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The move is an attempt to counter the new \"heartbeat\" abortion \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/supreme-court-5-4-refuses-to-enjoin.html\"\u003Erestrictions in Texas\u003C\/a\u003E. As reported by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kvue.com\/article\/news\/local\/texas\/satanic-temple-legal-challenge-to-texas-abortion-law\/269-6bf5ad34-5b30-4261-8e09-f36d3ababc9b\"\u003EKVUE News\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Satanic Temple argues its members should have access to the pills under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the same law that allows Native Americans to access peyote for use in rituals. SB 8 “imposes an undue burden on the ability of TST members to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual” within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, the group said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“I am sure Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton – who famously spends a good deal of his time composing press releases about religious liberty issues in other states – will be proud to see that Texas’s robust religious liberty laws, which he so vociferously champions, will prevent future Abortion Rituals from being interrupted by superfluous government restrictions meant only to shame and harass those seeking an abortion,” Satanic Temple spokesperson Lucien Greaves said in a statement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8466112737879494649"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8466112737879494649"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/satanic-temple-seeks-rfra-exemption.html","title":"Satanic Temple Seeks RFRA Exemption From Texas Abortion Restrictions"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-701101358450136089"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-06T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-06T07:05:00.631-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Biden Issues Rosh Hashanah Greetings"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ERosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins this evening at sundown. Yesterday President Biden issued a Statement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2021\/09\/05\/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-rosh-hashanah\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) extending holiday wishes from himself and Jill Biden to those celebrating the holiday. The statement reads in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERosh Hashanah is a reaffirmation that we are each endowed, by virtue of our Creator and our common humanity, with the ability to bridge the gap between the world we see and the world we seek.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn that effort, we’ve made significant progress, but much work remains. To protect ourselves and each other against a once-in-a-century virus. To rebuild an economy that provides opportunity for all Americans. To give hate no safe harbor, and speak out with clarity and conviction against antisemitism wherever and however it manifests. To reaffirm our ironclad bond with the State of Israel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/701101358450136089"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/701101358450136089"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/biden-issues-rosh-hashanah-greetings.html","title":"Biden Issues Rosh Hashanah Greetings"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3655823492340471403"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-06T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-06T07:00:00.640-04:00"},"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\u003EMarc O. DeGirolami, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3913228\"\u003EEstablishment's Political Priority to Free Exercise\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Notre Dame Law Review, forthcoming).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECameron M. Fathauer, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3913323\" style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003ELaw as Faith: The Metaphysical Dream for the Land of the Free\u003C\/a\u003E, (May 05, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERaphael Cohen-Almagor, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3900711\"\u003EIsrael as an Ethnic Democracy: Palestinian Citizens and the Fight for Equal Rights\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Berkley Forum 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJohn Paul Bongkiyi, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3915757\"\u003EAn Appropriate Approach to Conflict Resolution: The Situation in Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E (September 1, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPerry Dane, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3898265\"\u003ENew Orleans and Jerusalem: Sacred Energy, Sacred Space, and the Scattering of the Sparks. A D’var Torah on Parshat Re’eh\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E (August 2, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGreer Donley \u0026amp; Jill Wieber Lens, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3914294\"\u003ESecond-Trimester Abortion Dangertalk\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Boston College Law Review, Vol. 62, Forthcoming).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBenjamin Eidelson, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3915787\"\u003EDimensional Disparate Treatment\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Harvard Public Law Working Paper, Sept. 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMuhammad Nazmul Hoque, Jamaliah Said \u0026amp; Abu Umar Faruq Ahmad, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3209775\"\u003EMoney Laundering from Maqāsid Al-Sharī‘Ah Perspective with Particular Reference to Preservation of Wealth (Hifz Al-Mal)\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E (March 7, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/home.heinonline.org\/content\/current-index-to-legal-periodicals\/\"\u003ESmartCILP\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJonathan C, Augustine, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cpilj.law.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2515\/2020\/06\/A-Theology-of-Welcome-Faith-Based-Considerations-of-Immigrants-as-Strangers-in-a-Foreign-Land-by-Jonathan-C.-Augustine.pdf\"\u003EA Theology of Welcome: Faith-Based Considerations of Immigrants as Strangers in a Foreign Land\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E19 Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal 245-270 (2020).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3655823492340471403"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3655823492340471403"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/recent-articles-of-interest.