Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 15 February 2021

Interview with Chief Rabbi Alfredo Goldschmidt about Jewish community in Colombia (Spanish)
(David A. Rosenthal, Aurora)

Cardinal Cañizares denounces "humiliating" capacity limits imposed on churches in Spain (Spanish)
(ACI Prensa)

Colombian nun has been kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in Africa for four years (Spanish)
(El Tiempo)

Some 500 people gather for "religious liberty" (Spanish)
(El Día de Valladolid)

Sunday, 14 February 2021

ONLINE COURSE, deadline to register 14 February 2021: Freedom of Religion or Belief Training of the Trainers
(FORB Learning Platform)

Friday, 12 February 2021

WEBINAR, New date 12 February 2021 (12:30PM EST): The Sources of Brazil’s Religious Soft Power
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP and PUBLISHING PROJECT: 12-13 February 2021: Religion, State, and Society in Post-Communist Countries: Thirty Years after the End of the Cold War
(Elizabeth Clark, Merilin Kivirog, Dmytro Vovk, BYU Law ICLRS, University of Tartu School of Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University’s Center for Rule of Law and Religion Studies)

Using Seven Testaments to re-educate society in religion as "soft power" at the United Nations
(Sherrie M. Steiner, Viewpoints: A blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum)

The legal implications of humanitarian aid blockades
(Eugene Bakama Bope, The Conversation)

Saudi release of prominent activist comes amid effort to rebrand for Biden era
(Sarah Dadouch and Kareem Fahim, The Washington Post)

‘French Muslims will suffer’ under separatism rules, critics say
(Peter Yeung, Aljazeera)

Minnesota Diocese settles clergy sex-abuse claims in bankruptcy reorganization
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Diocese of Winona-Rochester settles clergy sex abuse claims for $21.5 million
(Kevin Millard, WXOW)

Court says Quebec worship limits apply to capacity for each room
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Quebec Superior Court rules in favour of Hasidic Jewish community on limits to religious gatherings
(Elizabeth Raymer, Canadian Lawyer)

High school soccer rules changed to allow religious headwear
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Religious headwear permitted without State Association approval in high school soccer
(National Federation of State High School Associations)

Sweden: Facing deportation back to China – 17 NGOs write to Prime Minister
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

After rapper Pablo Hasél gets jail for tweets, Spain plans to end prison terms for crimes involving freedom of speech
(Carlos E. Cué and Óscar López-Fonseca, El Pais)

Plans to criminalise offensive words in private dwellings dropped by Law chiefs
(CARE)

Missionary forced to leave Turkey appeals to ECHR: 'God called us there'
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)

Anti-Semitic flyer in German tram blames Jews for the COVID pandemic
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Thou shalt not pray: German town brought to court over prayer prohibition
(ADF International)

USCIRF releases new report about violent Islamist groups in Northern Nigeria
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

United Nations demands Algeria to explain its campaign against Protestant churches
(Evangelical Focus)

Religion and the death penalty collide at the Supreme Court
(Jessica Gresko, Associated Press)

11th Circuit: Pastor should be allowed in execution chamber
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Supreme Court allows execution only if clergy of choice allowed in execution chamber
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Court won’t allow Alabama execution without a pastor
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)

No execution: Courts side with inmate wanting pastor present
(Kim Chandler, Associated Press)

Gina Carano fired from ‘Mandalorian’ after social media post
(Associated Press)

Women’s rights activist charged for role in Polish protests
(Vanessa Gera, Associated Press)

Spokesman: Muslim youth kills Ahmadi physician in Pakistan
(Associated Press)

U.S. Supreme Court halts some California worship restrictions, leaves others in place for now
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Sikh identity in the Indian farm protests
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Indian farmer protests are animated by Sikh faith, Punjabi history of fighting injustice (Responding to: Sikh identity in the Indian farm protests)
(Simran Jeet Singh, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Survey: More than a quarter of white evangelicals believe core QAnon conspiracy theory
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Can Jews, Christians and Muslims unite against postmodern nihilism?
(James Diddams, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

Uzbekistan: Torture, prayer bans, but "no problems in Uzbekistan's prisons"?
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

The past and future of church-state partnerships
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

Biden the Catholic, Part two: Trouble ahead?
(Paul Baumann, Commonweal)

Joe Biden era puts transgender rights atop newsroom agendas (which creates religion news)
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)

An index of L&RUK posts – Consistory Court Judgments
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Pig meat left outside 2 Swiss synagogues
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Barrett flashes independence as top court backs religious rights
(Jordan S. Rubin and Greg Stohr, Bloomberg Law)

A “love project” to counter religious stereotypes in India
(The Christian Science Monitor)

The Intellectual Property of Nations: Returning to our beginnings in Christian legality
(Laura Ford, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Onward Christian soldiers: Addressing American Christianity and Trump
(Deirdre Jonese Austin, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan postponed to next year
(Interfax-Religion)

Tajik authorities classify sentence of opposition Islamic party leader
(Interfax-Religion)

