Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 19 April 2021
After Vatican said ‘God cannot bless sin,’ some LGBTQ people leave Catholic identity behind
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
First drag queen certified as a candidate for United Methodist ministry ‘speaking in a new way to new people’
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Same-sex adoption, religious freedoms, and child-abuse petitions before NZ Parliament
(Daniela Maoate-Cox, Radio New Zealand)
Does Daniel Andrews have new bars on free speech coming?
(David Limbrick, Spectator Australia)
Lecrae, Bieber appear at prison events as ministries return to correctional facilities
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Maina Mwaura, and Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Study: Multiracial Methodist churches draw and keep more people than their white counterparts
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
UK government asked about progress in supporting persecuted Christians around the world
(Cara Bentley, Premier Christian News)
Black churchgoers more likely to identify as Democrat than overall black population: Barna
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
African Americans attend church, Bible study more than others, but Black ‘nones’ increasing
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
In Los Angeles, a pair of art exhibitions centers the Black worship experience
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Christian college takes Biden to court over trans mandate
(Graham Piro, Washington Free Beacon)
Sudan repeals Israel boycott law amid normalization efforts
(Samy Magdy, Associated Press)
Israel criticized for silencing call to prayer from Al-Aqsa Mosque
(Daoud Kuttab, Religion News Service)
Albanian man with knife wounds 5 at mosque in Tirana
(Llazar Semini, Associated Press)
Religious, political parties misused Islam to damage Pakistan: Imran
(Hamza Ameer, Punjab News Express)
Radical Islamist party frees 11 Pakistani police hostages
(Munir Ahmed and Babar Dogar, Associated Press)
Egypt: 3 militants involved in Christian’s slaying killed
(Samy Magdy, Associated Press)
Bangladesh court allows police to question Islamist leader
(Julhas Alam, Associated Press)
Faith leaders across US join in decrying voting restrictions
(David Crary, Jonathan J. Cooper and Emily Leshner, Associated Press)
Delights of Ramadan disappear for Syrian refugees in Lebanon
(Mariam Fam and Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press)
Head of Irish bishops calls new law on Mass attendance ‘draconian’
(Michael Kelly, Catholic News Service)
Priest insists insurgency in Mozambique is based on economics, not religion
(Ines San Martin, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Mozambique’s bishops speak out against violence in Cabo Delgado
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Is ‘The Chosen’ series about Jesus Christ a cultural moment worth watching?
(Catholic News Agency)
Lev Tahor leaders charged with child exploitation offenses
(Southern District of New York, U.S. Department of Justice)
Society of Catholic Scientists prepares for conference on non-human intelligence
(Perry West, Catholic News Agency)
Christian group comments on the proposed EU asylum and migration pact
(Conference of European Churches)
Progressive Christian leaders call for abolishing Senate filibuster blocking Biden's agenda
(Leonardo Blair, The Christian Post)
‘Fundamental betrayal’ of Christian beliefs: Over 1,000 clergy vow to oppose vaccine passport
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Police in Haiti fire tear gas at Catholic mass protesting abduction of priests, others
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Brazil’s new Jesus statue will surpass height of Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer
(Jeannie Law, The Christian Post)
Prince Philip’s funeral in hallowed St. George’s Chapel was thoroughly Christian
(Dennis Lennox, The Christian Post)
Alabama Legislature passes bill banning boys from competing in girls’ K-12 sports
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)
Lebanon, a haven for Christianity, on the brink of collapse if world fails to act, experts warn
(Emily Wood, The Christian Post)
Over a quarter of college and high school students 'never' attend church, new poll finds
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)
It’s time for social conservatives to stop fawning over Hungary
(Lyman Stone, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Saving the history of Soviet Jewry before it disappears
(Justinian Jampol and Edward B. Robin, Jewish Journal)
Muslims urged to embrace environmental side of Islam
(Beatrice Ekoko, Canada's National Observer)
Ponder this news question: What happens to Afghan religious minorities post-USA?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
GQ's religion-focused cover story is (clickbait) worth reading – even for non-Beliebers
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
Law and religion round-up – 18th April
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Scottish church, Billy Graham group sue charity over venue cancelations said due to same-sex marriage views
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
"The right to shun: Ghent’s misguided Jehovah’s Witness decision"
(Matthew P. Cavedon, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Why do restrictions on religious attendance cause “irreparable harm”? A Catholic reflection on Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo
(Edward A. David, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Christians in France worried as proposed French law designed to prevent Islamic extremism affects other faiths as well
(Ruth Aguantia, Christianity Daily)
Islamophobia, News media, identity: France’s need for critical lens
(Youssra El Badmoussi, Morocco World News)
Top French court upholds decision not to try suspect in Jewish woman’s murder
(France 24)
French top court says anti-Semitic murderer of Jewish woman is mentally unfit to stand trial
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Macron calls for change in law after killer of French Jewish woman avoids trial
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Forward)
The question that dictates how Christians approach culture and politics
(David French, Dispatch: The French Press)
Delivery man who refused to service French Jews deported back to his native Algeria
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Dutch soccer fans chant ‘Hamas, Jews to the gas’ before match against Ajax
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Ancient synagogue in Libya being turned into Islamic center, Jewish group says
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Joe Biden may unify the country. Don’t ask him to unify Catholics.
