Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 21 December 2020
China sentences multiple Christians to 3 years in prison for publishing church books
(Michael Foust, Christian Headlines)
China: Speech on behalf of HR/VP Borrell at the European Parliament on forced labour and the situation of the Uighurs in Xinjiang
(European External Action Service)
Vatican green-lights COVID vaccines, finds no ‘cooperation’ in abortion for users
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Will religious leaders fight for — or against — COVID-19 vaccinations?
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)
Germany: Synagogue attacker sentenced to life in prison
(Ben Knight, Deutsche Welle)
Israeli chief rabbi gives his blessing to institutions in UAE, marking new era of religious Jewish life in Dubai and beyond
(Asma Ali Zain, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Relatively light, but unjustified, sentences for Jehovah's Witnesses in south Russia
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
About hundred new Orthodox churches opened in Moscow
(Interfax-Religion)
Religious freedom, public health, and the limits of law
(Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Divert arms money to fight COVID-19, ensure vaccine for all, pope says
(Philip Pullella, Reuters)
New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 26 December
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Stop press: changes to Christmas arrangements for Northern Ireland
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Law and religion round-up – 20th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
COVID-19: Tier 4 and other restrictions announced
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Top 10 religion-news stories of 2020: Coronavirus pandemic touched almost everything
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
Two weeks in review, 7 December – 20 December 2020
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Saturday, 19 December 2020
‘A huge game-changer’: Report says more than 570,000 Uighurs forced to pick cotton
(France 24)
Friday, 18 December 2020
Uyghur forced labor in the cotton fields: Denial is futile, the evidence is here
(Ruth Ingram, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Thousands of pastors go into hiding amid China’s rising persecution, attempts to eradicate Christianity
(Jackson Elliott, The Christian Post)
China claims there’s religious freedom in Xinjiang. Not even close.
(William Echols, Polygraph)
The coronavirus pandemic's impact on religious life
(PRRI)
In a year of pandemic and pain, women fight back
(Hillary Margolis, Human Rights Watch)
Argument: Tibet was China's first laboratory of repression
(Kelsang Dolma, Foreign Policy Argument)
DC mayor backs down following Catholic Church lawsuit, eases restrictions on churches ahead of Christmas
(Mary Margaret Olohan, The Daily Signal)
Kaifeng Jews: As Hanukkah gift from CCP, more repression
(Wang Yichi, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Black Lives Matter and the UN Human Rights System: Reflections on the Human Rights Council Urgent Debate
(E. Tendayi Achiume, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Combatting domestic violence is dangerous work in Russia
(Yulia Gorbunova, Human Rights Watch)
Azerbaijan: Attack on church possible war crime
(Human Rights Watch)
Romanian court slams law banning discussion of gender in education
(Cristian González Cabrera, Human Rights Watch)
DC Archdiocese seeks liberalized capacity rules for its churches
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Facing lawsuit over restrictions on Christmas services, D.C. mayor eases coronavirus rules
(Julie Zauzmer and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)
VP Pence hosts pro-life event at White House complex
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Life is Winning Event
(The White House)
Supreme Court, 7-2, refuses to reinstate injunction against Kentucky school closing order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Citing imminent expiration, justices reject Christian school’s request for exemption from Kentucky’s in-person school closures
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Check on UK Government progress toward meeting its international human rights obligations
(Equality and Human Rights Commission)
Pakistani court acquits Christian imprisoned for blasphemy
(Ken Camp, Baptist Standard)
USCIRF condemns Boko Haram attacks and threats against Christians
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Bahrain country update
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Biden laces Electoral College victory speech with Scripture and Prayer of St. Francis
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Biden will need to ‘rebuild trust’ with Palestinians
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
In a rare move, Catholic nuns set out to build a new monastery
(Katelyn Ferral, Religion News Service)
17 Christian groups ask Biden to change US policy in the Holy Land
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Most common religious identity among young adults is 'none;' belief in God not necessary for morality: study
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)
Biden's OMB nominee heads think tank with history of anti-religious freedom advocacy
(Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis to take part in Netflix series on perspectives of the elderly
(Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis: Hundreds of millions of children ‘left behind’ amid pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)
Islamic State continues to pose threat in Syrian desert
(Sultan al-Kanj, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Me Too movement rattles Turkey’s literary world
(Nazlan Ertan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Atheist organization robs kids of Christmas joy
(Becket: Press Release)
Athens' first-ever mosque is closely guarded
(La Croix International)
Church Reporter, Vol 5, 17 December 2020 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera and Záboj Horák, eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro)
