Law and Religion Headlines
Thursday, 28 February 2019
Ecclesiastical court judgments – February
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Economist package offers an upbeat slant on Islam in modern Europe and America
(Richard Ostling, Get Religion)
Catholic hospitals in Ireland could be asked to remove religious symbols
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pope encourages joint community service by rabbis, parish priests
(Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service)
90 years after Lateran Pacts, ties between Italy and Vatican still tense
(Claire Giangravé, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
‘Religious liberties’ bill renews a recurring Georgia debate
(Ben Nadler and Sanya Mansoor, Associated Press)
Words can incite and spread violence – and Asia Bibi knows it best
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Why have faith now? 'Nothing man-made can ever approach what God can do for His children.'
(Russell M. Nelson, The Arizona Republic Opinion)
EVENTS: February is African American History Month
2 groups fighting over display of Bible at veterans hospital
(Associated Press)
Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Photos of the week
(Religion News Service)
Our culture war over Islam
(Daniel Philpott, Religious Freedom Institute)
RFI's Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team Files amicus brief in Bladensburg Cross Supreme Court Case
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Indonesia, Google and the Surveillance State
(Paul Marshall, Religious Freedom Institute)
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Bladensburg Cross case
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Argument analysis: Peace cross appears safe, if not stable
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
In Bladensburg Peace Cross case, Supreme Court’s Elena Kagan could have pivotal role
(Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
Supreme Court seems inclined to retain cross on public land
(Jessica Gresko, Associated Press)
High court’s cross case could affect monuments nationally
(Jessica Gresko, Associated Press)
Why keeping the 40-foot peace cross might be good for religious minorities
(Asma T. Uddin, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)
Op-ed: Government’s views on cross are offensive to Christians and Jews alike
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Supreme Court argument to consider: Is a memorial cross a religious symbol?
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Case page: The American Legion v. American Humanist Association
(SCOTUSblog)
European court acts fast on Jehovah's Witnesses' report about torture
(Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
European party unites Christians all over Europe: ‘We are stronger together’
(Mariska Orbán - Katholiek Nieuwsblad, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Czech Senate vetoes taxation of church restitution plan
(Associated Press)
Greek court refuses to extradite dissident to Iran
(Associated Press)
USCIRF urges President Trump to address religious freedom abuses in North Korea
(Press Release, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
LGBT advocates call Missouri Supreme Court ruling on transgender bathroom case a win
(Jack Suntrup, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Missouri Supreme Court rules on transgender and sex stereotyping discrimination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
South Africa: Prophet slapped with lawsuit for resurrection hoax
(Khaya Koko, The Star)
In South Africa, funeral homes sue church over fake resurrection
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Buffalo Diocese faces $300M lawsuit; woman charges abuse as O'Hara student
(Ron Plants, WGRZ)
Buffalo Diocese sued by sex abuse victim for $300 Million
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Will terrorism continue to decline in 2019?
(Gary LaFree, The Conversation)
Cuba expands rights but rejects radical change in updated constitution
(Maria Isabel Alfonso, The Conversation)
Law and religion round-up – 24th February
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Kazakhstan: 19 years' jail to follow forcible return?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Muslim immigrants sue ICE for getting in the way of religious observance
(Maryam Saleh, The Intercept)
In our opinion: Utah needs a workable hate crime law
(Deseret News)
Tuesday, 26 February 2019
Public schools of Ukraine will study history of new church
(Interfax-Religion)
Ukraine Church leader: Invaders in Donbas set to "confiscate" temples, deport priests
(Unian)
India’s Hindu nationalists vow to restore deity’s birthplace to former glory
(Religion News Service)
Banning the hijab in Geneva
(Farid Hafez, Daily Sabah)
February: Executed Muslim denied Imam, congressional accusations of anti-Semitism, and more
(Religious Freedom Review: Weekly updates on religious freedom in America)
The nun who sued her Mother Superior – the strange case of Saurin v Starr
(Neil Addison, Guest Post, Law & Religion UK)
Australian Cardinal George Pell convicted of child sex abuse
(Richard Gonzales, National Public Radio)
Australian court convicts Cardinal Pell on child sex abuse charges
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Sexual abuse in the church: The downfall of Cardinal George Pell
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Russian Orthodox Church Synod calls on Ukrainian govt to cease persecution of canonical Сhurch's followers
(Interfax-Religion)
Venezuela bishops demand that Maduro allow foreign aid, end violence
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Attack on Argentine chief rabbi raises fear of anti-Semitism
(Almudena Calatrava, Associated Press)
Nebraska officials subpoena hundreds of Catholic churches
(Margery A. Beck, Associated Press)
Drones launched to help preserve Europe’s Jewish cemeteries
(Karel Janicek, Associated Press)
Ex-Muslim rebels now governing volatile Philippine region
(Associated Press)
United Methodist Church risks split over position on LBTQ ordination and marriage
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
2019 Methodist General Conference passes Traditional Plan
(Kathy L. Gilbert, Heather Hahn and Joey Butler, UM News)
United Methodists vote pensions, ‘Traditional Plan’ as top priorities
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
United Methodist committee rejects One Church Plan, which would allow LGBT clergy
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
United Methodist delegates reject recognizing gay marriage
(David Crary and Jim Salter, Associated Press)
Bingo and monster trucks: Making sense of breaking news from United Methodists' high-stakes meeting
(Bobby Ross Jr., Get Religion)
Yes, the United Methodist Church's big meeting in St. Louis is national news, but it's something else, too
(Bobby Ross Jr., Get Religion)
The ‘Splainer: What’s the United Methodist special session all about?
