Law and Religion Headlines
Tuesday, 8 January 2019
China’s Xinjiang tour should have fooled no one
(Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch)
US congressional Catholics differ on abortion
(William Donohue, Eurasia Review)
President Poroshenko calls on world's Orthodox churches to recognize OCU
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine)
Christian persecution expected to increase in 2019; believers facing 'modern-day jihad'
(Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
Israel strikes back against Hamas terror group after several attacks
(Kayla Koslosky, Christian Headlines)
Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes independence of Orthodox Church of Ukraine
(Carl Bunderson, Catholic News Agency)
Lawmakers from both parties to address 2019 March for Life
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
Debate begins on decriminalizing abortion in Ecuador
(David Ramos, Catholic News Agency)
As Belgium bans kosher and halal food prep, religious freedom fears grow
(Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis: Serve the sick with generosity
(Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Patriarch grants Ukrainian Church independence at Istanbul mass
(Ayla Jean Yackley, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Merger of parliamentary committees further sidelines Iraqi women
(Sara al-Qaher, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Israel anti-boycott bill becomes partisan casualty in first vote of new Senate
(Bryant Harris, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Fewer Israelis marrying through Rabbinate, report shows
(Judy Maltz, Haaretz)
Sale of churches sparks controversy in Iraq
(Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Christian community in Nigeria devastated by years of Fulani militant violence
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Pakistani Christians fear new security mandate may lead to church closures
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
2000 soldiers will be deployed to secure Philippines’ Black Nazarene Feast
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
Hmong Christians in Vietnam repeatedly beaten and arrested
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
What Catholics can learn from protests of the past
(Mara Willard, Religion News)
Texas county Republicans to vote on Muslim vice chair ouster
(Associated Press)
Nassar says religion turned to trade, demands banning Niqab in public places
(Egypt Today)
Heathens hold religious services rooted in Norse paganism aboard aircraft carrier
(J.D. Simkins, Military Times)
Trump weighs in on Humanists’ cross case
(Sarah Henry, The Humanist)
Muslims enjoy freedom in Xinjiang: China Islamic Association
(The Nation)
Here's the non-news direct from Seattle: An abortion activist video for kiddies
(Julia Duin, Get Religion)
How Chinese doctors who harvest organs get away with murder
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Blasphemy laws do not have a place in the 21st century
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Impacting Freedom of Religion or Belief one step at a time: 5 highlights from 2018
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB))
January 2019 Legislation factsheet: Registration laws
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF suggests standards for registration of religious groups
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
More spilled ink, as global Byzantine puzzle games continue with the Orthodox in Ukraine
(Terry Mattingly, Get Religion)
Political reporters take note: There are Catholics on both sides of hot immigration debates
(Clemente Lisi, Get Religion)
Orthodox schism: Ukrainian Christians celebrate their first Christmas under an independent church
(The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Putin goes to church on Christmas Eve
(Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Europe continues to shrink religious liberty
(Wesley J. Smith, National Review)
In repressive Myanmar, a tiny Jewish community hangs on to the past
(Charles Dunst, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Pope appoints retired cardinal as apostolic administrator of Hong Kong diocese
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pope’s outreach to Islamic world in 2019 has deep roots
(Elise Harris, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
With migrants stranded at sea, Pope Francis urges welcome
(Claire Giangravé, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Federal court allows cakeshop owner’s sequel suit to proceed
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Christian cake baker's second lawsuit can go forward, federal judge says
(Catholic News Agency)
Russian church head: Smartphones could precede Antichrist
(Associated Press)
India’s lower house passes citizenship bill despite protests
(Wasbir Hussain, Associated Press)
A different outreach: on Modi government and religion
(Vinay Kaura, The Hindu)
Painting looted by Nazis returned to Jewish heirs in Germany
(Associated Press)
Colorado bakery can move ahead with suit over non-discrimination laws
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Bob, “Rights as Weapons”
(Marc O. DeGirolami, Law and Religion Forum)
House budget bill repeals ‘Mexico City Policy’ on NGO abortion funding
(Catholic News Service)
Marco Rubio says Democrats back Israel boycott and Chris Murphy calls his bluff
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Monday, 7 January 2019
Catholic homes destroyed, land expropriated in Ho Chi Minh City
(Maria Thuy Tien, Asia Times)
Church fights Vietnam land grabbing
(UCA News)
Saudi Woman who tried to flee family says, ‘they will kill me’
(Richard C. Paddock and Ben Hubbard, The New York Times)
Ma’ruf Amin says he regrets testifying against Ahok
(The Jakarta Post)
Bipartisan bill reintroduced to elevate status of US special envoy on anti-Semitism
(Jewish News Syndicate)
Hindus prepare for Thai Pongal celebration
(Corey Barnett, World Religion News)
China targets prominent Uighur intellectuals to erase an ethnic identity
(Austin Ramzy, The New York Times)
Coptic Christians cautiously prepare for Orthodox Christmas
(Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
The Vietnamese government grabs land offered by church, demolished houses
(Gina Goh, International Christian Concern)
Christians face mounting discrimination in Pakistan’s schools
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Will India’s Trump fears ease with the New US Asia Reassurance Initiative Act? – Analysis
(Rajeswari Paillai Rajagopalan, The Diplomat)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks away from Russian influence
(Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Deseret News)
Christians celebrate Epiphany across Europe
(Veselin Toshkov, Deseret News)
Egypt opens largest church for Coptic Christians in the Middle East
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
250 Dutch Christians sign Nashville Statement; prosecutors to decide if declaration breaks law
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Court allows Christian baker Jack Phillips to sue Colorado for anti-religious hostility
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
In Nepal, Tradition is killing women: The Hindu practice of chhaupadi is dangerous and deadly, but legislation is not enough to stop it.
