Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 10 December 2021
Pending Supreme Court ruling to test limits of unwarranted surveillance of American Muslims
(Heba Mohiuddin, Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
In ‘worrisome’ oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, justices characterize state’s refusal to fund religious education as ‘discrimination’
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Supreme Court’s conservatives critical of tuition program excluding religious teaching
(Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
Religious schools and state aid: What to glean from a lively Supreme Court argument
(Mark Walsh, Education Week)
India: Churches in southern India canceling Christmas due to increased threats by radicals
(International Christian Concern)
What having an opinion can cost you in India
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
What the data tells us about love and marriage in India
(BBC News)
In Buddhism, women blaze a path but strive for gender equity
(Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)
Buddhist nuns and female scholars are gaining new leadership roles, in a tradition that began with the ordination of Buddha’s foster mother
(Jue Liang, The Conversation)
Religious identities and the race against the virus: American attitudes on vaccination mandates and religious exemptions (Wave 3)
(PRRI and Interfaith Youth Core)
Diocese of Pennsylvania reopens 3 in churches in 5 years by rediscovering their communities
(Egan Millard, Episcopal News Service)
Court In Military-Ruled Myanmar convicts Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
1 in 10 Americans say the COVID-19 vaccine conflicts with their religious beliefs
(Deepa Shivaram, NPR)
Understanding the history and politics behind Pakistan’s blasphemy laws
(Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation)
European churches bring into focus the Conference on the Future of Europe
(Conference of European Churches)
Diversity helps nonprofits accomplish more when staff from different backgrounds can connect
(Brad R. Fulton, The Conversation)
Addressing the refugees issue: A G20 imperative
(Elie Al Hindy, Viewpoints: A blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum)
Abortion bans and sanctuary plans: States are preparing for a possible future without Roe v Wade
(Hannah Knowles and Maria Luisa Paul, The Washington Post)
Why young Saudis may reshape the Muslim world
(The Christian Science Monitor)
Russia: Atheist blogger accused of hate speech against the Orthodox Church wins in Strasbourg
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Yemen: Dozens of NGOs call upon the EU to impose sanctions on Houthis
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Heavy fine upheld on appeal by Christian in Algeria
(Morning Star News)
Secular threat against Christians is getting stronger in Europe
(Christian Network Europe)
Bulgarian pastors challenge government’s disinformation campaign against Christians
(ADF International)
Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace
(Knox Thames)
58% of Americans back religious exemptions to government-imposed vaccine mandates, survey finds
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Timor-Leste inaugurates first Catholic university
(Ryan Dagur, Union of Catholic Asian News)
After arguments in Carson v. Makin, Americans United calls out hypocrisy in taxpayer funding of religious education
(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
Uganda: Extrajudicial killing of Muslim cleric after Kampala bombings sparks fury in Uganda
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)
Christian children's home with faith-based restrictions sues to keep federal funding
(Anne Stych, Religion Unplugged)
UK independent body: China committed genocide in Xinjiang
(Sylvia Hui, Associated Press)
Uyghur Tribunal: And the verdict is--genocide
(Ruth Ingram, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Uyghur Tribunal: China commits genocide, crimes against humanity and torture against the Uyghurs
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
China’s surveillance tech is a global threat to religious freedom, former U.S. envoy Brownback says
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
China stresses more Marxism, tightening control of religion
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
China guilty of Uighur genocide in Xinjiang, tribunal rules
(Madeline Roache, Al Jazeera)
Man arrested after Quran damaged at Arizona State University
(Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press)
Mount Holyoke president condemns antisemitic acts on campus
(Mark Pratt, Associated Press)
Rastafari want more legal marijuana for freedom of worship
(Luis Andres Henao and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, Associated Press)
Gunmen attack mosque in Nigeria’s troubled north, killing 16
(Chinedu Asadu, Associated Press)
Interfaith coalition urges Louis Vuitton to shed fur items
(Associated Press)
District Court affirms bankruptcy court's ruling on property dispute between two rabbis
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Menorah ban prompts lawsuit against California school district
(Nicholas Iovino, Courthouse News Service)
Solé Miami to pay $99,000 to settle EEOC religious discrimination lawsuit
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Texas state court rules SB 8 enforcement mechanism is unconstitutional
(Ilya Somin, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Canada: Quebec Premier François Legault says school board wrong to hire teacher who wore hijab
(Alessia Simona Maratta, Global News)
Canada has declared war on freedom of religion, conscience
(Michael Brown, The Christian Post)
Canada bans conversion therapy
(Justin Trudeau, Twitter)
S3, Ep. 06: Challenging misinformation: How to have productive conversations with friends and family
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Women breaking through to top roles in Black churches
(Adelle M. Banks, Peter Smith, Religion News Service)
Honduras bishops pledge to work for common good with new president
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Around the world, bishops confront new same-sex marriage laws
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The case for keeping churches open during a future pandemic
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
German broadcaster will probe antisemitism allegations against Arabic-language staff
(Asaf Shalev, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
House committee debates antisemitism as it moves forward a bill to create an Islamophobia monitor
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Hanukkah antisemitism highlights fear among Diaspora Jews - opinion
(Andrea Samuels, The Jerusalem Post)
Why do elected leaders keep getting a pass on anti-Muslim hate?
