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Becerra\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(5th Cir., March 12, 2024), the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals held that a Texas statute giving parents the right to consent to their teenagers' receiving contraceptives is consistent with Title X of the federal Public Health Service Act under which clinics are given grants to distribute contraceptives and other family planning services. HHS had given informal guidance to grantees that they could \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E require parental consent or notify parents before prescribing contraceptives to minors. The court's opinion describes the lawsuit:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2020, Alexander Deanda filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Secretary’s administration of the Title X program. He alleged that he is the father of three minor daughters1; that he is raising his daughters according to his Christian beliefs to abstain from pre-marital sex; and that he wants to be informed if any of his children access or try to access contraceptives. He further alleged that Texas law gives him a right to consent before his children obtain contraceptives. See Tex. Fam. Code § 151.001(a)(6); § 102.003(a)(1). Finally, he alleged that the Secretary administers Title X unlawfully by funding grantees who provide contraceptives to minors without notifying parents or obtaining parental consent. Accordingly, Deanda sought declaratory and injunctive relief on behalf of himself and a putative class, claiming that the Title X program violates (and does not preempt) Texas law and that it violates his constitutional right to direct his children’s upbringing as well as his rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court concluded that Title X and the Texas statute reinforce each other because Title X calls for grantees to encourage family participation to the extent practicable.\u0026nbsp; The court however reversed the trial court's invalidation of a formal HHS Rule promulgated in 2021 forbidding grantees from notifying parents or requiring parental consent because the Rule was adopted after this lawsuit was filed and was not specifically challenged by the lawsuit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/politics\/texas\/article\/birth-control-fifth-circuit-18931647.php\"\u003EHouston Chronicle\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7092995599366832967"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7092995599366832967"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/5th-circuit-texas-statute-giving.html","title":"5th Circuit: Texas Statute Giving Parents Right to Consent to Teens' Contraceptives Is Consistent with Title X"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-541397914910177053"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-14T07:00:00.005-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-14T07:00:00.293-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Antisemitism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Department of Education"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VI"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Complaint Charges Sarah Lawrence College with Antisemitism Violating Title VI"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EA Complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:US:26f5c980-7f5e-4e69-98a5-66d1e086af7c\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) was filed on March 11 with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights by Hillels of Westchester asking OCR to initiate an investigation of antisemitism at Sarah Lawrence College. The 43-page Complaint (with 46 pages of Exhibits attached) reads in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe are submitting this Title VI Complaint1 as counsel for Hillels of Westchester2 ... which is acting on behalf of current and former Jewish students at Sarah Lawrence College (“SLC”) who, as an expression of their Jewish identity, affiliate with Hillel or have an affinity for Israel....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe hostile environment on campus, going back many years, forces these Jewish students to conceal their identity and precludes them from participating in SLC’s social, educational and extracurricular activities unless they disavow their affiliation with Hillel or affinity for Israel.\u0026nbsp; The administration at SLC has been well aware of this ongoing problem and not only has failed to address it, but at times has been complicit in contributing towards it.\u0026nbsp; In the painfully sardonic words of one Jewish student who transferred out of Sarah Lawrence College because of its toxic environment, “it is safe to be Jewish as long as you are openly anti-Israel.”...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [I]n some cases SLC administrators and faculty have discouraged students from lodging formal complaints of anti-Semitism, or have delayed or “slow-walked” the complaint process – essentially, waiting out the students until they graduate or complete the school year. The complaint process itself is notoriously opaque, preventing students from knowing what measures, if any, have been taken to address their complaints.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/news\/jewish-organization-files-title-vi-civil-rights-complaint-against-sarah-lawrence-college\/\"\u003ENational Review\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the Complaint.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/541397914910177053"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/541397914910177053"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/complaint-charges-sarah-lawrence.html","title":"Complaint Charges Sarah Lawrence College with Antisemitism Violating Title VI"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2554063212994948260"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:10:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:10:00.148-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Florida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"LGBT rights"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"School Policies"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Settlement Narrows Interpretation of Florida's \"Don't Say Gay\" Law"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Monday, a Settlement Agreement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/manage.kaplanhecker.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-03\/Settlement%20Agreement.03.11.24.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in \u003Ci\u003EEquality Florida v. Florida State Board of Education. \u003C\/i\u003EIn the case, plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of Florida's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flsenate.gov\/Session\/Bill\/2022\/1557\/BillText\/er\/PDF\"\u003EParental Rights in Education Act\u003C\/a\u003E (sometimes known as the \"Don't Say Gay\" law). The Settlement Agreement defines narrowly the conduct that is prohibited by the law. According to the Agreement, the law only bans \u003Ci\u003Einstruction \u003C\/i\u003Eon sexual orientation or gender identity that takes place in the classroom in grades 1-3. It does not ban references by teachers or students that do not amount to \"instruction.\" Library books and extracurricular activities are not impacted by the ban.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flgov.com\/2024\/03\/11\/florida-wins-lawsuit-against-parental-rights-in-education-act-to-be-dismissed-law-remains-in-effect\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E, Florida Governor Ron Desantis' referred to the settlement as\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ea major win against the activists who sought to stop Florida’s efforts to keep radical gender and sexual ideology out of the classrooms of public-school children in kindergarten through third grade (5- to 9-year-olds).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs in the case however \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.eqfl.org\/historic-settlement-achieved-challenge-floridas-dont-say-gay-or-trans-law\"\u003Edescribe it\u003C\/a\u003E as a win for them, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agreement effectively nullifies the most dangerous and discriminatory impacts of Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay Law,” and makes clear that the law must be applied neutrally and is no license to discriminate against or erase LGBTQ+ families.