Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 11 April 2016
CAIR-MI files class action lawsuit challenging terror watch lists
(Press Release, Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan)
CAIR sues challenging procedures for terrorist watch list
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Abstention required in suit for defamation in excommunication proceedings
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
2 particularly interesting prisoner Free Exercise cases
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Bernie Sanders praises Pope Francis ahead of Vatican visit
(Katie Reilly, Time)
Bernie Sanders accepts invitation to conference in Vatican on social justice and the environment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Faith’s mysterious ways in the 2016 campaign
(E.J. Dionne Jr., The Washington Post Opinion)
And then the Vatican called Bernie Sanders
(Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post Opinion)
Bonhomme Presbyterian Church in Chesterfield settles suit, gets to keep property
(Valerie Schremp Hahn, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Break-away Presbyterian church settles suit by paying $1.1M for its building
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Indiana state trooper fired for asking motorists about their religion, lawsuit says
(Jordan Fischer and Evan Millward, WCPO News)
State trooper fired for proselytizing during traffic stop
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Pope Francis pens 300-page love letter that will disappoint some Catholics
(Maria Power, The Conversation)
EVENT, 11 April 2016 [Registration]: Europe at a Crossroad: Civil Society Efforts to Counter Religious Hatred and Bigotry in Europe
(Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sack keynote, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Sunday, 10 April 2016
Law and religion round-up – 10th April
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Colombia high court paves way for gay marriage rights
(Cesar Garcias, The Associated Press, The Big Story)
India Shani temple to allow women worshippers
(BBC News)
Boko Haram turns female captives into terrorists
(Dionne Searcey, The New York Times)
‘Periods for Pence’ campaign targets Indiana governor over abortion law
(Mitch Smith, The New York Times)
After Bangladesh slaying, US considers refuge for bloggers
(Matthew Pennington, The Associated Press, The Big Story)
Saturday, 9 April 2016
Turkey’s Erdogan uses military coup buzz to expand powers, curb dissent
(Guy Taylor, The Washington Times)
Amoris Laetitia: first observations
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Friday, 8 April 2016
Anglican Consultative Council begins with discussion of ‘consequences’: Episcopal Church’s three members present for 16th ACC gathering in Africa
(Mary Frances Schjonberg, Episcopal News Service)
Pope Francis releases historic document on family life
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Papal document prescribes pragmatic view of family
(Rosie Scammell, Religion News Service)
Applause, dismay, confusion over pope’s words
(Cathy Lynn Grossman, Religion News Service)
Pope’s family manifesto offers cautious opening on Communion
(Ines San Martin, Crux)
Explained: Religion, the birth-control controversy and the Supreme Court
(Douglas Laycock, The University of Chicago Divinity School: Sightings)
Who will be Egypt's next 'Hijab Queen'?
(Safiaa Mounir, trans. Kamal Fayad, Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
British Muslim group criticized for rejecting Ahmadi Muslim sect
(Aysha Khan, Religion News Service)
How universities can teach their students to respect different cultures
(Orla Quinlan and Darla K. Deardorff, The Conversation)
Vatican trip could boost Sanders' fight against Clinton
(James Oliphant and Alana Wise, Reuters)
Why political campaigns that target ethnic minority groups can go horribly wrong
(Rima Saini, The Conversation)
Real rapprochement with Israel requires Turkey to tackle anti-Semitism
(Aykan Erdemir, The Times of Israel)
Judge finds no religious exemption for flu shot in Children's Hospital case
(Bob McGovern, Boston Herald)
Hospital offered reasonable accommodation to employee rejecting flu shot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Christian cross has no place on L.A. County seal, judge rules
(Abby Swewll, Los Angeles Times)
Court says cross on county seal is unconstitutional
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
FFRF renews “David vs. Goliath” IRS challenge
(Press Release, Freedom From Religion Foundation)
Suit challenges constitutionality of tax code parsonage allowance
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Five ISIL followers seized in Volgograd region, one planned terror attack – FSB
(Interfax-Religion)
Suspected Aum Shinrikyo followers turned out to be regular yogis, police released all of them – source
(Interfax-Religion)
Russian student accused of trying to join ISIL found sane
(Interfax-Religion)
Manifesting religion at work: the appeal in Wasteney v East London NHS Foundation Trust
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
EVENT, 8 April 2016: Rethinking Religion and World Affairs: The Berkley Center Tenth Anniversary Symposium
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Radicalization of a promising student turned bomb maker in Brussels
(Alissa J. Rubin, The New York Times)
BJC’s Hollman on recent state law controversies: How we protect religious liberty is important
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Licensed clergy and the House of Bishops Declaration
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
If Turkey wants to normalize relations with Egypt, it should stop backing Muslim Brotherhood - Russian diplomat
(Interfax-Religion)
Trooper sued for proselytizing during a traffic stop. Again.