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Utah closer to raising alcohol limit in line with most of US
(Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press)
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore calls on Pakistan to release prisoner of conscience Abdul Shakoor
(Press Release, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
US religious freedom envoy: Pakistan has ‘desire to change’
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
Egypt’s president says he will provide synagogues if a Jewish community re-emerges there
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Egypt will build synagogues for any resurgent Jewish community
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Rohingya: killings should remind all nations of their responsibility to protect victims of mass atrocity crimes
(Maria Jellinek, The Conversation)
Executive Council asks bishops, spouses to ‘prayerfully and carefully consider’ response to Lambeth decision
(Mary Frances Schjonberg, Episcopal News Service)
Religiosity, risky behaviour and young people: a South African case study
(Joel Msafiri Franci and Neo Morojele, The Conversation)
South Dakota ponders change in rules for transgender athletes
(Courtney Joyner, The Daily Signal)
Outrage over antisemitic attacks in France presents opportunity for Emmanuel Macron to heal wartime wounds
(David Lees, The Conversation)
Anti-vaccination parents and religious exemptions
(Sarah Bailey, The Washington Post)
If assisted dying is legalised, who gets to decide whose life is worth living?
(Lidia Ripamonti, The Conversation)
Why ‘money’ gospel followers aren’t simply credulous dupes
(Ilana van Wyk, The Conversation)
The Catholic Church is worried about its future. Why Latino millennials may be the answer
(Lindsay Schnell, USA Today)
Moral education protects kids from extremism, says expert
(Ismail Sebugwaawo, Khaleej Times)
Anti-vaxxers face backlash as measles cases surge
(Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post)
Senate blocks bill on medical care for children born alive after attempted abortion
(Mike DeBonis and Felicia Sonmez, The Washington Post)
In fight over Protestant-only foster agency, lawsuit asks: Who is a Christian?
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Jews and Muslims say Belgian animal cruelty law trammels religious freedom
(Elena Berton and Jabeen Bhatti, Religion News Service)
U.S. ambassador to Germany seeks to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe
(Nathan Glover, World Religion News)
Synagogue renovation project scammed out of $437K
(Gary Nguyen, World Religion News)
Cornerstone Forum: Considering the Religious Dimensions of the Conflict in Ukraine
(Andrew Bennett, Rt. Rev. Mitred Protopresbyter Andriy Chirovsky, Charles North, Religious Freedom Institute)
Monday, 25 February 2019
Karekin II, Aram I meet with Pashinyan to discuss ‘national agenda’
(The Armenian Weekly)
Post-Ruddock Report developments
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Brazil’s conservative government is resurrecting pro-Christian legislation
(Hemant Mehta, Friendly Atheist, Patheos blog)
French evangelicals worried about changes in legal regime of religious groups
(Evangelical Focus)
Australia: Seven religions hold event for religious freedom, peace
(The Nation)
Religious freedom in Islam?
(Daniel Philpott, Volokh Conspiracy)
Turkey urges China to protect religious freedom in Xinjiang
(Al Jazeera)
Greek HS seniors must take religion, not Ancient Greek, math
(The National Herald)
Religious violence is on the rise. What can faith-based communities do about it?
(Robert Muggah and Ali Velshi, World Economic Forum)
How Saudi leaders are using religion to consolidate power and silence critical voices
(Afef Abrougui, Global Voices)
With open alms: Care for migrants is changing the world of religion
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Jehovah's Witness loses his job
(Sibir.Realii, Russia Religion News)
Misunderstandings hinder parishes joining new Ukrainian church
(RISU, Russia Religion News)
When senators ask a nominee about their religious beliefs, they should give this simple answer
(Kelly Shackelford, Washington Examiner)
Thieves break into Dublin church, steal head of mummy
(Michael Kelly, Catholic News Service)
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