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe settlement restores the ability of students, teachers, and others in Florida schools to speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in class participation and schoolwork. It also restores safeguards against bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and reinstates Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). Critically, the settlement also requires the State Board of Education to send today’s agreement to every school district, and to make clear that the settlement reflects the considered position of the State of Florida on the scope and meaning of this law.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2554063212994948260"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2554063212994948260"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/settlement-narrows-interpretation-of.html","title":"Settlement Narrows Interpretation of Florida's \"Don't Say Gay\" Law"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2307781500095174824"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:05:00.014-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:05:00.134-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"International religious freedom"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Saudi Arabia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USCIRF"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"USCIRF Ends Saudi Visit After Its Jewish Chairman Was Told to Remove His Kippah in Public Places"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/release-statements\/uscirf-leaves-saudi-arabia-after-government-official-insisted-chair-remove\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E issued Monday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said that last week it ended an official visit to Saudi Arabia early after the delegation was told to leave the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diriyah\"\u003EDiriyah\u003C\/a\u003E UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riyadh because USCIRF Chairman Rabbi Abraham Cooper would not remove his \u003Ci\u003Ekippah\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(head covering). The press release says in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Saudi government had invited the delegation, led by Chair Cooper and Vice Chair Reverend Frederick A. Davie, to tour the site on March 5, as part of their official visit to the country that had started on March 3. After several delays to the tour, officials requested that Cooper, an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, remove his kippah while at the site and anytime he was to be in public, even though the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved the site visit. U.S. Embassy staff accompanying the USCIRF delegation supported and conveyed to Saudi officials Chair Cooper’s polite but resolute refusal to remove the kippah. Despite their efforts, site officials escorted the delegation off the premises after Chair Cooper indicated he sought no confrontation or provocation but as an observant Jew could not comply with a request to remove his kippah.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. issued a statement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saudiembassy.net\/statements\/statement-regarding-recent-incident-involving-us-delegation-visiting-saudi-arabia\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis unfortunate incident was the result of a misunderstanding of internal protocols.... We look forward to welcoming him back to the Kingdom.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2307781500095174824"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2307781500095174824"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/uscirf-ends-saudi-visit-after-its.html","title":"USCIRF Ends Saudi Visit After Its Jewish Chairman Was Told to Remove His Kippah in Public Places"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4098635933456441231"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-13T07:00:00.136-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New York"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"New York's Removal of Religious Exemption from School Vaccination Requirement Is Upheld"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/new-york\/nywdce\/1:2023cv00484\/145988\/33\/0.pdf?ts=1710259719\"\u003EMiller v. McDonald\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(WD NY, March 11, 2024), a New York federal district court upheld New York's removal of religious exemptions from its mandatory requirement for vaccination of school children. It rejected Free Exercise challenges by Amish individuals and schools, finding, in part in reliance on the 2nd Circuit's \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/08\/2nd-circuit-upholds-connecticuts-repeal.html\"\u003EWe the Patriots\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E decision, that the law was both neutral and generally applicable, and thus did not trigger heightened scrutiny.\u0026nbsp; The court said in\u0026nbsp; part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Plaintiffs allege that PHL § 2164 is not neutral because “the State targeted religious adherents by eliminating [the] long-standing religious exemption while leaving the medical exemption process in place.”... This allegation fails to establish non-neutrality.\u0026nbsp; Nothing in the text of PHL § 2164 as amended demonstrates any hostility to religion.\u0026nbsp; To the contrary, PHL § 2164 is neutral on its face, neither targeting religious belief nor singling it out for particularly harsh treatment.\u0026nbsp; And, as previously noted, \u003Ci\u003EWe the Patriots\u003C\/i\u003E affirmatively held that the repeal of a previously existing religious exemption is not, of itself, hostile to religion....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, the legislative history related to the repeal of the non-medical exemption contains no evidence of hostility towards religious belief.\u0026nbsp; Those sponsoring the relevant legislation in both the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly made clear that their concern was public health...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003EWe the Patriots\u003C\/i\u003E court explained that “where a law provides for an objectively defined category of people to whom the vaccination requirement does not apply, including a category defined by medical providers’ use of their professional judgment, such an exemption affords no meaningful discretion to the State” and thus does not render the law not generally applicable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4098635933456441231"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4098635933456441231"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/new-yorks-removal-of-religious.html","title":"New York's Removal of Religious Exemption from School Vaccination Requirement Is Upheld"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1874631967384411296"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-12T10:56:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-12T10:56:03.904-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Kansas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Licensing"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Court Upholds Kansas Law Requiring Biological Sex at Birth on Driver's Licenses"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ag.ks.gov\/docs\/default-source\/documents\/doc_99394829.pdf\"\u003EState of Kansas ex rel. Kobach v. Harper\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(KS Dist. Ct., March 11, 2024), a Kansas state trial court, in issuing a preliminary injunction, rejected challenges to a Kansas law that requires driver's licenses to reflect a person's \"biological sex, either male or female, at birth.