Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 19 February 2021

Photos of the Week: Serbian Orthodox patriarch, Pachamama offerings
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

French Minister of Interior apologises for “unfortunate” remarks against evangelicals
(Evangelical Focus Europe)

Algeria: About the criminalization of freedom of expression on religious issues
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Kashmir's status change poses risk to minorities: UN
(Peter Kenny, Anadolu Agency)

Glasgow priest launches legal action over Covid church closures
(Scottish Legal News)

Why are Mr. Bean, and Christian churches, opposing Scotland’s new hate speech law?
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Charting the legality of religious-based exemptions to COVID-19 vaccinations (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(James G. Hodge, Jr. and Emily Carey, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Christian ethics and global equity in COVID-19 vaccine rollout (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(Doug Fountain, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Christian morality and the COVID-19 vaccine (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(Kevin Wm. Wildes, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Having “faith” in vaccination (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(Ben Kasstan, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Insights on vaccine hesitancy from religious people’s view of science (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(John H. Evans, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

On life, grace, and vaccines: a sacramental approach to public health (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(David C. McDuffie, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination: Muslim views (Responding to: Religion, bioethics, and COVID-19 vaccination)
(Abdulaziz Sachedina, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Bilad al-Brazil: The Importance of West African Scholars in Brazilian Islamic Education and Practice in Historic and Contemporary Perspective
(Ayodeji Ogunnaike, MDPI)

The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America presents its Biannual Report, period July-December 2020
(olire.org)

China betrays its deal with the Vatican
(Nina Shea, National Review)

US reintroduces bill to ban forced-labour products from Xinjiang
(Aljazeera)

Tanzania’s COVID-denying leader urges prayer as cases climb
(Associated Press)

Scotland: confusion over free speech protection on religion in hate crime bill
(National Secular Society)

Remarks of The Most Rev Dr Antje Jackelén Archbishop, Primate of the Church of Sweden, at the High Level Dialogue on Multi-Religious Response to Covid-19
(The Most Rev Dr Antje Jackelén Archbishop, Religions for Peace)

Thursday, 18 February 2021

WEBINAR, 18 February 2021 (12:30PM EST): Engaging with Difference, Religious Pluralism, and Building a Tolerant Civil Society: A Conversation with Adam Seligman
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

WEBINAR, 18 February 2021 (16.30 CET): Vaccination – Curse or blessing? A spiritual and theological approach to Covid-19 vaccination
(Conference of European Churches)

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Sisters and brothers, welcome home: Catholic perspective on refugee resettlement
(Greg Marcar, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Scotland: hate crime bill amendment to protect free speech on religion approved
(National Secular Society)

WEBINAR, 17 February 2021 (10AM EST): Building Better Together: An Interactive Conversation on the Future of Our Movement, Our Communities, and Our Work
(Parliament of the World's Religions)

WEBINAR, 17 February 2021 (1PM EST): Israel’s Religious Soft Power: A Conversation with Claudia Baumgart-Ochse
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Interfaith relations: In Berlin, a dream of three faiths worshipping in one building meets reality
(Ken Chitwood, Sight Magazine)

To understand America, you need to understand the Black Church
(Henry Louis Gates Jr., Time)

‘The Black Church’ explores the ‘most important institution’ in African American history
(Christina Sturdivant Sani, The Washington Post Religion)

One-fifth of Black Americans not affiliated with any religion, straying from majority Black churches
(Mattie Townson, Religion Unpugged)

Black History Month: 7 pioneering African American clergy
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Why the Black Church matters to African Americans living in Utah
(Trent Toone, Deseret News)

Faith among Black Americans
(Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life)

Survey: Black Americans attend church and pray more often
(David Crary, Associated Press)

Can I get an amen? Black Americans’ faith, religious practice detailed in Pew study
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

Four years, no answers: The disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh
(Mervyn Thomas, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Max Lucado apologizes for past comments on homosexuality after outrage at National Cathedral
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)

Why Ethiopia’s one-year-old hate speech law is off the mark
(Yohannes Eneyew Ayalew, The Conversation)

Five year jail penalties for Falun Gong practitioners in Liaoning, Jiangxi
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

CCP cracks down on Association of Disciples in Tianjin
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Church of Almighty God refugee cases discussed in new book
(Alessandro Amicarelli, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Is religious liberty a shield or a sword?
(PRRI)

Americans divided on letting people skip COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons
(Carol Kuruvilla, Huffington Post)

The merits of Mitt Romney's pro-family policy
(Erika Bachiochi, First Things)

The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (forthcoming)
(Erika Bachiochi, University of Notre Dame Press)

Joe Biden is restoring the White House Faith Office, but it's no cause for alarm
(Hemant Mehta, Patheos: The Friendly Atheist)

Who are the Uighurs, and what’s happening to them in China?
(Eva Dou, The Washington Post)

The digital divide Is giving American churches hell: Covid-19 has upended churchgoing in the US. Like so much else with the pandemic, the impacts are not felt equally.
(Arielle Pardes, Wired)