(Kenneth L. Woodward, Religion News Service)
Connecticut House debates a bill to eliminate religious exemption for required school vaccines; students with existing exemptions can remain unvaccinated
(Christopher Keating and Daniela Altimari, Hartford Courant)
Two weeks in review, 29 March – 11 April 2021
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
China denies tearing down mosques, claims it's 'reconstructing' them for Muslims' safety
(Jon Jackson, Newsweek)
China: Special bimonthly newsletter freedom of religion (01.04 -15.04.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Group urges UN to probe China for crimes against humanity
(Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press)
Residents of Xinjiang refrain from fasting during Ramadan despite ‘easing of restrictions’
(Shohret Hoshur and Joshua Lipes, Radio Free Asia)
Friday, 16 April 2021
Jewish sailor gets temporary reprieve from order to shave beard
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Judge grants Jewish sailor temporary reprieve after Navy orders him to shave beard
(Gina Harkins, Military.com)
Photos of the Week: Ramadan begins, Notre Dame fire anniversary
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Pakistan: Another Ahmadi mosque attacked
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
The emerging Jews of Colombia: Why are so many Christians in this South American country converting to Orthodox Judaism?
(Heidi Paster Harf, The Washington Post)
Behar and Budinova v. Bulgaria: The Rights of Others in Cases of Othering – Anti-victim bias in ECHR hate speech law?
(Margarita S. Ilieva, Strasbourg Observers)
The most wonderful time of the year: Responsibilities as citizens (including taxes) are a cause for gratitude.
(James Christie, Viewpoints: A blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum)
House committee advances anti-abortion bills, including ones aimed at outlawing the procedure in Texas
(Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune)
It's not just young white liberals who are leaving religion
(Ryan P. Burge and Perry Bacon Jr., FiveThirtyEight)
Anglican, Episcopal leaders call for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide
(Egan Millard, Episcopal News Service)
Compassionate courage moves beyond ‘cancel culture’ to challenge systemic racism – but it’s hard work
(Pushpa Iyer, The Conversation)
Mandatory vaccinations for care home workers – a slippery slope?
(Rosalind English, UK Human Rights Blog)
Turkey's Christians face increasingly dangerous persecution
(Lela Gilbert, Newsweek Opinion)
FDA lifts in-person dispensing requirement for abortion drug during covid emergency
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
HHS proposes reversal of Trump Administration Title X family planning grant rules
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Biden administration moves to undo Trump abortion rules for Title X
(Sarah McCammon, National Public Radio)
Michigan statute protecting parents' faith healing includes subjective religious interpretations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
After 3 years in sanctuary, mother steps out of Utah church and into newfound freedom
(Annie Knox, Deseret News)
New Zealand: Up to three years in prison for hate speech under reforms
(Marc Daalder, Newsroom)
Poland’s vaccines chief not ruffled by church objections
(Associated Press)
Ramona’s World: The Quiet Christianity of Beverly Cleary’s Beloved Books
(Rebekah Curtis, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Abortion, Vaccines, and Moral Imagination
(Mark Perkins, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Vatican holds criminal trial for man accused of shoplifting
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Statement from Pro-Life Catholic Scholars on the Moral Acceptability of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines
(Ethics & Public Policy Center)
Catholic aid agency condemns UK Prime Minister’s objection to ICC investigation of Israel
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Forced Islamization in Congo’s eastern provinces worries Catholic bishops
(Fredrick Nzwili, Catholic News Service)
Is it time Germany opened up its stores on Sundays?
(Arthur Sullivan, Deutsche Welle)
In Yemen, antisemitism is rampant even though few Jews actually live there
(David Ian Klein, Forward)
German Catholics plan huge blessing of gay unions on May 10
(Ines San Martin, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Where Islam and reason meet
(Mustafa Akyol, The Wall Street Journal)
Utah’s new law could be part of winning pro-life strategy
(Lauretta Brown, National Catholic Register)
Jehovah's Witness faces longest prison term
(OVD.Info, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Tandon steals Fulton’s thunder: The most important free exercise decision since 1990
(Jim Oleske, SCOTUSblog)
Kazakhstan: Targeting ethnic Dungan Koran teachers
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Recent CDM determinations – II
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Istanbul Convention - Symbol of cultural division of Europe
(Sofia News Agency)
Hungarian mayor wants to keep Jews away from rabbi’s tomb — Chasidic leader
(Michael Daventry, Jewish News)
French row over mosque isn’t simply about state financing – it runs deep into Islamophobia and French secularism
(Carol Ferrara, The Conversation)
A public funding ban for private colleges ‘born in bigotry’?
(Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed)
The Daily: Who is really winning in the Supreme Court?
(Lauren Jackson, The New York Times)
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