\" The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe crux of Intervenors’ constitutional argument is that requiring KDOR to display a licensee’s sex at birth on a driver’s license and in the KDOR database violates Section 1 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights. Section 1 says: “All men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[The Kansas Supreme court decision in] \u003Ci\u003EHodes\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;said Kansans have the right to control their own bodies. It did not say Kansans have a fundamental state constitutional right to control what information is displayed on a state-issued driver’s license. And the Intervenors’ testimony at the hearing was that producing a driver’s license indicating a sex different than their expressed gender did not result in physical violence, verbal harassment, loss of employment, loss of benefits, refusal of service, or negative interaction with law enforcement. Rather, Intervenors testified about feeling embarrassed, humiliated, or unsafe if someone gave them a puzzled look, hesitated, or questioned their identity when looking at their driver’s license. They testified to the discomfort of airport security pat downs that are a universal feature of modern travel. K.S.A. 77-207 does not violate any right to personal autonomy under Section 1....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, Intervenors assert that K.S.A. 77-207 deprives them of equal protection of the law .... The rules are the same for identifying each person who seeks a driver’s license. Similarly situated people are not treated differently under the statute, thus there is no equal protection violation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/transgender-identities-drivers-licenses-kansas-7ee2bd7b2ae01eb019694f96a441b038\"\u003EAP reports\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;on the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1874631967384411296"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1874631967384411296"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/court-upholds-kansas-law-requiring.html","title":"Court Upholds Kansas Law Requiring Biological Sex at Birth on Driver's Licenses"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6161352857704446937"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-12T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-12T07:05:00.132-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Church services"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Drugs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Internal Revenue Code"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"D.C. Circuit Hears Arguments on Tax Exempt Status of Church Promoting Religious Use of Psychedelic Drug"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit yesterday heard oral arguments in \u003Ci\u003EIowaska Church of Healing v. Werfel \u003C\/i\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cadc.uscourts.gov\/recordings\/recordings2023.nsf\/4E421040A2D1DA0185258ADD003FD756\/$file\/23-5122.mp3\"\u003Eaudio of full oral arguments\u003C\/a\u003E). In the case,\u0026nbsp;the D.C. federal district court upheld the IRS's refusal to grant §501(c)(3) non-profit status to a church that promotes the religious use of Ayahuasca, a tea brewed from plants containing a drug that is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/irs-correctly-denied-non-profit-ruling.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/ip-law\/ayahuasca-using-churchs-tax-status-claim-faces-skeptical-court\"\u003EBloomberg Law\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the oral arguments.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6161352857704446937"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6161352857704446937"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/dc-circuit-hears-arguments-on-tax.html","title":"D.C. Circuit Hears Arguments on Tax Exempt Status of Church Promoting Religious Use of Psychedelic Drug"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-9194454206175405571"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-12T07:00:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-12T07:00:00.131-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Orthodox Jewish Passengers Sue JetBlue For Discrimination"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed late last month in a New York federal district court against JetBlue Airways by three observant Jewish passengers who were forced off of a flight by airline personnel after one of the passengers, an Orthodox Jewish man, asked other passengers to switch seats with him so, consistent with his religious beliefs, he would not be sitting next to a woman who was not his wife or a blood relative. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/liveandletsfly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Lunger-v-JetBlue.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EUngar v. JetBlue Airways Corp.,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SD NY, filed 2\/27\/2024), alleges in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E48. ... At no time while Mr. Lunger was trying to observe his religious beliefs, did he force, become loud, or use a stern voice to intimidate any other passengers into changing seats with him.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E49. Even though Mr. Lunger had figured out a way to observe his religious beliefs without interfering with the flight, Defendant Doe [the flight attendant] discriminated against Mr. Lunger because of his race and his religion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E50. Defendant Doe brought the JetBlue pilot to the back of the plane.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E51.\u0026nbsp; The JetBlue pilot falsely told the Plaintiffs that they could not change seats because it was a violation and it would cause a weight imbalance....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs claim they suffered discrimination and retaliation on the basis of religion and race in violation of 42 USC §1981 and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/liveandletsfly.com\/jewish-passengers-jetblue-antisemitism\/\"\u003ELive and Let's Fly\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/9194454206175405571"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/9194454206175405571"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/orthodox-jewish-passengers-sue-jetblue.html","title":"Orthodox Jewish Passengers Sue JetBlue For Discrimination"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3027736976809782497"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-11T13:54:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-11T13:54:46.305-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ramadan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"President Sends Ramadan Greetings Outlining Policy Initiatives"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;President Biden yesterday issued a Statement on the Occasion of Ramadan (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2024\/03\/10\/statement-from-president-joseph-r-biden-on-the-occasion-of-ramadan\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E), saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETonight—as the new crescent moon marks the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan—Jill and I extend our best wishes and prayers to Muslims across our country and around the world....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E...As Muslims gather around the world over the coming days and weeks to break their fast, the suffering of the Palestinian people will be front of mind for many. It is front of mind for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe United States will continue to lead international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza by land, air, and sea....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile we get more life-saving aid to Gaza, the United States will continue working non-stop to establish an immediate and sustained ceasefire for at least six weeks as part of a deal that releases hostages. And we will continue building toward a long-term future of stability, security, and peace. That includes a two-state solution to ensure Palestinians and Israelis share equal measures of freedom, dignity, security, and prosperity. That is the only path toward an enduring peace.