Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 25 January 2021

US Supreme Court orders review of Texas ban on clergy at executions
(Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman)

South Africa: Islamic group in dispute over use use of land in Bo-Kaap community
(The Daily Maverick, The Daily Maverick)

Danish churches deplore curbs on religious freedom
(Jonathan Luxmoore, The Tablet)

Kenya: Atheists want churches, mosques shut down due to noise pollution
(Sylvania Ambani, All Africa)

Kenya listed among 50 countries where it's hardest being Christian
(Joseph Mboya, All Africa)

Friday, 22 January 2021

USCCB President's Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America
(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Chicago cardinal clashes with USCCB president over Biden welcome
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Muslim Leaders in U.S. are ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Biden
(Dalia Faheid, Sojourners)

Biden issues Executive Order calling for agency rules to protect against LGBTQ discrimination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Statement from President Biden and Vice President Harris on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
(The White House)

Biden reverses travel ban on first day in ‘victory for faith freedom’
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Biden calls for LGBTQ protections in Day 1 executive order, angering conservatives
(Samantha Schmidt, Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, and Moriah Balingit, The Washington Post)

Many tri-State area residents pleased religion and its values likely to be influential in Biden-Harris administration
(Jennifer McLogan, CBS New York)

At inaugural prayer service, a message of renewal and ‘repairing the breach’
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Biden, Harris urged to ‘repair the breach’ in prayer service
(Elana Schor, Associated Press)

10 best practices for improving religious freedom in complicated countries
(Chris Seiple, Christianity Today)

Taiwan: International forum on the eve of Taiwan’s Judicial Day – HRWF director’s address
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Hong Kong Christians prepare for possible persecution from China
(George Thomas, CBN News)

Christians face a climate of fear in six Asian countries
(Ben Joseph, Union of Catholic Asian News)

The Journal of CESNUR - Volume 5, Issue 1 January—February 2021 (PDF)
(CESNUR – Center for Studies on New Religions)

Transgender health care mandate violates RFRA rights of Catholic entities
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Case page: Sisters of Mercy v. Azar
(Becket)

Child safety and religious freedom- NSW
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)

UN approves global conference on protecting religious sites
(Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press)

Pakistan seeks to block US-based website of minority Ahmadis
(Kathy Gannon, Associated Press)

Austria presents national strategy against anti-Semitism
(Associated Press)

Persecution of The Church of Almighty God: From bad to worse. The British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission report called again the attention on a brutal campaign of repression, made worse by COVID-19.
(Rosita Soryte, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Genocide in Xinjiang: The word is no longer taboo. The U.S. officially adopted the designation, and in the UK an amendment to prevent trade with genocidal states was narrowly defeated.
(Ruth Ingram, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

A Biblical attack on the Capitol? The alternative facts and faulty exegesis behind Evangelicals' "Biblical worldview."
(Jeffrey Stackert, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)

Of Memphis and Washington: White Supremacy's desecration of sacred spaces, in 1968 and today
(Richard A. Rosengarten, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)

Science and religion in times of plague: Calvin and Luther warn against the simplistic assumption that religious liberty is opposed to medical expertise
(Mark Lambert, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)

Wake-up call for religions: Choose life instead of destruction
(Edy Korthals Altes, Religions for Peace)

Religions for Peace in Norway urges government to join UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
(World Council of Churches)

Higher Committee of Human Fraternity Secretary-General meets with European Council President
(Religions for Peace)

Black Christians and Black ‘Nones’ show little ideological divide
(Ryan Burge, Religion Unplugged)

Expanded contraceptive mandate exemptions again upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

5th Circuit en banc hears oral arguments on Texas abortion restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

En banc Fifth Circuit hears debate over Texas ban on common abortion method
(Sabrina Canfield, Courthouse News Service)

Executive Order on preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation
(The White House)

Turkmenistan: Another second-time jailing as a conscientious objector
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Word or deeds: Shiite firebrand pledges to restore Iraqi Christian property
(Jayson Casper, Christianity Today)

Scots are being denied the human right to worship
(Lois McLatchie, The Times)

Pastor forced to leave home in Turkey for preaching
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

In a first for Spain, Jesuits admit to decades of sex abuse
(Aritz Parra and Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

UK police break up lockdown-flouting wedding with 150 guests
(Associated Press)

Faith and the American insurrection
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Wither dialogue after the Capitol riot? (Responding to: Faith and the American insurrection)
(Amelia Uelmen, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Civil religion vs. White nationalism: Which role for Christianity in American politics? (Responding to: Faith and the American insurrection)
(Tobias Cremer, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Recovering Martin Luther King’s dream of democracy (Responding to: Faith and the American insurrection)
(Paul Harvey, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