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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4860592695057603748"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-04T21:22:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-04T21:22:44.699-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Freedom of association"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ministerial exception"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"North Carolina"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RFRA"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Same-sex marriage"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Catholic High School Liable Under Title VII For Firing Gay Teacher"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/north-carolina\/ncwdce\/3:2017cv00011\/86054\/69\/0.pdf?ts=1630748285\"\u003EBillard v. Charlotte Catholic High School\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(WD NC, Sept. 3, 2021), a North Carolina federal district court held that a Catholic high school is liable under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act for firing a substitute drama teacher after he entered a gay marriage and stated on Facebook his disagreement with Catholic teaching on marriage. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder \u003Ci\u003EBostock\u003C\/i\u003E, this Court finds that Plaintiff has raised a valid Title VII sex discrimination claim.... Defendants cannot escape Title VII liability by recharacterizing Plaintiff’s announcement of his engagement as “advocacy.” If Plaintiff were a woman who posted on Facebook that she was getting married to her husband, Defendants would not have interpreted her announcement as “advocacy” for or against the Catholic Church. Plaintiff’s engagement was only considered advocacy because of his sex.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court went on to reject several defenses that were raised: the religious organization exemption in Title VII; the ministerial exception doctrine; the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; and 1st Amendment freedom of association.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4860592695057603748"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4860592695057603748"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/catholic-high-school-liable-under-title.html","title":"Catholic High School Liable Under Title VII For Firing Gay Teacher"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6940933747889448218"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-03T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-03T07:05:00.491-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"President Biden Speaks to Rabbis Ahead of Jewish High Holidays"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EYesterday President Biden spoke for 15 minutes (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/speeches-remarks\/2021\/09\/02\/remarks-by-president-biden-in-virtual-call-for-the-jewish-high-holidays\/\"\u003Efull text of remarks\u003C\/a\u003E) in a teleconference for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays which begin Monday evening. The virtual call was sponsored by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Rabbinical Council of America, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. Biden's wide-ranging remarks included the following:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI used to think coming out of the Civil Rights Movement and being involved in the Jewish community as a kid ... that hate could be defeated, it could be wiped out.\u0026nbsp; But I learned a long time ago, it can’t.\u0026nbsp; It only hides.\u0026nbsp; It hides.\u0026nbsp; It hides under the rocks.\u0026nbsp; And given any oxygen at all, it comes out.\u0026nbsp; It’s a minority view, but it comes out and it comes out raging.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd it’s been given too much oxygen in the last 4, 5, 7, 10 years.... I remember spending time at the ... Tree of Life Synagogue.... [T]he attack in Pittsburgh, ... — all anti-Semitic attacks — aren’t just a strike against the Jewish community; they’re a strike against the soul of our nation and the values which we say we stand for.\u0026nbsp; No matter its source or stated rationale, we have to and will condemn this prejudice at every turn, alongside other forms of hate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6940933747889448218"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6940933747889448218"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/president-biden-speaks-to-rabbis-ahead.html","title":"President Biden Speaks to Rabbis Ahead of Jewish High Holidays"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2664956782921977790"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-03T07:00:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-03T07:00:00.495-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"District of Columbia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Suit By Anti-Abortion Protesters Seeking To Chalk Slogan On DC Streets Is Dismissed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov\/cgi-bin\/show_public_doc?2020cv3346-36\"\u003EFrederick Douglass Foundation, Inc. v. District of Columbia\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DC, Sept. 1, 2021), the D.C. federal district court faced on a motion to dismiss the nearly identical questions that it decided \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/03\/anti-abortion-protesters-lose-challenge.html\"\u003Ein the case in March\u003C\/a\u003E when it denied a preliminary injunction to anti-abortion protesters who wished to paint or chalk D.C. streets with the slogan \"Black Pre-Born Lives Matter.\" Now the court dismissed plaintiffs' claims that enforcing ordinances prohibiting the defacing property against them but not against racial-justice protesters violated their free exercise and free speech rights. Discussing plaintiffs' RFRA claim, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaking as true ... allegations that the individual Plaintiffs hold religious beliefs about abortion that motivate their organizing and other activities, Plaintiffs still do not allege any facts to support the claim that painting or chalking the street is needed to express those beliefs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving to plaintiffs' 1st Amendment free exercise claim, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs with their RFRA claim, the individual Plaintiffs allege only that they “share sincerely held religious beliefs” about the preciousness of life and “engage in pro-life advocacy and witness as part of” those beliefs.... Taken as true, this statement does not establish that the inability to paint or chalk substantially burdened their religious exercise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2664956782921977790"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2664956782921977790"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/suit-by-anti-abortion-protesters.html","title":"Suit By Anti-Abortion Protesters Seeking To Chalk Slogan On DC Streets Is Dismissed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1333639380037949971"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-02T12:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-02T12:00:04.154-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Biden Criticizes Supreme Court's Decision On Texas Abortion Ban; Directs Federal Response"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EToday President Biden issued a Statement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2021\/09\/02\/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-supreme-court-ruling-on-texas-law-sb8\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) critical of last night's Supreme Court decision refusing to block Texas' heartbeat abortion law. Biden said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy allowing a law to go into effect that empowers private citizens in Texas to sue health care providers, family members supporting a woman exercising her right to choose after six weeks, or even a friend who drives her to a hospital or clinic, it unleashes unconstitutional chaos and empowers self-anointed enforcers to have devastating impacts. Complete strangers will now be empowered to inject themselves in the most private and personal health decisions faced by women....