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere at home, we have seen an appalling resurgence of hate and violence toward Muslim Americans. Islamophobia has absolutely no place in the United States, a country founded on freedom of worship and built on the contributions of immigrants, including Muslim immigrants. My Administration is developing the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Related Forms of Bias and Discrimination, to take on hate against Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab American communities, wherever it occurs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3027736976809782497"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3027736976809782497"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/president-sends-ramadan-greetings.html","title":"President Sends Ramadan Greetings Outlining Policy Initiatives"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1271706673255020030"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-11T07:10:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-11T15:10:22.960-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Caste"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Equal Protection"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Establishment Clause"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hindu"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Washington"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ban on Caste Discrimination Is Constitutional"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/washington\/wawdce\/2:2023cv00721\/322215\/19\/0.pdf?ts=1710004064\"\u003EBagal v. Sawant\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(WD WA, March 8, 2024), a Washington federal district court rejected First and 14th Amendment challenges to the City of Seattle's adding of \"caste\" as a protected class under its anti-discrimination Ordinance. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, Plaintiff argues that incorporating “caste” into existing anti-discrimination laws \u003Ci\u003Eipso facto\u003C\/i\u003E creates a stigma, levelled towards a specific and insular minority group, namely members of the Hindu religion....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiff simply does not \nallege they are burdened, in any manner, from practicing their faith.... [H]aving failed to allege a cognizable injury, Plaintiff \u003Ci\u003Ede \nfacto\u003C\/i\u003E lacks standing to assert a Free Exercise challenge to the Ordinance. \nPlaintiff’s Establishment Clause claim is similarly unavailing.... Fundamentally, \nPlaintiff’s reasoning is that the City of Seattle’s involvement on an issue of equal importance to \npractitioners of a certain religion becomes, as a consequence, activity in favor or opposition to \nthat religion.  And that, because the City of Seattle opted to disfavor caste-based forms of \ndiscrimination, \u003Ci\u003Ea fortiori\u003C\/i\u003E it condemned all notions of caste as it was understood by any religion.  \nBut that logic proves too much.  And even assuming, \u003Ci\u003Earguendo\u003C\/i\u003E, that the Ordinance does \ncondemn notions of caste as is believed by a certain religion, that does not constitute activity in \nsupport or disparagement of that religion.  For instance, birth control is a topic that involves both \nreligious beliefs and general welfare concerns.  And yet, no court has ever held that government \napproval of birth control violates the Establishment Clause....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is not enough, in other words, that the anti-caste legislation strikes members of a religion as reflecting poorly on their religious beliefs.... In this case, the Ordinance’s principal effect is not to endorse a religion, but simply to bolster local anti-discrimination laws.\u0026nbsp; Any coincidental reference to a shared phenomenon (such as caste) is secondary, if not wholly, immaterial....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESecond, Plaintiff contends that the Ordinance violates the Equal Protection Clause....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENowhere does the text of the Ordinance make use of prohibited classifications.\u0026nbsp; Rather, the Ordinance is facially neutral and of general applicability.\u0026nbsp; Moreover, wholly absent from Plaintiff’s complaint are any facts suggesting that the legislative drafters were actually motivated by racial or ethnic animus.... Further to the point, Plaintiff’s complaint does not plausibly allege that the City of Seattle has applied the Ordinance in a discriminatory manner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1271706673255020030"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1271706673255020030"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/ban-on-caste-discrimiination-is.html","title":"Ban on Caste Discrimination Is Constitutional"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2269376638886172469"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-11T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-11T07:05:00.139-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Articles of interest"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Recent Articles of Interest"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom SSRN:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJames Gerard Dwyer, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4748800\"\u003ESmith's Last Stand? Free Exercise and Foster Care Exceptionalism\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E(University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 24, No. 856, 2022).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJianlin Chen, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4686578\"\u003ELaw and Politics of Religious Fraud Regulation: China, Taiwan and Hong Kong\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Edward Elgar 2023).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKyle Velte, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4748779\"\u003EDebunking the Narrowness Narrative in LGBTQ Religious Exemption Claims\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(St. Louis University Law Journal (forthcoming 2024) (Childress Lecture Symposium)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAziza Ahmed, Nicole Huberfeld \u0026amp; Linda C. McClain, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4745534\"\u003EIntroduction: Securing Reproductive Justice After Dobbs\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(51 Journal of Law, Medicine, \u0026amp; Ethics 463 (Fall 2023)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKenneth Robert Davis, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4723332\"\u003EA Farewell to Harms: Rethinking the Injury Requirements of Title VII\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Harvard Journal on Legislation, Vol. 61, No. 1, 2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/libguides.heinonline.org\/current-index-to-legal-periodicals\/smartcilp\"\u003ESmartCILP\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESyafiq Hasyim, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/law-and-society-review\/article\/abs\/shariatisation-of-indonesia-the-politics-of-the-council-of-indonesian-ulama-mui-by-syafiq-hasyim-leiden-brill-2023-459-pp-23800-hardcover\/BC2DB35C926D119DE658B46E78A663AD\"\u003EBook Review. The Shariatisation of Indonesia: The Politics of the Council of Indonesian Ulama (MUI), by Syafiq Hasyim\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E57 Law \u0026amp; Society Review 554-556 (2023).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHayden J. Bellenoit, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/369114036_Legal_Limbo_and_Caste_Consternation_Determining_Kayasthas'_Varna_Rank_in_Indian_Law_Courts_1860-1930\"\u003ELegal Limbo and Caste Consternation: Determining Kayasthas' Varna Rank in Indian Law Courts, 1860–1930\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E41 Law \u0026amp; History Review 43-63 (2023).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPaolo Astorri, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/law-and-history-review\/article\/redefinition-of-clandestine-marriage-by-sixteenthcentury-lutheran-theologians-and-jurists\/451D0189A6ECB3EFB00F21EED98C85EF\"\u003EThe Redefinition of Clandestine Marriage by Sixteenth-Century Lutheran Theologians and Jurists\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, 41 Law \u0026amp; History Review 65-92 (2023).