Church Reporter, Vol 5, 21 October 2020 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera and Záboj Horák, eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro)
Guðmundur Andri Ástráðsson: the right to a tribunal established by law expanded to the appointment of judges
(Mathieu Leloup, Strasbourg Observers)
The Convention and the ECHR Blog in 2020
(Antoine Buyse and Kushtrim Istrefi, ECHR Blog)
Bowser eases limits on DC religious gatherings after Catholic Church lawsuit
(Luke Garrett, WTOP News)
To herald a new era, global religious leaders from all faith institutions and traditions, call for a vaccine for all
(Religions for Peace)
In the year of the pandemic, counting down the top 10 religion stories of 2020
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
Nigeria school attack: Hundreds of boys return home after kidnap ordeal
(BBC News)
Kankara students’ release show God’s faithfulness to Nigeria, Buhari – Interfaith group
(Vanguard Nigeria)
After 100,000 assassinations, an urgent call for religious freedom in Nigeria
(Msgr. Obiora Ike, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Nigerian Christians facing 'calculated genocide,' Catholic bishop tells Congress
(Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)
Nigeria one of the most dangerous countries for Christians
(ADF International)
U.S. Human Rights Commission calls Nigerian violence 'genocide' and a violator of religious freedom
(Jillian Cheney, Religion Unplugged)
Justice Department defends health care workers from being forced to perform abortions with Vermont lawsuit
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Suit by fired parish office manager dismissed on Ecclesiastical Abstention grounds
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Photos of the Week: Nativities, Boko Haram kidnaps schoolboys
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
ECJ ruling to uphold ban on kosher, halal slaughter a disastrous decision
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle Opinion)
European Court upholds Flemish restrictions on halal and kosher slaughter
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
EU states can ban kosher and halal ritual slaughter, court rules
(Arthur Neslen, Politico)
Ban on ritual animal slaughter upheld by EU high court
(Molly Quell, Courthouse News Service)
In order to promote animal welfare in the contextof ritual slaughter, Member States may, without infringing the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter, require a reversible stunning procedure which cannot result in the animal’s death (PDF)
(Court of Justice of the European Union)
EU states can require stunning before ritual slaughter
(Associated Press)
After turbulent 2020, faith in America faces more big issues
(David Crary and Elana Schor, Associated Press)
Egyptian court acquits men accused of abusing Coptic woman
(Associated Press)
Final joint rule from nine federal agencies removes critical religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of government services
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
COVID’s toll on the Orthodox Christian Church
(George E. Demacopoulos, Commonweal)
Iraqi parliament formally declares Christmas a national holiday
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Italy: Catholic Church distributes $1.2 billion from annual tax fund
(Junno Arocho Esteves, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Why the Supreme Court ruled against a Christian school fighting Kentucky’s closure order
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
LGBT conversion therapy: Religious leaders call for ban to 'abhorrent' practice
(Elliot Douglas, Deutsche Welle)
After ‘arduous’ process and multiple setbacks, Yeshiva University students to again hold an LGBTQ event on campus
(Hannah Dreyfus, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Malaysian Christian will soon hear court decision on her religious freedom case
(International Christian Concern)
Maldives COVID burial plan ‘will marginalise Sri Lankan Muslims’
(Rathindra Kuruwita and Zaheena Rasheed, Al Jazeera)
Religious protections in the midst of a pandemic: Two key arguments
(Asma T. Uddin, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)
Pervasive surveillance tactics have haunted Muslim Americans for years
(Rowaida Abdelaziz, Huffington Post)
Four facts that will change relations between Christians and Jews in the next decade
(A. James Rudin, Religion News Service Opinion)
Woman Jehovah's Witness spends 14 months in prison without trial
(Memorial Civil Rights Center, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Court sentences for mere membership in Jehovah's Witnesses congregation
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Tajikistan stops treating incitement of religious hatred as criminal offence
(Interfax-Religion)
Russia: Raids, investigations, torture
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
How would Democrats, journalists and bishops view a centrist abortion stance by Biden?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Ties that bind Joe Biden and Cardinal Gregory: How will Catholic issues shape the news?
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)
Durham Diocese – Granville Gibson Report
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Swiss government gives Vatican's Swiss Guard funding boost for barracks renovation
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Polish Holocaust survivor’s family wins lawsuit for land illegally sold to church by rescuer’s son
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Tax changes for religious organizations and clergy in a Biden presidency?
(Allen Calhoun, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Montenegro alters contentious religion law, satisfies Serbian Church
(Samir Kajosevic, Balkan Insight)
Biden DHS nominee has ‘refreshing’ meeting with faith groups about immigration, refugees
(Jack Jenkins, Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
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