\u0026nbsp;For the majority to do this without a hearing, without the benefit of an opinion from a court below, and without due consideration of the issues, insults the rule of law and the rights of all Americans to seek redress from our courts....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... I am directing that Council and the Office of the White House Counsel to launch a whole-of-government effort to respond to this decision, looking specifically to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to see what steps the Federal Government can take to ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions as protected by Roe, and what legal tools we have to insulate women and providers from the impact of Texas’ bizarre scheme of outsourced enforcement to private parties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1333639380037949971"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1333639380037949971"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/biden-criticizes-supreme-courts.html","title":"Biden Criticizes Supreme Court's Decision On Texas Abortion Ban; Directs Federal Response"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-7418432377712420259"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-02T09:17:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-02T09:17:37.158-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Texas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"US Supreme Court"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Supreme Court, 5-4, Refuses To Enjoin Texas Heartbeat Abortion Ban"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Supreme Court yesterday in a 5-4 decision refused to prevent Texas' heartbeat abortion law (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/tlodocs\/87R\/billtext\/pdf\/SB00008F.pdf#navpanes=0\"\u003ES.B. 8\u003C\/a\u003E) from continuing in effect while its constitutionality is being litigated. The law bans abortions if the physician has detected a fetal heartbeat-- usually at around 6 weeks of a pregnancy. An unusual provision in the law allows it to be enforced only through civil actions by individuals, and not by state officials. The unsigned majority opinion in \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnn\/2021\/images\/09\/02\/21a24.pdf\"\u003EWhole Woman's Health v. Jackson\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(US Sup. Ct., Sept. 1, 2021) states in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe applicants now before us have raised serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the Texas law at issue. But their application also presents complex and novel antecedent procedural questions on which they have not carried their burden. For example ... it is unclear whether the named defendants in this lawsuit can or will seek to enforce the Texas law against the applicants in a manner that might permit our intervention...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[T]his order is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas’s law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChief Justice Roberts filed a dissenting opinion joined by Justices Breyer and Kagan, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe statutory scheme before the Court is not only unusual, but unprecedented. The legislature has imposed a prohibition on abortions after roughly six weeks, and then essentially delegated enforcement of that prohibition to the populace at large. The desired consequence appears to be to insulate the State from responsibility for implementing and enforcing the regulatory regime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe State defendants argue that they cannot be restrained from enforcing their rules because they do not enforce them in the first place. I would grant preliminary relief to preserve the status quo ante—before the law went into effect—so that the courts may consider whether a state can avoid responsibility for its laws in such a manner....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJustice Breyer, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI recognize that Texas’s law delegates the State’s power to prevent abortions not to one person (such as a district attorney) or to a few persons (such as a group of government officials or private citizens) but to any person. But I do not see why that fact should make a critical legal difference. That delegation still threatens to invade a constitutional right, and the coming into effect of that delegation still threatens imminent harm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJustice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Breyer and Kagan, filed a dissenting opinion, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Court’s order is stunning. Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJustice Kagan, joined by Justices Breyer and Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday’s ruling illustrates just how far the Court’s “shadow-docket” decisions may depart from the usual principles of appellate process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/09\/02\/politics\/texas-abortion-supreme-court-sb8-roe-wade\/index.html\"\u003ECNN\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\/7418432377712420259"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7418432377712420259"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/supreme-court-5-4-refuses-to-enjoin.html","title":"Supreme Court, 5-4, Refuses To Enjoin Texas Heartbeat Abortion Ban"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8302157407777998238"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-02T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-02T07:05:00.547-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VI"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Mask Mandate Did Not Violate Jewish Student's Rights"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/21053446-zinman-v-nova-southeastern-univ\"\u003EZinman v. Nova Southeastern University, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SD FL, Aug. 30, 2021), a Florida federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing a suit by a law student against his law school and several other defendants challenging on religious grounds COVID-related mask mandates. The court described plaintiff's claim:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiff, who is Jewish, contends that the mask mandates require actions that run contrary to his religious beliefs. Specifically, he alleges that Judaism prohibits idolatry ... and that complying with mask mandates would be tantamount to worshiping false idols – i.e., the “so-called\u0026nbsp; ‘experts’ who claim to be able to save lives if people simply obey their commands without question.