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2269376638886172469"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2269376638886172469"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/recent-articles-of-interest_0322672010.html","title":"Recent Articles of Interest"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4278533906772115932"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-11T07:00:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-11T07:00:00.144-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Federal grants"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Federal Agencies Finalize Rule Amendments on Grants to Faith-Based Organizations"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EOn March 4, nine federal agencies published a 52-page joint release titled\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPartnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations \u003C\/i\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/03\/04\/2024-03869\/partnerships-with-faith-based-and-neighborhood-organizations\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in the Federal Register amending rules adopted by them during the Trump Administration. In a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/biden-restoring-religious-freedom-social-services\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E, Americans United summarizes the rule changes in part as follows:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new regulations:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EReinstate the requirement that people seeking services be informed of their religious freedom rights, which include that:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EThey can’t be discriminated against because of their religion or because they are nonreligious.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EThey can’t be required to pray or participate in religious activities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EThey can file a complaint if their rights are violated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EReinstate safeguards that ensure that people who obtain social services through vouchers are not forced to attend or participate in religious activities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EEliminate Trump-era provisions that were designed to allow social service providers to refuse to provide key services....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4278533906772115932"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4278533906772115932"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/federal-agencies-finalize-rule.html","title":"Federal Agencies Finalize Rule Amendments on Grants to Faith-Based Organizations"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5427603034476691052"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-10T16:45:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-10T16:45:09.995-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ramadan"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ramadan Begins Sunday Evening"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;As \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fiqhcouncil.org\/announcement-for-ramadan-shawwal-1445\/\"\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E by the Fiqh Council of North America, Ramadan begins this evening (Sunday, March 10). CAIR has released a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Ramadan-Toolkit.pdf\"\u003ERamadan Toolkit\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;with templates for employees and students to use to seek accommodations for Ramadan observance.\u0026nbsp; It also includes templates and sample texts for a resolution on Ramadan and Eid that can be adopted by governmental bodies, as well as a template letter regarding a Gaza Ceasefire resolution.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5427603034476691052"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5427603034476691052"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/ramadan-begins-sunday-evening.html","title":"Ramadan Begins Sunday Evening"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2698661633721162061"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-09T23:02:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-09T23:02:18.241-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Antisemitism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indiana"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"School Policies"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Indiana Legislature Passes Bill Barring Antisemitism in Public Schools and Colleges"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Friday, the Indiana legislature gave \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/iga.in.gov\/legislative\/2024\/bills\/house\/1002\/actions\"\u003Efinal passage\u003C\/a\u003E to House Bill 1002 (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/iga.in.gov\/pdf-documents\/123\/2024\/house\/bills\/HB1002\/HB1002.04.ENRS.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) which amends the state Education Code to specifically protect against antisemitism in public schools and colleges.\u0026nbsp; The bill, as finally enacted, defines antisemitism by adopting the text of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/holocaustremembrance.com\/resources\/working-definition-antisemitism\"\u003EInternational Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition\u003C\/a\u003E, but, in a compromise, excludes examples given by IHRA that, among other things, indicate when criticism of Israel amounts to antisemitism.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/indiana-defining-antisemitism-bill-d2b2b38427df713c355fbeb2f9afe2df\"\u003EAP reports\u003C\/a\u003E on the bill's passage, discussing the compromise in greater detail. The bill now goes to Governor Eric Holcomb for his signature.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2698661633721162061"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2698661633721162061"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/indiana-legislature-passes-bill-barring.html","title":"Indiana Legislature Passes Bill Barring Antisemitism in Public Schools and Colleges"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1204811221750687036"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-08T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-08T07:05:00.136-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Gender discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Virginia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Student Sues School Board Alleging Gender Affirming Policies Violate Her Rights"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed earlier this week in a Virgina state trial court by a high school student challenging Fairfax County School Board regulations\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/media.aflegal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05205421\/Doe-v.-FCPS-Exhibits.pdf?_ga=2.19085624.1435724432.1709861711-335873525.1709861711\"\u003E(full text)\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;that support transgender students.\u0026nbsp; The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/media.aflegal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05163508\/AFL_FIled.pdf?_ga=2.97342687.151483059.1709734273-1106669683.1709734273\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in Doe\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;v. Fairfax County School Board,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(VA Cir. Ct., filed 3\/4\/2024), alleges in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... FCPS Regulation 2603.2 and its application unconstitutionally violates the Petitioner’s sincerely held philosophical and religious beliefs by compelling her to refer to “[s]tudents who identify as gender-expansive or transgender [] by their chosen name and pronoun ....\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [They] further unconstitutionally violate the Petitioner’s philosophical and religious beliefs by compelling her to share a restroom with a biological male.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [They] unconstitutionally discriminate against the Petitioner on the basis of her sex by requiring her to use a private restroom to remain consistent with her beliefs while allowing a biological male to use the female restroom... [and by permitting] a biological male to feel safe and comfortable by having full access to any restroom of his choice while not allowing the Petitioner to feel safe and comfortable by using the restroom of her biological sex....