Buddhist monks demand all-party govt in Sri Lanka
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Pope, Anglican, Presbyterian leaders send messages to South Sudan
(Cindy Wooden, National Catholic Reporter)
Philippines: Lawmaker files for legalizing divorce in Catholic Philippines
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)
SCOTUS eliminates the Lemon defense, and smokes joints with play
(Josh Blackman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Kenya: “Is the Judiciary ready for its role in the forthcoming General Elections?” Catholic bishops query
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Russian leading anti-cultist calls Ukrainians “Nazis,” “Satanists,” and “cannibals”
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Russia: Freedom of religion or belief: Special bimonthly FORB Digest (16-30.06.2022)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Spain: Catalonia gathers religions and beliefs to send a Peace message
(The European Times)
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