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe magistrate judge ruled that Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act only covers discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, and does not cover religious discrimination. He went on:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven if the Court were to assume that one’s race or national origin can be “Jewish” for purposes of a Title VI claim, Plaintiff fails to include factual allegations to show that Nova’s mask mandate was discriminatory from a racial or national origin perspective. That is because Plaintiff implies that the issue with the mask mandate is that compliance with it is tantamount to worshiping false idols, and that it is impermissible for Jewish people to worship idols.... However, this issue pertains to a religious belief, not a racial characteristic. If the Court were to accept Plaintiff’s argument, then one who discriminates against a Jewish person would automatically be liable for discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin, without any regard to what the nature of the discriminatory act was. Such a broad and overgeneralized position, however, is untenable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe magistrate also concluded that plaintiff's free exercise rights were not violated because the mask mandates were neutral and generally applicable requirements that are subject only to rational basis review. He also found no free speech violation, saying in part: \"neither wearing or not wearing a mask is inherently expressive.\"\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8302157407777998238"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8302157407777998238"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/mask-mandate-did-not-violate-jewish.html","title":"Mask Mandate Did Not Violate Jewish Student's 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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6047501998787009497"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-02T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-02T07:00:00.605-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Chaplains"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Protestant"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"US Navy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Navy Chaplain's Claim Dismissed On Res Judicata Grounds"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/virginia\/vaedce\/2:2019cv00095\/405477\/81\/0.pdf?ts=1630403029\"\u003ELancaster v. Secretary of the Navy\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ED VA, Aug. 30, 2021), a Virginia federal district court dismissed on \u003Ci\u003Eres judicata\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;grounds a suit by a former Navy chaplain (now deceased) who claims that his failure to receive a promotion in rank resulted from retaliation, hostility and prejudice toward non-liturgical Protestant chaplains. The court concluded that plaintiff's claims were previously adjudicated in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2018\/08\/protestant-navy-chaplains-lose.html\"\u003E2018 decision\u003C\/a\u003E in \u003Ci\u003EIn re Navy Chaplaincy.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6047501998787009497"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6047501998787009497"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/navy-chaplains-claim-dismissed-on-res.html","title":"Navy Chaplain's Claim Dismissed On Res Judicata Grounds"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1961471229528813473"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:15:00.023-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-01T08:28:01.430-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"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":"Health Care"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Suit Claims Mask Mandates Violate Free Exercise Rights and Establishment Clause"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a wide-ranging 128-page complaint, a woman who alleges that her medical conditions make it dangerous for her to wear a face mask filed suit in an Indiana federal district court earlier this month against 16 separate defendants challenging the legality of COVID- related mandates or recommendations to wear cloth face masks. Defendants include the CDC, the FDA, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governor of Indiana, state and local health departments, local officials and several private businesses. Among the numerous challenges, the complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/cpmf65ki5t4v8pk\/bb850a80-0ffb-402e-9f9e-cef4b5c213aa.pdf?dl=0\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EReinoehl v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ND IN, filed 8\/18\/2021), includes these state and federal free exercise and federal Establishment Clause claims:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E418. Non-medical masks have been used since ancient times in pagan religious ceremonies to ward of evil spirits and prevent illness....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E421. Wearing talismans and other pagan, non-medical masks is against Plaintiff's religious beliefs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E422. Mandating everyone wear non-medical masks to prevent disease when the mask manufacturers cannot make claims they prevent disease transmission is the same as the State establishing a religion in which the Mask Deity prevents its wearers from becoming infected with disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E423. The State cannot mandate the Plaintiff follows its religion. Plaintiff has the right to freely exercise her religion according to the dictates of her own conscience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/friendlyatheist.patheos.com\/2021\/08\/30\/christian-woman-sues-cdc-dr-fauci-krispy-kreme-and-others-over-mask-mandates\/?utm_source=dlvr.it\u0026amp;utm_medium=twitter\"\u003EFriendly Atheist\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;blog has more on the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, elsewhere in the country novel religious freedom arguments are being asserted to avoid mask mandates.\u0026nbsp; According to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fox47news.com\/neighborhoods\/mason-leslie\/mason-mother-asks-school-district-for-religious-exemption-to-mask-mandate-district-says-no\"\u003EFox47 News\u003C\/a\u003E, a Mason, Michigan mother is seeking a religious exemption from a school mask requirement for her children based on a verse from\u0026nbsp;2 Corinthians, Chap. 3: \"But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed...\"\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1961471229528813473"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1961471229528813473"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/suit-claims-mask-mandates-violate-free.html","title":"Suit Claims Mask Mandates Violate Free Exercise Rights and Establishment Clause"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-390205305435536802"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:10:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-01T19:51:49.357-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Michigan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"TRO Requires University Soccer Team To Grant Religious Exemptions From Vaccine Mandate"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.greatlakesjc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Amended-Order-Granting-TRO-WMU.pdf\"\u003EDahl v. Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(WD MI, (Aug. 31, 2021), a Michigan federal district court issued a temporary restraining order requiring the University to grant religious exemptions from its COVID vaccine requirement to four members of the women's soccer team. The university had previously denied the students' exemption requests. The 14-day TRO was issued on the basis of an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.greatlakesjc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Motion-for-TRO-WMU-FILED.pdf\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Eex parte\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;motion\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the record before this Court, and understanding that WMU has not been afforded an opportunity to response, WMU’s vaccination requirement for student athletes is not justified by a compelling interest and is not narrowly tailored.... WMU has asserted that it has a compelling reason, albeit in a perfunctory manner. WMU appears to conclude that unvaccinated players pose a risk to the health of the vaccinated players.