Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 1 April 2019
‘Unplanned’ makes twice the expected box office sales despite social media censorship
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
No First Amendment? In Canada, calling a trans woman a 'biological' man is hate speech
(Julia Duin, Get Religion)
Vancouver activist Morgane Oger wins ‘landmark’ transgender rights decision
(Tessa Vikander, Star Vancouver)
Sunday, 31 March 2019
CALL FOR PAPERS AND PARTICIPATION, 31 March 2019: International Colloquium on Law and Religion
(Brazilan Center on Law and Religion, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
CALL FOR PAPERS Deadline 31 March 2019: “Stolen Churches” or “Bridges to Orthodoxy”?
(Impulses for Theological Dialogue Between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Stuttgart, Germany)
Saturday, 30 March 2019
Ecclesiastical court judgments – March (Part 1)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Video: Challenges to religious liberty today, featuring Elizabeth Clark, Robin Fretwell Wilson, Matt Sharp, and Tobias Barrington Wolff
(National Constitution Center)
Friday, 29 March 2019
Indonesian government fixes misspelling of 'Buddha'
(Straits Times)
Backers of Bulgaria’s Religions Act amendments deny changes made under Turkish pressure
(Sofia Globe)
Political row in Bulgaria over ‘Turkish interference’ in Religions Act continues
(Sofia Globe)
Changes to Bulgaria’s Religions Act cause melodrama between Sofia and Ankara
(Sofia Globe)
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister considers the statement of her Turkish counterpart as extremely unacceptable
(novinite.com)
Safeguarding – Chester Diocese
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Culture war winner: Atlanta newspaper delivers fair, nuanced coverage of anti-abortion 'heartbeat bill'
(Bobby Ross Jr., Get Religion)
Friday Five: Matt from Walmart, pope vote, icky details, execution reprieve, butts and bagels
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
Crimea's Muslim board urges local Muslims not to get in touch with sect members
(Interfax-Religion)
Kiev court to consider Church's name change lawsuit against Culture Ministry
(Interfax-Religion)
Friday round-up
(Edith Roberts, SCOTUSblog)
Security personnel raid Scientology churches
(Russia Religion News)
Searches conducted at some Church of Scientology offices in Russia over theft of 800 mln rubles from co-investors – police
(Interfax-Religion)
Pope seeks to build on Muslim outreach with Morocco trip
(Nicole Winfield and Amira El Masiati, Associated Press)
Pope Francis’ visit to Morocco raises hopes for its Christians
(Aida Alami, The New York Times)
Kentucky motel clerk says boss told him he needed exorcism
(Associated Press)
Bosnia top courts upholds ban of Serb holiday
(Associated Press)
5th member of Jewish sect charged in new kidnapping plot
(Jim Mustian, Associated Press)
A new book on yoga in the public schools
(Law and Religion Forum)
USCIRF condemns Erdogan’s threats to change status of Hagia Sophia
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Stunning reversal: Judge vacates former youth minister’s sex convictions
(Bobby Ross Jr., Christian Chronicle)
Pastor's convictions for corrupting minors dismissed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Supreme Court intervenes in execution of Buddhist prisoner
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Supreme Court says inmate is entitled to his spiritual adviser in execution chamber
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
James Dobson organizations won't have to provide birth control under Obamacare, judge says
(Joey Bunch and John Ensslin, Colorado Springs Gazette)
Court enjoins Obama-era contraceptive mandate accommodation
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
EVENT, 29 March 2019 [CANCELLED]: Religious literacy in public schools: what to teach and how
(Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)
HRW urges New Zealand’s Ardern to discuss Muslims in China
(Associated Press)
China city offers cash for information in religion crackdown
(Associated Press)
Thursday, 28 March 2019
Mild and equitable establishments: Why a lberal society may favor one religion over others
(Richard W. Garnett, First Things)
The bearable lightness of dignity (a concept necessary to human decency but notoriously resistant to precise definition)
(Mary Ann Glendon, First Things (from May 2011))
I'm a gay LGBTQ freedom advocate. Ignoring religious freedom is a blunder
(Tyler Deaton, The Hill)
Mike Pence at Ave Maria: Religious freedom 'increasingly under attack'
(Rachel Fradette, Naples Daily News)
Victoria opens the way for secular or atheist school chaplains
(Paul Karp, The Guardian)
The Guardian view on kissing the pope’s ring: the power of symbols
(The Guardian)
Separation of church and state is a good plan for government, but lousy for entertainment
(Charles P. Pierce, Esquire.com)
State Department ready to fund programs against rise of anti-Semitism abroad
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
March: Donald Trump promotes a Jexodus, West Virginia sues the Catholic Church, and more
(Religious Freedom Review: Monthly updates on religious freedom in America)
Foreign countries will be able to finance religious denominations in Bulgaria
(novinite.com)
Bulgaria’s Parliament approves 10-year deferment of debts of religious denominations
(Sofia Globe)
Utah bans abortions after 18 weeks
(Lori Arnold, Christian Headlines)
Abortions past 18 weeks are now banned in Utah
(Kelly Frazier, World Religion News)
In a heartbeat: Why red states are passing laws banning early abortions
(The Economist)
North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban is unconstitutional, a federal judge rules
(Reis Thebault and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, The Washington Post)
North Carolina 20-week abortion ban unconstitutional, judge rules
(Catholic News Agency)
N.C. 20-week abortion ban partially enjoined
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
UN Security Council condemns Trump's recognition of Israel's sovereignty in Golan
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Minnesota sues school district for making trans student use 'enhanced' locker room
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
How many times is too many to mention 'Jesus' in a prayer? That's the controversial question in Pa.