(Sarah Larimer, The Washington Post)
Some Polish women walk out of Catholic churches to protest bishops' call for stricter abortion laws
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Pakistan probes Islamic court set up in Lahore
(Al Jazeera)
How religious movements gained the upper hand in Iraqi protests
(Adnan Abu Zeed, trans.Pascale el-Khoury, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Liberal Bangladeshi blogger killed by machete-wielding attackers
(Serajjul Quadir, Reuters)
Pope to make lightning trip to migrant island in Aegean Sea
(Philip Pullella, Reuters)
France takes dim view of burkini swimwear, unlike Brits
(Tom Heneghan, Religion News Service)
Christians plan massive rally in Washington in July
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Uzbekistan: "His only fault was to have some sermons on his mobile phone"
(Forum 18 News Service)
FFRF sues Connecticut city over censorship
(Press Release, Freedom From Religion Foundation)
Two articles examine China’s often troubled relationship with Christianity. The first looks at signs of a rapprochement with the Vatican
(The Economist)
Religion in the town square: lawsuit filed by Shelton atheist
(WSHU News, Katie Toth)
FFRF sues Connecticut city over refusal to allow Winter Solstice banner
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court says minister can move ahead with challenge to ban on his transitional housing project
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
9th Circuit: Denial of exemption for use of cannabis does not impose substantial burden on religious exercise
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Episcopal church still holds title to property of break-away diocese
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
EVENT, 7 April 2016: Religion, Peace, and World Affairs: The Challenges Ahead
((featuring Madeleine Albright), Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Onward Christian Soldiers: In the era of Trump-style politics, evangelical voters are not a monolith
(Julie Lyons, Houston Press)
Turkish president unveils US Islamic center near Washington DC
(Deutsche Welle)
Video Report of Under Caesar’s Sword Rome Conference
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe: Ethics and Global Justice)
The spiritual legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
(Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove, Relevant)
The New United States: A “Christian Nation”?
(Thomas Kidd, Patheos Blog: The Anxious Bench)
Same-sex marriage and the Church in Wales
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Opinion: Is anti-Semitism common in Croatia?
(Efraim Zuroff, The Jerusalem Post)
Embargoes and the public domain: Press comment on anticipated Vatican leak
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Now it’s undeniable: Deobandi mosques radicalise Britain’s Muslims
(Irfan Al-Alawi, Lapido Media: Centre for Religious Literacy in World Affairs)
A refresher on embargoes ahead of new papal document
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Covering all things Catholic)
Study: Restrictions on women’s religious attire
(Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life)
New study surveys restrictions on women wearing religious attire
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Turkey seizes six churches as state property in volatile southeast
(World Watch Monitor)
New Zealand: Bible in schools court case begins
(New Zealand Herald)
Need a new religion-related angle for Earth Day? Here's how to get started
(Ira Rifkin, Get Religion (blog))
Pakistani Christians in Thailand given temporary ID cards
(World Watch Monitor)
Iraq: Women suffer under ISIS
(Human Rights Watch)
Pope, Ecumenical Patriarch and Greek Church head to visit refugees on Lesbos
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Will Jordan ban the Muslim Brotherhood?
(Osama Al Sharif, Al-Monitor)
Bill to make Bible Tennessee's state book heads to governor
(Erik Schelzig, Associated Press)
Why did Tennessee lawmakers designate the Bible as state's official book? (+video)
(Lisa Suhay, The Christian Science Monitor)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the era of refugees
(Jessse Carey, Relevant)
The White House hosts a Nowruz celebration this week, what does that mean?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News National Edition: Faith)
Beef ban: In Marathwada, everyone wants to sell cattle ‒ but nobody can buy
(Mridula Chari, Scroll.in)
Tennessee legislature passes bill making the Holy Bible the official state book
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Bill to make Bible Tennessee's official book heads to governor
(Joel Ebert, The Tennessean)
If South Bronx Catholic church was a landmark, would state aid soon become controversial?
(Terry Mattingly, Get Religion (blog))
How scary is this? GetReligion critic joins us in opposing 'religious liberty' scare quotes
(Bobby Ross, Jr., Get Religion (blog))
Why religious leaders are getting behind $15 minimum wage
(Jessica Mendoza, The Christian Science Monitor)
Tiffany Gee Lewis: Religion at war — violence and the peaceable kingdom
(Tiffany Gee Lewis, Deseret News)
Young says religion drives prosperity in government
(Tyler Allen, The Battalion)
Woman given suspended sentence for having abortion in the UK
(Caroline Mortimer, The Independent)
On the trail of the Islamic State in Afghanistan
(Franz J. Marty, Foreign Policy)
We must go beyond platitudes to protect religious minorities
(Archbishop Justin Welby, The Financial Times)
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