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGreat Lakes Justice Center issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.greatlakesjc.org\/press-release-dahl_v_wmu-2\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the decision, and providing\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.greatlakesjc.org\/cases\/dahl_v_wmu\/\"\u003Elinks\u003C\/a\u003E to pleadings in the case.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/390205305435536802"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/390205305435536802"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/tro-requires-university-soccer-team-to.html","title":"TRO Requires University Soccer Team To Grant Religious Exemptions From Vaccine Mandate"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3602625110353280710"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:05:00.578-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Conversion therapy"},{"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":"Washington"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Washington Conversion Therapy Ban Upheld"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/washington\/wawdce\/3:2021cv05359\/299341\/47\/0.pdf?ts=1630423602\"\u003ETingley v. Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(WD WA, Aug. 30, 2021), a Washington federal district court dismissed First Amendment challenges by a family therapist to a Washington state statute that prohibits licensed counselors in treating minors from engaging in \"conversion therapy\" aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity. The court held that performing conversion therapy is \"conduct\", not speech. According to the court, the law still allows therapists to discuss the option of conversion therapy by someone else-- including someone within the exception for practitioners operating under the auspices of religious organizations. The court also rejected plaintiff's religious free exercise argument, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[T]he object of the Conversion Law is not to infringe upon or restrict practices \u003Ci\u003Ebecause\u003C\/i\u003E of their religious motivation.... Plaintiff is free to express and exercise his religious beliefs; he is merely prohibited from engaging in a specific type of conduct while acting as a counselor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3602625110353280710"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3602625110353280710"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/washington-conversion-therapy-ban-upheld.html","title":"Washington Conversion Therapy Ban 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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1760444864861018635"},"published":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-09-01T07:00:00.578-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Donald Trump"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Former Trump White House Staffers Forming New Faith-Based Initiative"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/forward.com\/fast-forward\/474867\/former-trump-administration-officials-launch-new-faith-based-outreach\/?utm_source=Iterable\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_campaign=campaign_2794867\"\u003EForward\u003C\/a\u003E reports that on Thursday two former Trump-Administration White House staffers will launch the\u0026nbsp;National Faith Advisory Board, a faith-based outreach initiative.\u0026nbsp;Jenny Korn and Amanda Robbins Vargo, who worked in the Trump White House Office of Public Liaison, are co-founders of the new organization which is modeled on Trump's Faith and Opportunity Initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1760444864861018635"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1760444864861018635"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/09\/former-trump-white-house-staffers.html","title":"Former Trump White House Staffers Forming New Faith-Based Initiative"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4863794111182212157"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-31T11:58:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-31T11:58:03.666-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Texas"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Supreme Court Asked To Prevent Texas Heartbeat Abortion Ban From Taking Effect Sept. 1"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EYesterday several abortion providers filed an Emergency Application (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/21\/21A24\/189841\/20210830120232143_WWH%20v%20Jackson%20-%20emergency%20application%20with%20appendix.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;of Application in \u003Ci\u003EWhole Woman's Health v. Jackson,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(US Sup. Ct., filed 8\/30\/2021)) with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to prevent \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/05\/texas-passes-heartbeat-abortion-law.html\"\u003ETexas S.B. 8\u003C\/a\u003E from going into effect on Sept. 1. The Texas law bans performing or inducing an abortion if the physician has detected a fetal heartbeat. This often occurs at 6 weeks of pregnancy. The law also allows any private person to bring a civil action against a physician who has violated the statute, and against anyone who knowingly aids or abets the abortion. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/2021\/08\/abortion-providers-ask-court-to-block-texas-ban-on-abortion-beginning-at-six-weeks-of-pregnancy\/\"\u003ESCOTUSblog\u003C\/a\u003E has more on the case.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4863794111182212157"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4863794111182212157"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/supreme-court-asked-to-prevent-texas.html","title":"Supreme Court Asked To Prevent Texas Heartbeat Abortion Ban From Taking Effect Sept. 1"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3263755342399754644"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-31T10:47:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-31T10:47:53.282-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hate crimes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"FBI Releases Hate Crime Statistics For 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EYesterday the FBI \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/news\/pressrel\/press-releases\/fbi-releases-2020-hate-crime-statistics\"\u003Ereleased\u003C\/a\u003E its report on \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov\/pages\/explorer\/crime\/hate-crime\"\u003EHate Crime Statistics 2020\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E. According to the FBI:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere were 7,554 single-bias incidents involving 10,528 victims. A percent distribution of victims by bias type shows that 61.9% of victims were targeted because of the offenders’ race\/ethnicity\/ancestry bias, 20.5% were victimized because of the offenders’ sexual-orientation bias, 13.4% were targeted because of the offenders’ religious bias, 2.5% were targeted because of the offenders’ gender identity bias, 1% were victimized because of the offenders’ disability bias, and 0.7% were victimized because of the offenders’ gender bias.