The International Day of Human Brotherhood celebrates in Russia for the first time
(Interfax-Religion)

Anglicans in Portugal suspend face-to-face masses. Secured funerals – Coronavirus
(tekdeeps.com)

The Trend to Discriminate Christians: Shifting from the ‘Post-Christian’ West to the Global South
(Nataliya S. Semenova, Ekaterina V. Kiseleva, Aleksandr M. Solntsev, MDPI)

The Church, governance, and women’s rights in Argentina
(Ha Chau Ngo, London School of Economics)

Parliament to join City of Chicago "Together We Heal" Initiative
(Parliament of the World's Religions)

Enter the “Administrative Measures for Religious Clergy”: Bitter Winter offer the first English translation of a text converting the clergy in apparatchiks under a system of awards and penalties based on their loyalty to the CCP.
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

China: the roots of cultural genocide in Xinjiang
(Sean R. Roberts, Foreign Affairs)

Biden in call with China’s Xi raises human rights, trade
(Aamer Madhani, Associated Press)

Washington bishop, National Cathedral dean apologize for ‘mistake’ of letting Max Lucado preach
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)

Thursday, 11 February 2021

WEBINAR, 11 February 2021, (19:00 GMT+3): Freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression
(Freedom of Belief Initiative)

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

A webinar marking World Interfaith Harmony Week highlights the role of women in post-COVID cooperation
(The Lutheran World Federation)

Society must learn to accept intercaste, interfaith marriages, says SC
(The Federal)

Court orders religious dietary accommodation for Capitol riot shaman
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Man who wore horns at US Capitol to get organic food in jail
(Jacques Billeaud, Associated Press)

Advocate answers student questions on how to support religious freedom
(Allie Richael, The Daily Universe)

Half of Protestant pastors say QAnon has reached their pews
(Terry Mattingly, Religion Unplugged)

President Biden is a fan of Pope Francis, but is Francis a fan of Biden?
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged Opinion)

Countering ‘love jihad’ by celebrating India’s interfaith couples
(Chinki Sinha, Aljazeera)

Dalit Christians stage protest march in southern India
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)

No gender, religion bias in orders by district courts
(Apurva Vishwanath, The Indian Express)

Govt defends 30-day notice period for interfaith unions
(Richa Banka, Hindustan Times)

Sudan businessman defends interfaith event addressed by rabbi
(Qantara.de)

Jordan- Armed forces mark World Interfaith Harmony Week
(Menafn)

Minsk, Vatican reaffirm commitment to strengthening interfaith dialogue
(Belta)

Fallout from Washington National Cathedral guest preacher a ‘teachable moment’ for the church
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)

Supreme Court rules California churches may open despite the pandemic
(David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times)

Virginia might scrap its defunct same-sex marriage ban. Most GOP legislators aren’t on board.
(Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury)

Monuments, memorials, and the resacralization of space: The landscape of public space shapes collective understandings of the past
(Annie Rose O'Brien, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)

An unfolding tragedy: The decline of religious diversity in the Middle East
(Lord Alton of Liverpool, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Over a hundred of Yazidi victims of the Daesh genocide to be buried six years on
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Behind the camps’ gates: Rape and sexual violence against Uyghur women
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Last rites for the COVID-19 victims
(Religions for Peace)

Religions for Peace brings all faiths together to work for peace on International Day of Human Fraternity
(Religions for Peace)

Think U.S. evangelicals are dying out? Depends how you define evangelicalism
(Ryan Burge, Religion Unplugged)

What does it mean for a woman to serve with the Synod of Bishops?
(Timothy Nerozzi, Religion Unplugged)

The military coup in Myanmar presents opportunities to Buddhist nationalists
(Anders C. Hardig and Tazreena Sajjad, Religion Unplugged)

Myanmar Christians appeal for release of detained leaders
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pope Francis calls for release of Myanmar leaders
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Statement by Religions for Peace – Myanmar regarding the prevailing conditions in Myanmar
(Religions for Peace)

Beg your Pardon!: Criminalisation of Poverty and the Human Right to Beg in Lăcătuş v. Switzerland
(Corina Heri, Strasbourg Observers)

WEBINAR, 10 February 2021 (10:30AM EST): USCIRF Hearing: Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

After 11 months of ‘giving up,’ what is there left to give up this Lent?
(Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service)

Raft of assisted suicide laws introduced in states
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)

Catholic school enrollment sees sharpest drop in nearly 50 years
(Catholic News Agency)

Vatican: Institutionalization of elderly a mark of ‘throwaway culture’
(Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency)

Pope’s schedule in Iraq reveals two missions
(Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)

Netanyahu accuses ICC of anti-Semitism
(Rina Bassist, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)

Scientology Super Bowl LV ad timed its airing for the simultaneous launch of a new section of the Scientology website
(Kelly Frazier, World Religion News)

Judge blocks Cuomo’s COVID restrictions—after he begs
(Becket: Press Release)

Chicago church to Court: Keep government out of the mass
(Becket: Press Release)

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