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... FCPS has knowingly and blatantly violated the Petitioner’s rights by forcing her to accept the ideological viewpoint of the government and the claimed rights and privileges of other students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmerica First Legal\u0026nbsp;issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/aflegal.org\/america-first-legal-sues-fairfax-county-public-schools-for-sex-and-religious-discrimination-and-violation-of-free-speech-rights-instructing-students-to-use-incorrect-pronouns-and-allowing-biological\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing its filing or the lawsuit. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ffxnow.com\/2024\/03\/07\/former-trump-advisors-legal-group-sues-fcps-over-lgbtq-inclusive-policies\/\"\u003EFFX\u003C\/a\u003EN\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ffxnow.com\/2024\/03\/07\/former-trump-advisors-legal-group-sues-fcps-over-lgbtq-inclusive-policies\/\"\u003Eow\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1204811221750687036"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1204811221750687036"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/student-sues-school-board-alleging.html","title":"Student Sues School Board Alleging Gender Affirming Policies Violate Her Rights"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8098263080627447025"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-08T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-08T07:00:00.141-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Alabama"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"In Vitro Fertilization"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Alabama Passes Law Protecting IVF Clinics from Liability"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EReacting to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/alabama-supreme-court-wrongful-death.html\"\u003Erecent Alabama Supreme Court decision\u003C\/a\u003E holding that the state's wrongful death statute applies to the negligent destruction of frozen embryos created during IVF treatment, the Alabama legislature yesterday \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/AL\/bill\/SB159\/2024\"\u003Epassed\u003C\/a\u003E, and Governor Kay Ivey immediately signed SB159 (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/AL\/text\/SB159\/2024\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) which provides in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERelated to in vitro fertilization and notwithstanding any provision of law ..., no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E... [N]o criminal prosecution may be brought for the damage to or death of an embryo against the manufacturer of goods used to facilitate the in vitro fertilization process or the transport of stored embryos.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statute explicitly has retroactive effect. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/03\/06\/1235907160\/alabama-lawmakers-pass-ivf-immunity-legislation\"\u003ENPR reports\u003C\/a\u003E on the new law.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8098263080627447025"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8098263080627447025"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/alabama-passes-law-protecting-ivf.html","title":"Alabama Passes Law Protecting IVF Clinics from Liability"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3650004208957119967"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-07T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-07T07:05:00.136-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Same-sex marriage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"US Supreme Court"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Virginia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Virginia Legislature Passes Symbolic Bill Recognizing Same-Sex Marriages"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB174\"\u003Ehas until tomorrow\u003C\/a\u003E to decide whether or not to sign HB 174\/ SB 101 (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?241+ful+HB174ER+pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) which provides:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo person authorized by § 20-14 to issue a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. Such lawful marriages shall be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReligious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs reported by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/vadogwood.com\/2024\/02\/23\/va-dems-send-bill-protecting-same-sex-marriage-to-youngkins-desk\/\"\u003EDogwood\u003C\/a\u003E, the bill was introduced because of concern that the U.S. Supreme Court might overrule its caselaw protecting same-sex marriages. Even if the Governor signs the bill, its impact on same-sex marriages would only be symbolic since the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/constitution\/article1\/section15-A\/\"\u003EVirginia Constitution Sec. 15-A\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;prohibits recognition of same-sex marriages in the state and would take precedence over the statute if the U.S. Supreme Court returned the issue of recognition of same-sex marriages to the states.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3650004208957119967"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3650004208957119967"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/virginia-legislature-passes-symbolic.html","title":"Virginia Legislature Passes Symbolic Bill Recognizing Same-Sex Marriages"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8267148550385896509"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-07T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-07T07:00:00.153-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fraud"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mormon"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"9th Circuit Grants En Banc Rehearing in Huntsman's Suit Against LDS Church"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn an Order (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2024\/03\/01\/21-56056.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) issued March 1, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted to grant \u003Ci\u003Een banc\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;review in \u003Ci\u003EHuntsman v. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/i\u003EIn doing so, the Order vacates the decision of the 3-judge panel in the case in which James Huntsman, a prominent former member of the LDS Church who had contributed over $2.6 million to it, charged the Church with fraudulently misrepresenting the manner in which funds from tithes would be used. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/08\/9th-circuit-fraud-claim-against-lds.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) Arguments in the rehearing are set for June 24.\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.abc4.com\/news\/local-news\/high-profile-tithing-case-against-lds-church-set-to-be-reheard-in-june\/\"\u003EABC News 4\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the court's action.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8267148550385896509"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8267148550385896509"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/9th-circuit-grants-en-banc-rehearing-in.html","title":"9th Circuit Grants En Banc Rehearing in Huntsman's Suit Against LDS Church"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6796653171599356678"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-06T07:05:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-06T07:05:00.137-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Oregon"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Christian Organization Challenges Grant Rule Barring Religious Favoritism in Hiring"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed this week in an Oregon federal district court challenging an anti-discrimination rule of the Oregon Department of Education that disqualified a Christian youth-mentoring ministry from receiving $410,000 in grants for which it had initially been selected. The Christian group requires all of its board members, its 30 employees and 100+ volunteers to adhere to the organization's Statement of Faith. The Grant Program's rule bars grantees from favoring co-religionists as employees or volunteers. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/71FiveMinistriesComplaint.