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere were 205 multiple-bias hate crime incidents that involved 333 victims.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/attorney-general-garland-issues-statement-2020-fbi-hate-crimes-united-states-statistics\"\u003Estatement\u003C\/a\u003E, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year saw a 6.1% increase in hate crime reports, and in particular, hate crimes motivated by race, ethnicity and ancestry, and by gender identity. These numbers confirm what we have already seen and heard from communities, advocates and law enforcement agencies around the country. And these numbers do not account for the many hate crimes that go unreported.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/08\/30\/fbi-says-hate-crimes-against-asian-and-black-people-rise-in-the-us.html\"\u003ECNBC\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the data.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3263755342399754644"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3263755342399754644"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/fbi-releases-hate-crime-statistics-for.html","title":"FBI Releases Hate Crime Statistics For 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3210986591835936138"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:10:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:10:00.523-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Department of Education"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"EEOC"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"LGBT rights"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title IX"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"20 State AG's Sue Feds Over LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Interpretations"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EA 20-state coalition led by Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slattery filed suit in a Tennessee federal district court challenging interpretations of anti-discrimination laws by the Department of Education and the EEOC. In response to an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/01\/biden-issues-executive-order-calling.html\"\u003EExecutive Order\u003C\/a\u003E issued by President Biden, these two agencies issued interpretations protecting against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/content\/dam\/tn\/attorneygeneral\/documents\/pr\/2021\/pr21-31-complaint.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EState of\u0026nbsp; Tennessee v. U.S. Department of Education,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ED TN, filed 8\/30\/2021), contends in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[T]he Department of Education ... and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ..., each flouting procedural requirements in their rush to overreach, issued “interpretations” of federal antidiscrimination law far beyond what the statutory text, regulatory requirements, judicial precedent, and the Constitution permit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe relief requested by plaintiffs particularly focuses on concerns over transgender rights under Title VII and Title IX.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETennessee's Attorney General issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tn.gov\/attorneygeneral\/news\/2021\/8\/30\/pr21-31.html\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the filing of the lawsuit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3210986591835936138"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3210986591835936138"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/20-state-ags-sue-feds-over-lgbtq-anti.html","title":"20 State AG's Sue Feds Over LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Interpretations"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3914668793818826314"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:05:00.546-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religion in schools"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Virginia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Virginia Supreme Court Sides With Teacher Who Spoke Against School's Transgender Policy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/CrossOrderVSC.pdf\"\u003ELouden County School Board v. Cross\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(VA Sup. Ct., Aug. 30, 2021), the Virginia Supreme Court upheld a preliminary injunction issued by a trial court in a suit by a teacher who had been suspended because of his remarks at a school board meeting. Tanner Cross, an elementary school physical education teacher, at a school board meeting spoke in opposition to a proposed policy on transgender students which, among other things, required school staff to use a student's chosen name and gender pronouns. Cross told the board, in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI’m a teacher but I serve God first. And I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it is against my religion. It’s lying to a child. It’s abuse to a child. And it’s sinning against our God.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Supreme Court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe only disruption the Defendants can point to is that a tiny minority of parents requested that Cross not interact with their children. However, the Defendants identify no case in which such a nominal actual or expected disturbance justified restricting speech as constitutionally valued as Cross’ nor have they attempted to explain why immediate suspension and restricted access to further Board meetings was the proportional or rational response to addressing the concerns of so few parents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/cross-v-loudoun-county-school-board\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3914668793818826314"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3914668793818826314"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/virginia-supreme-court-sides-with.html","title":"Virginia Supreme Court Sides With Teacher Who Spoke Against School's Transgender Policy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6429485204319414194"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-31T07:00:00.618-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Catholic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Immigration"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Texas"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Texas Governor's Order Invalid; Catholic Charities Can Continue Work With Migrants"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/21052017-united-states-v-state-of-texas\"\u003EUnited States v. State of Texas\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(WD TX, Aug. 26, 2021), a Texas federal district court held unconstitutional on Supremacy Clause grounds Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Executive Order which prohibits, during the COVID pandemic, anyone except federal, state or local law enforcement officials from providing transportation to migrants who have been detained for crossing the border illegally or are subject to expulsion. The Order directs the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to stop any vehicle suspected to be in violation of this Order and send it back to its point of origin if a violation is confirmed. The court concluded that enforcement of the Order would require state officials to decide whether a person has been detained for crossing the border illegally. It went on:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the Order authorizes DPS agents to make and act on immigration determinations, the province of federal law, it is facially invalid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/thetablet.org\/judge-blocks-texas-order-on-immigrants-allows-catholic-charities-to-work\/\"\u003EThe Tablet\u003C\/a\u003E, this decision allows Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and other organizations to continue their work with migrants.