White Christian Nationalism: The deep story behind the Capitol insurrection (Responding to: Faith and the American insurrection)
(Philip Gorski, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

After outcry, Salvadoran archbishop will grant investigators access to archive
(Rhina Guidos, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Mideast church leaders, others urge Biden to lift Syrian sanctions
(Doreen Abi Raad, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

UK bishops ask government to allow coma patient to be transferred to Poland
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Faith and the COVID-19 vaccine: ‘Muslims were among the first to believe in vaccines’
(Julie Schonfield, Religion News Service)

Uzbekistan: Five years jail for defending Muslims' freedom of religion and belief
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Religion, looked-after children and “best interests”: Salford CC
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Divorce post-Brexit
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Antisemitism is on the march from Kuwait to Tunisia
(Amjad Taha, The Times of Israel)

Religion, insurrection, and social forgiveness
(Joseph Margulies, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Boston can reject religious flag at City Hall
(Thomas F. Harrison, Courthouse News Service)

Montenegro’s parliament passes crucial religion law, but who’s really in charge?
(Jovan Kovacic, New Europe)

Equality Act’s attack on religious liberty, medical conscience
(Wesley J. Smith, National Review)

Jerusalem deputy Mayor Hagit Moshe to head religious Zionist party
(Gil Hoffman, The Jerusalem Post)

German teens go to Israel to atone for their families’ Holocaust history
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)

Ultra-Orthodox attack Israeli police amid lockdown tensions
(Associated Press)

'Moral Evils': Pope and Bishops clash on pro-choice Catholic Biden
(Timothy Nerozzi, Religion Unplugged)

Trump’s gone. What’s next for his religious supporters?
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)

American Atheists and other groups sue Trump Admin for gutting religious freedom protections in social services programs
(American Atheists)

Suit challenges Trump Administration's loosening of limits on faith-based federally funded programs
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Legal Journal Number 4 (16): January 2021 (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

President Biden says unity is 'the path forward' in inaugural address
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Christian leaders react to Biden's inauguration: Praying for the country 'knows no politics'
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Trump reflects on his presidential record in farewell speech, extends best wishes to Biden
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Biden to appoint first openly trans-identified individual to federal post at HHS
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

‘The nuke we survived’: American Muslims breathe sigh of relief as Biden reverses travel ban
(Aysha Khan, Religion News Service)

Biden rescinds Trump’s Muslim travel ban
(Rowaida Abdelaziz, Huffington Post)

Biden attending Mass this morning with bipartisan Congressional leadership
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Biden is only the second Catholic president, but nearly all have been Christians
(Aleksandra Sandstrom, Pew Research Center Fact Tank)

Turkey is accused of extraditing Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for Covid-19 vaccines
(Bill Bostock, Business Insider)

For the Uyghurs, Genocide is a word which dares not speak its name
(David Alton, David Alton, Lord Alton of Liverpool)

John Steenhuisen: South African President's COVID measures infringe on free practice of religion
(Aphiwe Deklerk, Sowetan Live)

Misuse of anti-extremism in December 2020
(SOVA Center for News and Analysis)

Evangelical families expelled and homes demolished in Chiapas
(Evangelical Focus)

Essenes in Judaean Society: the sectarians of the Dead Sea Scrolls
(Timothy H. Lim, OUPblog Religion)

Training on ECtHR Judgments Implementation in Russia
(Antoine Buyse, ECHR Blog)

Russia: Special bimonthly FORB digest (01-15.01.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Sergey Gavrilov on amendments to the Russian law on freedom of conscience and on religious associations
(Religion Today, Religion Today)

Thousands of churches in England opt to close over Covid fears
(Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)

Wearing purple, ‘Amazing Grace,’ few protests: 5 notable things that happened on Inauguration Day
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

'Forever grateful': Pro-life groups reflect on Trump's accomplishments
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Islamic State fighters temporarily capture Nigerian military base, force residents to flee
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)

Trump admin. declares China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims 'genocide'
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)

Religion and psychology share methods for reducing stress: Univ. of Illinois study
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Full text: Fr. Leo J. O'Donovan Inauguration Day invocation prayer at the US Capitol
(Catholic News Agency)

Biden’s Bible puts him in line with inaugural tradition
(Elana Schor, Associated Press)

Joe Biden’s family Bible anchors faith-infused inaugural events
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

Pope prays Biden works to heal divisions, promote human dignity
(Catholic News Service)

Religious freedom in India is deteriorating. Will Biden help?
(Makepeace Sitlhou, Sojourners)

Catholic press braces for Biden presidency: How it will further polarization on doctrine
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)

McConnnell, McCarthy accept Biden invitation to pre-inauguration church service
(Zack Budryk, The Hill)

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