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EYourh 71Five Ministries v. Williams,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D OR, filed 3\/4\/2024), contends that the rule violates its Free Exercise and Free Expression rights, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause it emphasizes one-to-one mentoring and creating authentic, trusting relationships, 71Five Ministries depends on its staff and volunteers to fulfill the ministry’s distinctly Christian mission and purpose....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDefendants cannot disqualify otherwise eligible religious organizations from participation in otherwise available government benefit programs, including the Youth Community Investment Grant Program, “solely because of their religious character,”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/youth-71five-ministries-v-williams\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the filing of the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6796653171599356678"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6796653171599356678"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/christian-organization-challenges-grant.html","title":"Christian Organization Challenges Grant Rule Barring Religious Favoritism in Hiring"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8144967950100242071"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-06T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-06T07:00:00.344-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hate crimes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Michigan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Synagogue"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Man Sentenced To 1 Year + For Threatening Synagogue Shooting"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EAccording to a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-wdmi\/pr\/2024_0304_Pietila_Sentencing\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, on Monday a 20-year old Michigan man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, 3 years of supervised release and restitution payment of $10,648 for sending numerous Instagram messages threatening a mass shooting at an East Lansing, MI synagogue. Notes on defendant's cell phone indicated that he planned to commit suicide after the mass shooting.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8144967950100242071"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8144967950100242071"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/man-sentenced-to-1-year-for-threatening.html","title":"Man Sentenced To 1 Year + For Threatening Synagogue Shooting"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8594671953333352742"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:15:00.167-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"France"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"France Adds Abortion Rights to Its Constitution"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;As \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/france-abortion-right-constitution-parliament-vote-versailles-d6ce4fb3a6a7288033f58235b65f570e\"\u003Ereported by AP\u003C\/a\u003E, France's Parliament yesterday gave final approval to a Constitutional amendment that guarantees abortion rights:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe measure was approved in a 780-72 vote in the Palace of Versailles. Abortion enjoys wide support in France across most of the political spectrum, and has been legal since 1975....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth houses of France’s parliament, the National Assembly and Senate, had separately adopted a bill to amend Article 34 of the French Constitution, but the amendment needed final confirmation by a three-fifths majority in the special joint session. The measure specifies that “the law determines the conditions by which is exercised the freedom of women to have recourse to an abortion, which is guaranteed.”...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe government argued in its introduction to the bill that the right to abortion is threatened in the United States, where the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned a 50-year-old ruling that used to guarantee it....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8594671953333352742"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8594671953333352742"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/france-adds-abortion-rights-to-its.html","title":"France Adds Abortion Rights to Its Constitution"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-7577078127333419815"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:10:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:10:00.155-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Affordable Care Act"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"EEOC"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"HHS"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Christian Employers Protected from Requirement to Provide Insurance for Gender Transition Procedures"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-03\/ChristianEmployersAllianceOrderSummaryJudgment.pdf\"\u003EChristian Employers Alliance v. U.S. EEOC\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D ND, March 4, 2024), a North Dakota federal district court enjoined the Department of Health and Human Services from enforcing the Affordable Care Act, and the EEOC from enforcing Title\u0026nbsp; to require the Christian Employers Alliance or its present or future members to provide their employees insurance coverage for gender transition procedures. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [I]f CEA had to comply with these mandates, its members would have to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs which is an impermissible exercise under the First Amendment and RFRA. ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile protecting the right of transgender patients to access crucial healthcare and protecting workers from sex discrimination is certainly a compelling interest, the Defendants here have done nothing more than identify a broadly formulated interest in an attempt to justify the general applicability of the government mandates....\u0026nbsp; Even if the Court were to accept the Defendants’ purpose for the mandates as a compelling interest, the Defendants failed to provide any evidence showing this policy was the only feasible means to achieve its compelling interest....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/justthenews.com\/government\/courts-law\/court-rules-biden-admin-cant-make-religious-employers-healthcare-firms-cover?callback=in\u0026amp;code=OWEWZDVLMMUTZWNMOS0ZMDRKLTKWMMUTZGNKNJC2YTZIYJFL\u0026amp;state=0b74e3ef3ba441d8bac0254072aaea9a\"\u003EJust The News\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7577078127333419815"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7577078127333419815"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/christian-employers-protected-from.html","title":"Christian Employers Protected from Requirement to Provide Insurance for Gender Transition Procedures"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2681811113981983132"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:05:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-07T19:58:23.721-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Catholic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defamation"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Right Wing Catholic Website Will Close Down After Settling Defamation Lawsuit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wspa.com\/news\/national\/ap-us-news\/ap-catholic-news-site-church-militant-agrees-to-pay-500k-in-defamation-case-and-is-expected-to-close\/\"\u003EAP reports\u003C\/a\u003E on the imminent closing of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churchmilitant.com\/\"\u003EChurch Militant website\u003C\/a\u003E following the website's settlement of a defamation lawsuit.\u0026nbsp; According to AP:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA far-right, unofficial Catholic media website has agreed to pay $500,000 to a New Hampshire priest who sued for defamation over a 2019 article that it now disavows. The website also is planning to shut down soon, the priest’s attorney says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe apology by Church Militant [\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.churchmilitant.com\/news\/article\/smm-apology-to-fr-georges-de-laire\"\u003Efull text]\u003C\/a\u003E came after the organization agreed last week to a federal court judgment in favor of the Rev. Georges de Laire, an official with the Diocese of Manchester. This legal setback comes just months after its founder’s resignation over a breach of its morality clause.