Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 17 November 2023
Court refuses Florida’s request to reinstate anti-drag law
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Podcast: Once again, why is religion a 'green frog' topic in many mainstream newsrooms?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Israel's war brings focus on presidential candidate Cornel West, a key Religious Left voice
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Antisemitism and Islamophobia ‘major drivers’ of hate crime, equality body says
(Jewish News)
Human rights and Orthodox Christianity: Learning from our differences
(John Witte, Jr., Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Erdogan in tense talks in Germany as divisions over Gaza war deepen
(Al Jazeera)
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem release statement on celebration of Advent and Christmas
(World Council of Churches)
What does Catholic just-war doctrine say about Israel and Hamas?
(V. Bradley Lewis, Daniel Philpott and R.R. Reno, National Catholic Register)
What pastors and churches can legally do during election season
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
Developing labour rights under the ECHR in Pengezov: one step forward and one step backward
(Gaia Zanotti, Strasbourg Observers)
Moldova's largest Orthodox church keeps link to Russia
(Alexander Tanas, Reuters)
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest Nov 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia moves to ban ‘international LGBT movement’
(The Moscow Times)
UN speech: Over 100 religious sites have been damaged or destroyed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine: UK statement at the UN Security Council
(Fergus Eckersley, GOV.UK)
Roblox ‘doing all it can’ to tackle proliferation of antisemitic content on platform
(Jewish News)
Why are climate skeptics speaking out about the Uyghur genocide?
(Nithin Coca, Coda Media)
ACLU of Alaska sues Department of Corrections over religious freedom issue
(Alaska's News Source)
Wisconsin: Wauwatosa officials say all holiday decor is welcome in city buildings after viral email
(Bridget Fogarty, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Biden to nominate attorney who would be first Muslim American judge on a federal appeals court
(Zoë Richards, NBC News)
Thursday, 16 November 2023
WEBINAR, 16 November 2023 (12PM ET): Thirty Years of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
(Senator James Lankford, Eric Baxter, Christopher Bates, Jennie Bradley Lichter, Matt Sandgren, Orrin G. Hatch Foundation)
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Explanation of Position on a Third Committee Resolution on Combating Intolerance Against Persons Based on Religion or Belief
(Kara Eyrich, United States Mission to the United Nations)
Fact sheet: Biden-Harris Administration takes action to address alarming rise of reported antisemitic and Islamophobic events at schools and on college campuses
(The White House)
Jill Biden hosts tea for female faith leaders and others, including South Carolina prayer partner
(Darlene Superville, Associated Press)
Philippines: Trafficking and modern slavery in the Philippines
(Haidi F. Fajardo, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
To the G20 leaders: An interfaith call to action
(W. Cole Durham Jr. and Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
USCIRF condemns Iran’s religious persecution of Baha’is
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF releases report on religious freedom in the Sahel region of Africa
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
WEBINAR, 15 November 2023 (9:15AM GMT+1): An Interfaith Week Celebration: Putting the spotlight on interfaith activism (for Secondary Schools in the UK)
(The Faith & Belief Forum)
REQUESTS FOR QUOTES, deadline 15 November 2023: 1) Illicit Finance Laws and Religious Freedom; 2) Early Warning Signs Indicated by Religious Persecution
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 15 November 2023 (10AM ET US & Canada, 15:00 UTC, 17:00 South Africa): Honouring the late Prof. Johan D. van der Vyver, his life and legacy
(African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies)
HYBRID EVENT, 15 November 2023 (2PM ET): Sell Out My Soul: The Impending Threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief in Hong Kong
(Hudson Institute)
Turkish security forces capture so-called bomb expert of Daesh/ISIS terror group in Istanbul
(Ferhat Yasak, Anadolu Agency)
These Catholic nuns took on the state of New York — and won
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
State leaders could decide the legal fate of religious charters
(Preston Green III and Suzanne Eckes, Brookings Institution)
Algerian gov’t cracks down on house churches, arrests pastors amid Israel-Hamas war
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Speaker Johnson: Separation of church, state ‘a misnomer’
(Lauren Sforza, The Hill)
Belarus: New Life Church appeals against liquidation
(Olga Glace and Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Beijing bishop visits Hong Kong amid tensions between China and Vatican
(Jessie Pang and Joyce Zhou, Reuters)
The head of China’s state-backed Catholic church begins historic trip to Hong Kong
(Kanis Leung, Associated Press)
Hong Kong: Catholic leaders’ petition to free Jimmy Lai shows politics and religion do not mix
(Ronny Tong, South China Morning Post)
Does religious speech fly with Southwest Airlines?
