Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 26 July 2024
Judge’s order shields Catholic Charities from deposition as Texas investigates border aid groups
(Valerie Gonzalez, Associated Press)
Canada: Jewish Community Council of Montreal v. Canada (Attorney General)
(Federal Court of Canada)
Russia uses religion to work with the local population under occupation
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage: UNESCO Committee strongly condemns Russia's actions for the first time
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia: Two more Muslims jailed for religious study meetings
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
New CEC general secretary shares hopes and aspirations
(Conference of European Churches)
DR Congo government seeks to regulate rise of evangelical churches
(William Minh Hào Nguyen, La Croix International)
At Mount Athos, a new police operation to expel dissident Orthodox monks
(Malo Tresca, La Croix International)
The power of interreligious dialogue in a fragmented world
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Sri Lanka: Faith leaders oppose bills promoting homosexuality in Sri Lanka
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Azerbaijan: 11 members of a religious group arrested for publicly expressing their faith
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: “Strict governance of religion” extends to Hui Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists
(Zhang Chunhua, Bitter Winter)
Taipei’s intelligence: CCP manipulates exchanges between Taoist temples in Taiwan and mainland China
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Myths of religious nationalism in America and abroad
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Venezuela: A change in government in Venezuela can only benefit the religious sector
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Federal Interior Minister Faeser bans the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg and its sub-organisations in Germany
(Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community)
Germany bans Muslim group citing ‘extremism’, ties to Iran and Hezbollah
(Al Jazeera)
In Africa, what is the role of faith leaders in promoting democracy?
(World Council of Churches)
African faith leaders call for debt forgiveness in 2025 Jubilee year
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Namibia: “Let us make our voices heard through the ballots,” Bishops Rally Voter Participation ahead of November General Elections
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
EVENT, 24-25 July 2024: The Impact of Emergency Rules on Religious Freedom, With Special Regard to Religious Minorities (Messina, Italy)
(Università degli Studi di Messina, ICLRS, ICLARS, DiReSoM, ADEC, and more)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 24 July 2024 (10:30AM ET): USCIRF Hearing - Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in Nicaragua
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Women priests who were caught in ‘conscience clause’ hope the church remembers their stories
(Mary Frances Schjonberg, Episcopal News Service)
Court battle to keep Annunciation House open underscores how faith groups strive to welcome strangers in the face of anti-immigrant sentiment
(The Conversation)
Can struggling houses of worship be turned Into housing?
(Rick Reinhard, Religion Unplugged)
Why Utah has a strong religious freedom reputation
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Nigerian interfaith group demands closure of German cultural centre over LGBTQ content
(Victoria Ojeme, Vanguard Nigeria)
Iraqi parliament considers law mandating religion on marriage contracts
(Rudaw)
Why this religious freedom expert is closely following the Senate’s birth control bill
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Can government fund religious education?
(Michael A. Helfand, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Where the laws don’t apply: Rural Christian communities in Laos and Mexico face similar challenges
(Ellis Heasley, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Ahead of the Trend Newsletter
(Ryan Burge, The Association of Religion Data Archives)
China: International summit highlights religious freedom challenges in China
(Lauren Canterberry, World)
Myanmar: A prominent Myanmar Christian leader is released from prison for a second time in 4 months
(Associated Press)
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla says she’s barred from the Olympic opening ceremony due to her hijab
(Tom Nouvian, Associated Press)
As Venezuela heads for July 28 presidential election, what does the religious landscape look like?