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“As part of the parties’ resolution, Church Militant has represented that it will be shutting down at the end of April,” attorney Howard Cooper of the Boston law firm Todd \u0026amp; Weld, which represented de Laire, said via email....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChurch Militant and its sleek newscasts drew a loyal following for years with a mix of fiercely right-wing politics and radically conservative Catholicism in which many of America’s bishops were viewed with suspicion and disgust. It “is not recognized as a Church apostolate” and lacks authorization to promote itself as Catholic, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit, in whose territory it is based....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe full \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.wspa.com\/news\/national\/ap-us-news\/ap-catholic-news-site-church-militant-agrees-to-pay-500k-in-defamation-case-and-is-expected-to-close\/\"\u003EAP article\u003C\/a\u003E has additional details.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUPDATE: On March 7, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.townandcountrytoday.com\/religion-news\/baltimore-to-pay-275k-in-legal-fees-after-trying-to-block-far-right-catholic-groups-2021-rally-8411504\"\u003EAP reports\u003C\/a\u003E that in the settlement of a lawsuit the city of Baltimore has agreed to pay $275,000 toward the legal fees incurred by\u0026nbsp;St. Michael's Media, the parent of Church Militant.\u0026nbsp; The suit successfully prevented the city from cancelling a protest rally against Catholic Bishops. (See prior posting.)\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2681811113981983132"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2681811113981983132"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/right-wing-catholic-website-will-close.html","title":"Right Wing Catholic Website Will Close Down After Settling Defamation Lawsuit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5486194556400903095"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-05T07:00:00.241-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Liberty University"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ministerial exception"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Certiorari Denied in Ministerial Exception Case"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EYesterday the U.S. Supreme Court denied review in two companion appeals, \u003Ci\u003EBowes v. Liberty University, Inc.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Docket No. 23-550) and \u003Ci\u003ELiberty University, Inc. v. Bowes\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Docket No. 23-703,\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;certiorari \u003C\/i\u003Edenied 3\/4\/2024) (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/orders\/courtorders\/030424zor_m648.pdf\"\u003EOrder List\u003C\/a\u003E.).\u0026nbsp; The three judges on the 4th Circuit panel deciding the case below each had a different view on application of the ministerial exception doctrine in this age discrimination case brought by a Liberty University art professor. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/07\/4th-circuit-panel-members-disagree-on.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) The case also posed other interpretive questions under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5486194556400903095"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5486194556400903095"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/certiorari-denied-in-ministerial.html","title":"Certiorari Denied in Ministerial Exception Case"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-687732316890974195"},"published":{"$t":"2024-03-04T07:10:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-03-04T07:10:00.177-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Forest Service"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Injunction"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Native Americans"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RFRA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"9th Circuit En Banc Refuses to Bar U.S. Transfer of Sacred Apache Site to Copper Mining Company"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2024\/03\/01\/21-15295.pdf\"\u003EApache Stronghold v. United States\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(9th Cir., March 1, 2024), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sitting \u003Ci\u003Een banc, \u003C\/i\u003Eby a vote of 6-5,\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Erefused to enjoin the government from\u0026nbsp;transferring to a copper mining company federally-owned forest land that is of significant spiritual value to the Western Apache Indians. The land sits on the third largest deposit of copper ore in the world. The case generated six separate opinions spanning 241 pages. The court's \u003Ci\u003Eper curiam\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eopinion summarizes the holding:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA majority of the en banc court ...concludes that (1) the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ... and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ... are interpreted uniformly; and (2) preventing access to religious exercise is an example of substantial burden.\u0026nbsp; A majority of the en banc court therefore overrules \u003Ci\u003ENavajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service\u003C\/i\u003E to the extent that it defined a “substantial burden” under RFRA as “imposed only when individuals are forced to choose between following the tenets of their religion and receiving a governmental benefit (\u003Ci\u003ESherbert\u003C\/i\u003E) or coerced to act contrary to their religious beliefs by the threat of civil or criminal sanctions (\u003Ci\u003EYoder\u003C\/i\u003E).”...\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA different majority ...concludes that (1) RFRA subsumes, rather than overrides, the outer limits that the Supreme Court’s decision in \u003Ci\u003ELyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Ass’n ...\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;places on what counts as a governmental imposition of a substantial burden on religious exercise; and (2) under \u003Ci\u003ELyng\u003C\/i\u003E, a disposition of government real property does not impose a substantial burden on religious exercise when it has “no tendency to coerce individuals into acting contrary to their religious beliefs,” does not “discriminate” against religious adherents, does not “penalize” them, and does not deny them “an equal share of the rights, benefits, and privileges enjoyed by other citizens.”... The same majority holds that Apache Stronghold’s claims under the Free Exercise Clause and RFRA fail under these \u003Ci\u003ELyng\u003C\/i\u003E-based standards and that the claims based on the 1852 Treaty fail for separate reasons.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe therefore AFFIRM the district court’s order denying the motion for a preliminary injunction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecket issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.becketlaw.org\/media\/breaking-federal-court-greenlights-destruction-of-oak-flat\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the decision and saying in part: \"With the help of Becket, Apache Stronghold has vowed to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.\" \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/world-nation\/story\/2024-03-02\/divided-9th-circuit-rejects-apache-religious-challenge-to-copper-mine-on-sacred-land\"\u003ELos Angeles Times\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/687732316890974195"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/687732316890974195"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/9th-circuit-en-banc-refuses-to-bar-us.html","title":"9th Circuit En Banc Refuses to Bar U.S. Transfer of Sacred Apache Site to Copper Mining Company"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]}]}});