(Blaine L. Hutchison and Bruce N. Cameron, The Federalist Society)
Washington court refuses to enforce Saudi child custody decree
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Agreement that children "shall be raised in the Orthodox Jewish tradition" is enenforceable
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Thailand interfaith summit urges dialogue for development
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Thailand’s 4M Muslims to elect successor to nation’s top Islamic leader
(BenarNews)
Australia: New religious vilification laws come into effect in NSW
(Angelica Dino, Australasian Lawyer)
Australia: Free speech advocates at odds with faith groups over NSW hate speech law overhaul
(Tamsin Rose, The Guardian)
Religion and Commonwealth values
(Terry Barringer, The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs)
New Jersey won’t require political candidates to swear oath to God
(Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor)
India: Protecting faith, freedom in India has become life threatening
(Muhammad Hanif, Pakistan Observer)
India: BJP leaders make provocative speeches in the name of religion: Raj CM Gehlot
(Hindustan Times)
Native American tribes halt a $10 billion renewable energy project running through religious and cultural sites
(Susan Montoya Bryan and The Associated Press, Fortune)
A solid news peg for the under-covered story of Christian persecution
(Richard Ostling, Religion Unplugged)
Reverend Marian Edmonds-Allen advocates for a balanced approach that preserves religious liberty protections and LGBTQIA+ rights
(Arienne Calingo, University of Notre Dame Law School)
Reconstructing religious liberty in a time of religious and secular extremes
(Alana Crosby, Adventist Review)
Finnish parliamentarian found not guilty of “hate speech” for Bible Tweet and other expressions
(ADF International)
Lawmaker, Lutheran bishop acquitted of hate speech in Finland’s second ‘Bible trial’
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Appeal likely after Christians acquitted a second time of Bible booklet ‘hate crimes’
(Joy Pullmann, The Federalist)
Sri Lanka: Suppressing free speech & religious freedom by labelling them hate speech
(S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, Colombo Telegraph)
Alleged Islamic State 'Beatle' jailed for terrorism offences
(Reuters)
What a rabbi and an imam are doing to bring peace to college campuses
(Hanna Seariac, Deseret News)
Jewish protesters and allies stage sit-in at California federal building demanding Gaza cease-fire
(Associated Press)
Thousands rallied on the National Mall in support of Israel. Here’s what they had to say
(Héctor Alejandro Arzate and Tyrone Turner, DCist)
Jury hears Canadian man who killed Muslim family was on drugs
(Nadine Yousif, BBC News)
Do people of faith recognize their religion when it appears on the big screen?
(Rebecca Olds, Deseret News)
Nepal's stolen gods seek new homes: Communities want statues to become a part of living heritage again
(Bibek Bhandari, Foreign Policy)
After controversy, Texas school board says transgender student can sing in school musical
(Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune)
11th Circuit: No Bivens remedy for Free Exercise infringement by government contractor or its employees
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Pennsylvania repeals ban on religious garb for public school teachers
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Michigan passes institutional desecration ban
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
SCOTUS' new ethics code includes guidance on involvement with religious organizations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
As Europe’s Jews see a new era of antisemitism, governments struggle over how to respond
(Shira Li Bartov, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The UGCC calls for prayer for the release of two clergymen from Russian captivity
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Uganda’s High Court directs Anglican church to use canon law in election fight
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)
Korean religious groups join call for labor-friendly law
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Domestic abuse and child contact: Luca v The Republic of Moldova
(Ronagh McQuigg, Strasbourg Observers)
American Atheists wins in West Virginia religious coercion lawsuit
(American Atheists)
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
WEBINAR, 14 November 2023 (15:00 GMT+1): Changing Hearts and Minds: Uganda and Nigeria in the Fight Against HIV Stigma
(World Council of Churches)
Monday, 13 November 2023
Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Women in Islam
(United Nations)
Indonesia: Ministry highlights importance of cross-cultural religious literacy
(Antara News)
Indonesia: Conservative Muslims protest Coldplay’s planned concert in Indonesia over the band’s LGBTQ+ support
(Fadlam Syam and Niniek Karmini, Associated Press)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13-14 November 2023: Human Dignity and Rule of Law for a Peaceful and Inclusive Society
(Institut Leimena)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 November 2023 (12PM ET): On the Significance of Religion for the Sustainable Development Goals
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The Vatican says priests can baptize transgender people
(Jason DeRose, NPR)
More than 180,000 people across France march against soaring antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war
(Associated Press)
Antisemitism surges in France after the Hamas attacks on Israel
(The Economist)
Teenager arrested in France after kicking a rabbi in Paris Metro
(Reuters)
Macron condemns rising antisemitism and Israeli bombing of civilians
(Katya Adler, BBC News)
Manx church to apply to be first to offer same-sex marriages
(BBC News)
Muslim Council of Britain condemns Home Secretary’s inflammatory comments on peaceful protests
(Muslim Council of Britain)
Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary by Rishi Sunak after pro-Palestine march row
(Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell, The Independent)
Church Moderator visits university as part of celebration of faith and diversity
(The Church of Scotland)
Baby Indi Gregory dies after life support is withdrawn
(Jamie Bullen, The Telegraph)
Law and religion round-up – 12th November
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK sentences ISIL member to eight years in prison
(Al Jazeera)
Joe Metcalfe jailed for plotting mosque terror attack dressed as PC
(Chloe Laversuch, BBC News)
WCC demands immediate ceasefire, humanitarian corridors in Palestine and Israel
(World Council of Churches)
Archbishop in Jerusalem addresses Synod with call for ceasefire and plea for peace in Israel and Gaza
(The Church of England)
Jerusalem’s church leaders call for sober Christmas in Holy Land as war rages
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Israel-Hamas is not a religious war and this is not your rapture
(Thomas Lecaque, Religion Dispatches)
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