Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 14 May 2021
Unveil them to save them: France and the ongoing colonization of Muslim women’s bodies (Responding to: Islam, secularism, and the culture wars in France)
(Jyhene Kebsi, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Two Questions on Coups and Representation before International Courts
(Marko Milanovic, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Thursday, 13 May 2021
WEBINAR, 13 May 2021 (12:30PM EDT): Public Religions in the COVID-19 World: A Conversation with José Casanova
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
2020 Report on International Religious Freedom
(U.S. Department of State)
State Department releases its 2020 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom
(Jeremy Barker, Religious Freedom Institute)
USCIRF welcomes the release of State Department’s 2020 International Religious Freedom Report
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Jewish Americans in 2020
(Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life)
Five takeaways from Pew’s massive study of American Jews
(Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service Opinion)
USCIRF welcomes amnesty of Jehovah’s Witness prisoners in Turkmenistan
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
The collision of religion and the Vietnamese State
(Aerolyne Reed, The Vietnamese)
New survey of US Jews reveals worries, strengths, divisions
(David Crary, Associated Press)
Study: Young Jews are moving to polar ends — secularism and Orthodoxy
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
16 Jehovah’s Witnesses released from prison in Turkmenistan during Ramadan
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
America's Jewish communities are under attack — Here are 3 things Congress can do
(Nathan J. Diament, The Hill - Opinion)
New film explores life of key figure in Catholic-Jewish relations
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The equality equation: The fight for religious freedom must include defending the rights of all people
(Jacqueline Cooke-Rivers, Deseret News Faith)
Faith-based prisons and their teachings about gender
(Brad Stoddard, The Revealer)
Church Reporter, Vol. 6, 10 May 2021 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera and Záboj Horák, eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro)
Church sues over Massachusetts COVID regulations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Massachusetts church asks court to toss governor’s discriminatory restrictions on religious exercise
(First Liberty)
HHS says Affordable Care Act bars LGBTQ discrimination in health care
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
HHS announces prohibition on sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
FoRB Romania welcomes the appointment of the EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion of Belief
(Romania Journal)
Church autonomy and parental rights challenged at top human rights court of the Americas
(ADF International)
French minister: Muslims are the main victims of radical Islam
(Lila Schoepf, Arab News)
Macron’s party pulls support from woman in Muslim headscarf
(Associated Press)
A French inquisition: France’s crackdown on Muslim life in the name of public order
(Kirsten Wesselhoeft, The Revealer)
Biden’s National Day of Prayer achieved some unity
(Hamil R. Harris, Religion Unplugged)
Joe Biden leaves God out of the National Day of Prayer
(Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review)
Bishops’ move to excommunicate Biden reflects power struggle in split Catholic church
(Steven P. Millies , Religion Unplugged)
Suit: Workers lured from India paid $1.20 per hour for years
(David Porter and Mallika Sen, Associated Press)
In India, Hindus fast in Ramadan for growth and solidarity with Muslim friends
(Bhavya Dore, Religion News Service)
In India’s Gujarat state, new anti-conversion law threatens Christians, Muslims
(Jose Kavi and Saji Thomas, Aid to the Church in Need)
UN experts: Islamic State committed genocide against Yazidis
(Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press)
Catholic leaders condemn deadly raid in Rio de Janeiro
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Central African republic must capitalize on lull in violence, cardinal says
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
UK bishops urge government to show more compassion to refugees
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Bishops urge Catholics to sign petition against Hyde Amendment’s repeal
(Catholic News Service)
Why George W. Bush is calling for a ‘religious awakening’ on immigration reform
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News Faith)
Catholic congregations rejoice at renegade blessing of same sex couples
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Religious liberty and economic freedom
(Christos A. Makridis, City Journal)
Church of England guidance on “contested heritage”
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Christian Finnish lawmaker who opposes same-sex marriage faces potential 6-year jail term
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
21Wilberforce releases International Religious Freedom Congressional Scorecard
(Religion News Service)
Saudi Arabia still treats Shiites as second-class citizens
(Antonella Caruso, Foreign Policy)
Religion's role in climate conversations
(Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Newsweek)
Boko Haram: Religious based violence and portrayal of radical Islam
(Aiza Tanveer, Modern Diplomacy)
President Aliyev: Promotion of freedom of conscience and religion among Azerbaijan’s priorities
(AzerNews)
USCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel adopts Uyghur religious prisoner of conscience
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Weekly highlight #155: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Raging pandemics; patent debates; cross-sector cooperation (and lack thereof)
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
New essays in The Bahá’í World highlight uniqueness of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message in the West; survey agricultural achievements in Africa
(Baha'i World News Service)
Churches-EU Dialogue: Ecumenical delegation meets with Portuguese EU Presidency
(Conference of European Churches)
Religious, civil, and economic freedoms: what’s the chicken and what’s the egg?