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Minnesota school settles with professor who was fired for showing image of the Prophet Muhammad
(Associated Press)
Prison sentences imposed in two separate antisemitism cases
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
2024 Religious Liberty in the States Index
(Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy, First Liberty)
Safeguarding the heartbeat: Native Americans in Upper Midwest protect their drumming tradition
(Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)
Strengthening church-state relations: Patriarch Daniel meets Bulgarian PM Dimitar Glavchev
(Orthodox Times)
The President of Ukraine Met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See
(The Presidential Office of Ukraine)
Draft law on banning the 'Moscow Church' to be considered in a month - Poturaiev
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Armenia: Only some conscientious objectors allowed alternative service
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Ethical paths on Amazon rainforests
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Sri Lanka’s cremation apology fails to enthuse minorities
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
22% of Muslims in Luxembourg experienced Islamophobia in 2023, survey finds
(Florian Javel, Luxembourg Times)
Role of faith action highlighted in UNAIDS report and launch
(World Council of Churches)
Court protects Jewish school’s freedom to choose faithful teachers
(Becket)
Jewish students head to court to stop UCLA’s antisemitic encampments
(Becket)
Nicaragua: Deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Nicaragua
(Center for Strategic & International Studies)
Navy SEALs, personnel denied religious accommodation from COVID vaccine mandate reach settlement with Navy
(First Liberty)
Chile: In favor of an inclusive laicism that is open to dialogue (Spanish)
(Nicolás Panotto, El Centro de Investigación Periodística)
New book: Christianity in Western and Northern Europe
(Edited by Kenneth R. Ross, Annemarie C Mayer, Todd M. Johnson, Edinburgh University Press)
New book: Muslim Women and Misogyny: Myths and Misunderstandings
(Samia Rahman, Hurst Publishers)
NSS urges Scottish government to review religious charity law
(National Secular Society)
Lord Mann reappointed as government’s independent adviser on antisemitism
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
Monday, 22 July 2024
Archbishop Ieronymos rejects separation of church and state
(ekathimerini)
Argentine court orders investigation into the Uyghur genocide
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
India court rules against dividing eateries by religion in BJP-ruled states
(Al Jazeera)
India: Include Sarna religious code in Census Cong MP Sukhdeo Bhagat in Lok Sabha
(The Week)
Global guidelines for countering antisemitism (also available in Spanish)
(U.S. Department of State)
25 years of PRC government repression and abuse of Falun Gong
(Matthew Miller, U.S. Department of State)
Around the web - 22 July 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Legal Spirits 061: Is a Catholic charter school constitutional? (podcast)
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Nashville peace rally denounces increased presence of neo-Nazi groups
(Angele Latham, The Tennessean)
Azerbaijan police detain members of religious group doing missionary work
(Sofia Globe)
July/August 2024 Issue
(Liberty Magazine)
Gambia: How women led a dramatic about-face on FGM in Gambia
(Ayen Deng Bior, Christian Science Monitor)
How and why family health is a religious concern: A West African experience with international cooperation
(Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
As a scholar, he’s charted the decline in religion. Now the church he pastors has closed its doors
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Church obtains preliminary injunction under RLUIPA allowing its on-site shelter program to continue
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 22 July 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religious college loses RFRA challenge to SBA's loan forgiveness rules
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Congo church distances itself from rebels after pol’s speech in parish
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Jewish leaders in Europe want to stay there despite pessimism about antisemitism, survey finds
(Shira Li Bartov, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Vatican Secretary of State visits the Patriarchal Cathedral of the UGCC in Kyiv
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Law and religion roundup – 21st July
(Law & Religion UK)
Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir makes inflammatory Al-Aqsa visit
(Al Jazeera)
How 'religious' is a 'religious employer'?: Church history and the future of American religious liberty litigation
(Dennis J. Wieboldt III, SSRN)
Canada: Muslim charity calls court ruling on audit a green light for government overreach
(Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press)
Australia: Faith leaders join call to reject Productivity Commission recommendation
(Cath News)
Diverse groups rally to support IN music teacher forced out of job for his religious beliefs
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Religious freedom is a defining factor for the future of Asia
(Samuel Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett, Korea Times)
Abortion site buffer zones ‘matter of urgency’, campaigners tell Home Secretary
(Aine Fox, The Standard)
Global Experts Unite to combat modern slavery's $236 billion shadow economy
(G20 Interfaith Forum, EIN Presswire)
Friday, 19 July 2024
Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich honoured by leading interfaith charity
(Michelle Rosenberg, The Jewish News)
Two Jews and a Muslim: Government’s senior lawyers are sworn in
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
Angola: Let’s cultivate “justice, peace, the very dignity of the human person”: Archbishop to Angola’s justice, peace officials
(João Vissesse, ACI Africa)
Ten Commandments won’t go in Louisiana classrooms until at least November as lawsuit plays out
(Kevin McGill, Associated Press)
Christian homeless shelter challenges Washington state law prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ hiring practices
(Janie Har, Associated Press)
Dominican Republic: Dominican activists protest against a new criminal code that would maintain a total abortion ban
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Hank’s Furniture to pay $110,000 in EEOC religious discrimination lawsuit
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
9th Circuit: Zen Apprentice's Suit dismissed under ministerial exception doctrine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
What does Project 2025 say about religious liberty and the separation of church and state?
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Affordable housing in God’s backyard: Some religious congregations find a new use for their space
(Nadia A. Mian, The Conversation)
What is Catholic Integralism?
(Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation)
Argentina: 30 years after attack on Argentina’s Jewish center, Milei makes promises. But the anguish remains
(Isabel Debre, Associated Press)
Olympics 2024: The litmus test for the future role of international sport in times of war
(Patricia Wiater, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Human rights activists reveal information about Russia persecuting Ukrainian churches under occupation
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
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