(Sophie Cousins, Foreign Policy)
Holy Land for sale The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is selling church land that’s ending up in the hands of Israeli settler groups. Its Palestinian Christian congregants are furious.
(Dalia Hatuqa, Foreign Policy)
Kaddish
(Joshua Feigelson, University of Chicago Divinity School: Sightings)
Lutheran Church adopts interfaith approach to tackle farmers/herders clashes in Adamawa
(Segun Otokiti, Worldstage)
A Christian ministry won’t change its Christians-only criteria for foster-care parents. Is that okay with Trump?
(Laura Meckler, The Washington Post)
‘Vacationing’ to reconnect with India’s Zoroastrian culture
(Bhavya, Religion News)
These Rohingya refugees actually want to return to Myanmar. The difference is they're Hindus
(Vidya Krishnan, Los Angeles Times)
Fact check: How many people are enslaved in the world today?
(Monti Datta, The Conversation)
China's Muslims brace for attacks
(James Palmer, Foreign Policy)
FoRB on the Frontlines: Fighting for freedom as long as it’s necessary
(CSWPress, FoRB in Full (a blog by CSW))
Interfaith group sues for peaceful 2019 polls
(The Nation)
Turkey: "Election of new board members for the non-Muslim community foundations critical for their livelihood"
(Mine Yıldırım interviews lawyer Sebu Aslangil, Freedom of Belief Initiative)
Young Muslim men organize to clean up national parks as shutdown enters third week
(Rachel Chason, The Washington Post)
Lawyers: Mechanicsburg SD violating students' free speech by not letting them hand out bibles
(Priscilla Liguori, ABC 27)
Activists mobilize in Midtown Manhattan to ban coercive conversion
(Cheonji News)
A Christian ministry has worked only with Christian foster-care parents. Is that okay with Trump?
(Laura Meckler, The Washington Post)
Here comes caste-free, religion-free reservation
(League of India)
Veep calls for tolerance among religious groups
(Ghana Web)
Does religion encourage or help to prevent the use of violence?
(Sylvia Rothschild, The Jewish Chronicle)
Women’s empowerment: Between religion and culture
(Hoda Al-Helaissi, Arab News)
Iran arrests demographers, the latest target amid an escalating crackdown on academics and activists
(Melissa Etehad and Ramin Mostaghim, Los Angeles Times)
Unkosher ban
(The Jerusalem Post)
Belgium bans halal and kosher slaughter sparking furious backlash by religious groups
(Felix Allen, The Sun)
Islam is not inherently hostile to religious freedom: Philpott
(Javad Heirannia, Tehran Times)
Religious and medical accommodations of mandatory flu shot requirements
(Amy J. Traub, Mondaq)
China: Authorities shutter 35 temples in under a week
(Jiang Tao, Bitter Winter)
China just passed a law to have its own version of Islam–one that is more ‘compatible’ with socialism within next five years
(Business Insider India)
Solidarity with persecuted leads to persecution
(Lin Yijiang, Bitter Winter)
It’s time for elected officials stop using the Bible to be sworn in
(Shane Phipps, Patheos)
Critical thinking and philosophy to be taught in Saudi schools
(Mohammed Al-Kinani, Arab News)
Israel to seek $250bil in compensation from Arab, Muslim countries
(Tamar Beeri, The Jerusalem Post)
The religious call behind Bennett and Shaked’s Hayemin Hehadash party
(Uri Bollag, The Jerusalem Post)
Access to egalitarian prayer section still closed after six months
(Jeremy Sharon, The Jerusalem Post)
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