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6429485204319414194"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6429485204319414194"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/texas-governors-order-invalid-catholic.html","title":"Texas Governor's Order Invalid; Catholic Charities Can Continue Work With Migrants"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6772254102347948516"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:15:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:15:00.534-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Afghanistan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sharia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"United Nations"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Women's rights"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"UN Human Rights Official Calls For Taliban To Allow Equal Education For Women and End Child Marriage"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ELast week (Aug. 24), \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/Issues\/Women\/SRWomen\/pages\/reem-alsalem-bio.aspx\"\u003EReem Alsalem\u003C\/a\u003E, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, issued a lengthy statement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27402\u0026amp;LangID=E\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in response to an Aug. 17 news conference by Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.\u0026nbsp; The Taliban stated that\u0026nbsp;women could work and girls could go to school \"as long as such activities are in accordance with Sharia law.\" Alsalem said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the \u003Ci\u003EQuran\u003C\/i\u003E, no one has the right to impose religion, including religious law, on anyone else (verse 2:256).\u0026nbsp; This egalitarian approach to religious authority has found expression in the rich plurality and diversity of religious understanding and schools of jurisprudence (\u003Ci\u003Emadhahib\u003C\/i\u003E) which we have until today. Notably, women, like men also have an equal right and responsibility to interpret Sharia. It would be important that this rich diverse heritage would be allowed to continue all over the Muslim World, including in Afghanistan....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;principles of justice and equality between the sexes mean that women and girls are entitled to seeking and accessing education on an equal footing as men. The first verses of the Quran that were revealed to the Prophet commanded all human beings, both man and woman to \"learn\" (Iqra') (verses 96:1-5) and to seek knowledge (verses 16:78; 17:85, and 20:114)....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs reports have been recently resurfaced of increased forced marriages, including child marriages, it is important to underline that for a Muslim marriage contract to be valid it needs to fulfill several requirements – key being that both individuals give their free consent....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIslamic jurisprudence on this is clear: All marriages must be carried out by mature individuals who have the mental, legal, intellectual, and physical capacity to give consent. This requirement means that child marriages are by definition null and void. In essence, a forced marriage is equivalent to rape, which is an abhorrent crime that is strictly forbidden in Islamic law and considered as hiraba (unlawful societal warfare), and for which the prescribed punishments are severe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6772254102347948516"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6772254102347948516"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/un-human-rights-official-calls-for.html","title":"UN Human Rights Official Calls For Taliban To Allow Equal Education For Women and End Child Marriage"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4740550486191450934"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:10:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:10:00.528-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Health Care"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RFRA"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Another Challenge To Ban On Transgender Discrimination In Health Care"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ELast week, the American College of Pediatricians, the Catholic Medical Association and an individual physician filed suit in a Tennessee federal district court challenging as a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as well as of free speech and freedom of association protections, rules and interpretations of the Affordable Care Act that prohibit discrimination by medical providers on the basis of gender identity. The Obama Administration originally adopted the prohibition; the Trump Administration reversed the prohibition; and the Biden Administration returned to the discrimination ban.\u0026nbsp; In the meantime, challenges proceeded through the courts. Now, the complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/AmericanCollegeOfPediatriciansComplaint.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EAmerican College of Pediatricians v. Becerra, \u003C\/i\u003E(ED TN, filed 8\/26\/2021), alleges in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo courts have already recognized that this mandate is illegal and enjoined it in favor of plaintiffs in those cases. \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/court-enjoins-requirement-that.html\"\u003EFranciscan Alliance, Inc. v. Becerra\u003C\/a\u003E...;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/01\/transgender-health-care-mandate.html\"\u003EReligious Sisters of Mercy v. Azar\u003C\/a\u003E....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003EBut both injunctions protect only the plaintiffs in those cases, not the plaintiffs or their members here.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/american-college-pediatricians-v-becerra\"\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\/4740550486191450934"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4740550486191450934"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/another-challenge-to-ban-on-transgender.html","title":"Another Challenge To Ban On Transgender Discrimination In Health Care"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8368720520654387378"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:05:00.657-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Articles of interest"}],"title":{"type":"text","$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\u003EMarc Spindelman, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3912127\"\u003EJustice Gorsuch's Choice: From Bostock v. Clayton County to Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, (13 ConLawNOW 11 (2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESherif Girgis, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3912126\"\u003EDefining \"Substantial Burdens\" on Religion and Other Liberties,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E(August 26, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVeena Roshan Jose, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3898733\"\u003EBracketing Liberty for the Public Health Cause\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; (Lexgentia Law Journal of Llyod Law College 2020).