(Sumayyah Waheed, Religion News Service)
Court leaves Texas’ six-week abortion ban in effect and narrows abortion providers’ challenge
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Kyrgyzstan: Second UN finding over registration denials
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
New podcast: Are some SCOTUS justices asking, 'Are all religious schools equal in Maine?'
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
‘It’s stressful to kill somebody’: the healthcare workers who support assisted dying
(The Conversation)
English cardinal says Church has to promote dialogue where cultures clash
(Liza Cortois, La Croix International)
Church of England: Plan B guidance – face coverings
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Program to Combat Racism launched during apartheid; now churches focus on xenophobia, other issues
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
The faith-based case for saving abortion rights
(Dahlia Lithwick, Slate)
60 percent of Americans say too many use religious reason to avoid vaccines: poll
(Lexi Lonas, The Hill)
School does not have to display blow-up menorah, judge rules
(Matthew Renda, Courthouse News Service)
Work exploring how Buddhists kept their faith in WWII detention camps wins Grawemeyer prize
(Mike Trautmann, Louisville Courier Journal)
Most Americans support religious exemptions to vaccination but say they’re overused, survey finds
(Marisa Iati, The Washington Post)
Legal Journal Number 3 (17): December 2021 (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)
Divisions appear among Polish bishops over migration crisis
(Magda Viatteau, La Croix International)
Christian apocalypse in pandemic-stricken South Korea: Christianity in South Korea will never be the same post-pandemic.
(Myung-Sahm Suh, Sightings - The University of Chicago Divinity School)
Michigan: Transgender people can’t be baptized unless they’ve ‘repented,’ Catholic diocese says
(Marisa Iati, The Washington Post)
Thursday, 9 December 2021
WEBINAR, 9 December 2021 (9AM ET): 2021 Interreligious Council (IRC) Development Global Webinar Series: Championing Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion
(Religions for Peace)
WEBINAR, 9 December 2021 (7:30 GMT/14:30 Bangkok): SEAFORB Webinar 6--Protecting the Social Space Needed to Optimize Religious Contributions to Society: Fostering Collaboration for Sustainable Development, Peace Building, and COVID Recovery
(Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief Conference)
Wednesday, 8 December 2021
Supreme Court skeptical of Maine law barring state funds for religious schools
(Ariane de Vogue, CNN)
The latest battle over state funding for religious schools, explained
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Supreme Court ruling on religious schools could imperil separation of church and state
(Darragh Roche, Newsweek)
The Supreme Court appears really eager to force taxpayers to fund religious education
(Ian Millhiser, Vox)
Conservative justices scoff at Maine’s exclusion of religious schools from tuition-assistance program
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Court unsure of Maine tuition program that excludes religious schools
(Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service)
Supreme Court considers religious freedoms in a case that could narrow the separation between church and state
(Oma Seddiq, Business Insider)
Court suggests religious schools OK to get Maine tuition aid
(Mark Sherman, Associated Press)
U.S. Supreme Court conservatives lean toward more public dollars for religious schools
(Andrew Chung, Reuters)
Supreme Court to decide if religious schools are “too religious”
(Becket: Press Release)
Dr. Habib Malik full interview [on human rights and religious freedom]
(YouTube Video, Tina Ramirez, Hardwired Global)
WEBINAR, 8 December 2021 (10:30AM ET): State-Sanctioned Religious Freedom Violations and Coercion by Saudi Arabia and Iran
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
American states must stop discriminating against religious schools
(Richard Garnett, Olivia Rodgers, Religious Freedom Institute)
EVENT, 8 December 2021, 6:00 pm CST (US): Everyone Everywhere: The Rights that Unite Us – Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture, Dallas, Texas, United States
(World Affairs Council Dallas Fort Worth)
Will Roe v Wade be overturned, and what would this mean? The US abortion debate explained
(Prudence Flowers, The Conversation)
Theological seminaries see enrollment rise during the pandemic
(Rabia Gursoy, The Washington Post)
Minority rights at stake in Bangladesh
(Shafi Md Mostofa, East Asia Forum)
2021 year end newsletter (PDF)
(Center for Law and Religion, St. John's Law School)
Religious freedom advocates ask Biden to put Nigeria back on watchlist for anti-Christian violence
(Tyler O'Neil, Fox News)
The Taliban won. So why, and who, are they still fighting?
(Scott Peterson, Hidayatullah Noorzai, The Christian Science Monitor)
Weekly Highlight #185: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religion as a source of strength during the pandemic
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Refugee community sponsorship and churches: CCME’s conference highlights opportunities and challenges (PDF)
(Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe)
Iran: Give Persian-speaking Christians a #place2worship!
(Article 18)
Seizures of Baha’i irrigated farms in the midst of Iranian water crisis
(Baha'i International Community)
Taiwan: Action Alliance to Redress 1219 hosts press conference on Tai Ji Men Case in Washington, D.C.
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
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