(Bobby Ross Jr., Get Religion)
80-y-o crucifix removed from city council chamber to 'reaffirm' secularism
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Moscow press conference regarding Jehovah's Witnesses
(Rosbalt, Russia Religion News)
Scottish bishops warn against characterizing religious beliefs as 'hate speech'
(Catholic News Agency)
Supreme Court to rule on use of religious symbols in war memorials
(Corey D. B. Walker, The Conversation)
Efforts build to repeal Uruguay's controversial transgender law
(Catholic News Agency)
Maryland assisted suicide bill fails in dramatic senate vote
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
New Jersey legislature passes bill legalizing assisted suicide
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
Ohio lawmakers consider requirement to bury or cremate fetal remains
(Catholic News Agency)
Top Chinese leader says crackdown on Uighur Muslims must continue
(Elisa Meyer, World Religion News)
China’s Guangzhou encourages citizens to report ‘illegal religious activities’
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
China bans 1,000-member church in Beijing, demands members vow not to attend
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Texas Senate committee approves sweeping religious exemption bill
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Pakistan’s major problem with kidnappings and forced conversions to Islam
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Group highlights civil rights abuses against Muslims
(Associated Press)
Church leaders in Mali condemn massive attack on Fulani tribesman
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Top firms decry religious exemption bills proposed in Texas
(Clarice Silber, Associated Press)
Russian activist: Open probe into Jehovah’s Witness abuse
(Associated Press)
Past tragedies create tension for Pakistani Christians celebrating Lent
(International Christian Concern)
Reynolds signs controversial bill regarding religious liberties and free speech on campus
(Devyn Leeson, Iowa State Daily)
Iowa governor signs campus free speech bill
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
California man who claimed persecution in India loses bid for asylum
(Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle)
9th Circuit: Sikh asylum applicant did not show past persecution
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Florida county to religious school: You can’t serve children here
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Christian school challenges zoning requirement
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
How the White House is courting evangelicals on its Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Egyptian seminary renews its claim as arbiter of Islam’s true meaning
(Jacob Wirtschafter and Amr El-Tohamy, Religion News Service)
A startup factory helps African nuns spread the word on social enterprise
(Heather Adams, Religion News Service)
Gospel choirs try to build racial harmony through song
(Bill Motchan, Religion News Service)
For Israeli lunar lander, faith provides inspiration and challenges
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
PA Rep delivers Jesus-filled invocation during the first Muslim-American swearing-in ceremony
(Corey Barnett, World Religion News)
In Mexico, modern witches celebrate ancient rites of spring
(Irving Cabrera Torres, Religion News Service)
US Secretary of State expands Mexico City Policy
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
House Democrats fail to stop Trump's veto of border wall resolution
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Muslim from Canada and Indian Christian share sun rising over Lake Geneva praying together
(Ecumenical News)
Quebec to ban public sector employees from wearing religious symbols
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Quebec to ban public workers from wearing religious symbols
(Julie Gordon, Reuters)
Quebec bill bans religious symbols such as kippahs
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Quebec to ban public employees from wearing religious symbols
(The Guardian)
Mike Pompeo urges China to immediately halt detention of Uighurs in Xinjiang
(Agence France-Presse, The Guardian)
China & UN: What if Nazi Germany’s human rights record had been reviewed by the UN?
(Forum for Religious Freedom Europe)
Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Vietnam’s Hmong Christians are persecuted for their beliefs. Why does their faith make the government so uneasy?
(Josep Prat, South China Morning Post)
Campaign to get rid of NI blasphemy laws
(Declan Harvey, BBC News)
Church welcomes marriage registration changes
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
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