Pakistan: Two Christians charged under blasphemy law for distributing Christian literature
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Pakistan police seek arrest of 2 Christians over blasphemy
(Associated Press)

Multan peace committee takes multiple initiatives for restoration of Holi-origin Prahladpuri temple (Pakistan)
(Associated Press of Pakistan)

Pakistan: Minister stresses promotion of harmony, peace
(The News International)

Is begging speech? Assessing Judge Keller’s concurring opinion in Lăcătuş v. Switzerland
(Dimitrios Kagiaros, Strasbourg Observers)

Editorial: A path to unity, Mr. President: The Fairness for All Act
(Tanner Bean, Public Square Magazine)

Conversion therapy laws: Standing with Jesus against injustice (Australia)
(Patrick Parkinson, Eternity News)

Internet evangelism? For clergy, that's a good news-bad news discussion right now
(Terry Mattingly, OnReligion)

“We are not safe anymore”: Burma’s coup shatters hopes for democracy, religious tolerance and human rights
(Benedict Rogers, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Americans say religion is more central to their identity than politics
(Ryan Burge, Religion Unplugged)

Myanmar's asylum seekers in Malaysia face uncertain deportation to military regime
(Alexandra Radu, Religion Unplugged)

Pew report findings will validate faith of some, or cause soul-searching
(Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service)

New website aims to educate, offer Catholic response to gender ideology
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)

Holy Week 2021: Vatican issues guidelines for Catholics amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions
(Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency)

Bangladeshi Christians concerned by government inaction after church attack
(Catholic News Agency)

Belgium: A criminal case against Jehovah's Witnesses in Gent
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Belgium and the Netherlands see rapid rise in euthanasia and assisted suicide cases
(Catholic News Agency)

Report: Vatican not mentioned in China’s new rules on bishop appointments
(Catholic News Agency)

Grand Mufti of Egypt says OK for Muslims to build churches
(Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)

Gazans outraged over million-dollar mosque reconstruction
(Rasha Abou Jalal, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

Russia plays up ties to Syrian Christians
(Khaled al-Khateb, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)

Islamic State escalates attacks in Syrian desert
(Sultan al-Kanj, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)

C of E goes online for Ash Wednesday
(Tim Wyatt, Church Times)

Religious News From Around the Wed February 15, 2021
(World Religion News)

Supreme Court allows pastoral comfort for condemned in execution chamber
(Becket: Press Release)

Churches are 'uniquely positioned' to make a difference in human trafficking fight: expert
(Jeannie Law, The Christian Post)

Biden reestablishes White House Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Equality Act puts Christian hiring policies in ‘jeopardy' without religious exemptions, ADF warns
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Supreme Court says Alabama prison cannot execute inmate unless pastor is present
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Romanian Orthodox Church's full-immersion baptism ritual under fire after infant dies
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

Church must tackle scourge of human trafficking
(Ben Joseph, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Catholicism and Taiwan: A model of growing together
(Rock Ronald Rozario, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Christianity thrives in Nepal amid trials and tribulations
(Rock Ronald Rozario, Union of Catholic Asian News)

‘Daughters of Kobani’ tells story of all-women Kurdish combat units who fought IS
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)

Celebrating Ash Wednesday in a pandemic? There’s an app for that
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)

Vatican Museums reopen, but visitors decry lack of social distancing
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

Jordan’s Orthodox archbishop moves to deny evangelicals full legal recognition
(Daoud Kuttab, Religion News Service)

Iraq full of historic sites important to understanding Christianity
(Dale Gavlak, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Muslim Scholar: Human Rights Policy Needs To Focus On Religious Scholars, Not Just Activists – OpEd
(James M. Dorsey, Eurasia Review Opinion)

COVID-19 response: Challenges for Faith Inspired Organizations (FIOs)
(The Ahimsa Fund, G20 Interfaith Forum)

Weekly highlight #143: COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions: Trending topics: Vaccination, government/religion relationships, and religious events
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

Rite of burial for victims of COVID-19
(Religions for Peace)

Exchange of Apache sacred land does not violate RFRA or Free Exercise Clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Judge refuses injunction to stop sacred Oak Flat land give away and destruction (PDF)
(Apache Stronghold)

9th Circuit rejects church's challenge on COVID restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

8th Circuit: Arkansas anti-boycott of Israel law violates 1st Amendment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Eighth Circuit revives suit challenging Arkansas’ pro-Israel law
(Joe Harris, Courthouse News Service)

Suit challenges disqualification of ministers ordained online as marriage officiants
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Universal Life Church files lawsuit against Bucks County Clerk, alleging that their ministers are being denied the right to freely practice their religion
(Press Release, Universal Life Church Ministries)

Iranian converts have to prove their faith to obtain asylum in France
(Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner, La Croix International)

Hindu nationalist regulation squeezes Christian charities in India
(Luke Scorziell, Christianity Today)

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