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Summary judgment denied to plaintiffs challenging refusal of high school tournament to accommodate Sabbath observance
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
WEBINAR, 12 May 2021 (10:30AM ET): USCIRF Hearing: Ending Genocide: U.S. Government Determinations and Next Steps
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Schmitt lawsuit challenges St. Louis Co. COVID restrictions
(Jim Salter, Associated Press)
Missouri AG sues county over COVID restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Ahead of the G20: (Re-)building a post-covid society pursuing the sustainable development goals
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Voices of religious freedom: IGE 2020 Annual Report
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Missing Uyghur steals the show at embassy event on China’s ‘genocide’
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
China warns US, Germany and UK not to attend UN meeting on Uighur Oppression
(International Business Times)
Global Islamophobia: China, India, and beyond
(Mohamed Elshekh, International Policy Digest)
US hits China and others for repressing religious freedom
(Matthew Lee, Associated Press)
Germany's two biggest churches shift closer together in adversity
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
German government makes hate-motivated insults a crime
(Associated Press)
German authorities impose ban on the activities of an Islamic humanitarian organization
(Religion News)
Bosnia police arrest woman for financing Islamic fighters
(Associated Press)
Worshippers banned from attending Eid al-Fitr prayers at mosques in Moscow due to Covid-19
(Interfax-Religion)
Russia: How will re-training of foreign-trained clergy be implemented?
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
How we got to the Equality Act
(Matthew Lee Anderson, Christianity Today)
Secretary Blinken to release 2020 international religious freedom report
(U.S. Department of State)
The U.S. Census story and its hooks for religion news (plus a personal note about Rachel Zoll)
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Church of England: National Register of Clergy
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
South Carolina lawsuit challenges state’s Blaine Amendment bias against religious, private schools
(John Malcolm, The Heritage Foundation)
This lawsuit over religious education is really about race
(Hassan Kanu, Reuters)
Religion plays a role in the renewed conflict in Israel, but it may not be what you think
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Freedoms, religion, family, and public policy: A global perspective
(Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
ISIL crimes against Yazidis constitute genocide, UN investigation team finds
(Lindsay Mackenzie, UN News)
About the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Monday, 10 May 2021
World churches body urges end to violence, respect for status quo of Jerusalem holy sites
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Israeli police cancel Jerusalem flag parade through Muslim quarter
(Michael Daventry, Jewish News)
Religious customs considered as charities push to ban under-18 marriage in UK
(Ellie Price, BBC News)
‘Brutality shown to Palestinian worshippers’ condemned by Jewish group
(Michael Daventry, Jewish News)
Palestinians report several killed in Israeli air raids on Gaza
(Linah Alsaafin and Arwa Ibrahim, Aljazeera)
Iran’s oppression of Baha’is is unfolding with greater intensity
(Baha'i International Community)
USCIRF condemns Iran’s crackdown on Baha’i community
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
11th Circuit: Juror who heard from Holy Spirit should not have been removed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Federal appeals court overturns conviction of former Rep. Corrine Brown
(Gary Fineout, Politico)
Antigua & Barbuda doctor says religion should not be grounds for vaccine exemption
(Kadeem Joseph, The Observer)
Indiana trial court dismisses Catholic school teacher's suit against archdiocese
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Indiana court dismisses lawsuit filed by gay Catholic teacher
(Ryan J. Farrick, Legal Reader)
Articles of interest - 10 May 2021
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Who tried to kill Maldives’ ex-president Mohamed Nasheed?
(Zaheena Rasheed and Ahmed Naish, Al Jazeera)
Päivi Räsänen case in Finland leads to heated freedom of speech debate both in media and churches
(Joel Forster, Evangelical Focus)
Pakistan: Do not forget victims of blasphemy laws who are behind bars (European Parliament)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Swiss doctor wins legal challenge to unlawful ban on public worship
(ADF International)
Thousand take to Brisbane city streets to promote the dignity of all life
(Mark Bowling, The Catholic Leader)
Irish people of faith call for government commitment to religious freedom
(ADF International)
Is there still a place for the “religious voice” within our national conversation? (Australia)
(Mark Fowler, ABC News Australia)
Freedom of religion or belief in Russia: Restrictions and challenges in 2020
(Olga Sibireva, SOVA Center for News and Analysis)
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