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGregory S. Gordon, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3910178\"\u003EOn the Early Release of the “Rwandan Goebbels”: American Free Speech Exceptionalism and the Ghost of the Nuremberg-Tokyo Commutations\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(in\u0026nbsp;Morten Bergsmo, Mark Klamberg, Kjersti Lohne and Christopher B. Mahony (eds.), Power in International Criminal Justice, Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher, Brussels, 2020).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKim D. Ricardo, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3910637\"\u003EWas Justice Ginsburg Roe-ght?: Reimagining U.S. Abortion Discourse in the Wake of Argentina’s Marea Verde\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E (August 15, 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMaria Marais, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3897669\"\u003EA Duty Perspective on the Hate Speech Prohibition in the Equality Act\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(PER \/ PELJ 2021(24)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJohn Rice, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3910200\"\u003EThe Road to Bostock\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(FIU Law Review,\u0026nbsp; 2021).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lib.law.washington.edu\/cilp\/scilp.html\"\u003ESmartCILP\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBrett Geier \u0026amp; Ann E. Blankenship-Knox, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/scholarship.law.campbell.edu\/clr\/vol42\/iss1\/2\/\"\u003EWhen Speech Is Your Stock in Trade: What Kennedy v. Bremerton School District Reveals about the Future of Employee Speech and Religion Jurisprudence\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, 42 Campbell Law Review 31-80 (2020).\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\/8368720520654387378"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8368720520654387378"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/recent-articles-of-interest_02080977324.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$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2188786987524138964"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:00:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-30T07:00:00.558-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Catholic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Massachusetts"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Denial Of Religious Exemption From Vaccine Mandate OK'd"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/21051018-harris-v-university-of-massachusetts?responsive=1\u0026amp;title=1\"\u003EHarris v. University of Massachusetts\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D MA, Aug. 27, 2021), a Massachusetts federal district court rejected student Cora Cluett's objections to the manner in which her request for a religious exemption from the school's COVID-19 vaccine requirement was handled. According to the court:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[Student Affairs Vice Chancellor DeVeau] denied her appeal, since he determined from the substance of her request that she was Roman Catholic and concluded from his research that the COVID-19 vaccine would not violate tenets of that faith.... In interpreting Cluett’s faith to be Roman Catholic, De Veau stated “[i]f this is incorrect, please let me know.”... De Veau then cited a statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that receiving the COVID-19 vaccines was “morally justified.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court held first that insofar as plaintiff was asserting state law claims against state officials, these are barred by the 11th Amendment because \u003Ci\u003EEx parte Young\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;only creates an exception for federal constitutional claims. As to Cluett's 1st Amendment Free Exercise claims, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... UMass is under no constitutional obligation to offer a religious exemption to its Vaccine Requirement. See \u003Ci\u003ENikolao v. Lyon\u003C\/i\u003E, 875 F.3d 310, 316 (6th Cir. 2017) ....\u0026nbsp; Certainly, once the university offers religious exemptions, it must not administer them in an unconstitutional way.... Here, however, Cluett has not alleged anything to suggest that Defendants have administered their religious exemption policy in a way that burdens some religions but not others, ... or that Defendants have coerced her in her religious practices....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2188786987524138964"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2188786987524138964"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/denial-of-religious-exemption-from.html","title":"Denial Of Religious Exemption From Vaccine Mandate OK'd"}],"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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8203663471992319240"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-29T12:03:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-29T12:03:15.824-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"African Methodist Episcopal Church"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Church disputes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ecclesiastical abstention"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ministerial exception"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pennsylvania"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Bishop's Suit for Indemnification Dismissed On Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/georgia\/gandce\/1:2020cv04711\/283770\/31\/0.pdf?ts=1630143463\"\u003EKawimbe v. The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc\u003C\/a\u003E.,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ND GA, Aug. 27, 2028), a Georgia federal district court dismissed a suit by the Bishop of a church district covering part of South Africa.\u0026nbsp; The bishop's suit sought indemnification from the Church (a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation) for his successful defense before a church tribunal of charges bought against him by a minister in South Africa. The court held that the suit is not precluded by the ministerial exception doctrine because \"the Church’s decision to deny Kawimbe indemnification does not implicate its right to select its ministers.\" The court concluded however that the suit should be dismissed under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder Pennsylvania law, if a representative of a non-profit corporation succeeds on the merits in an action or proceeding brought against him “by reason of” his representative status, the non-profit corporation must indemnify him...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo determine whether Kawimbe is or was a representative of the Church, the Court would be required to scrutinize “the composition of [the Church and AMEC’s] hierarchy,” including the nature of Kawimbe’s role as a bishop, which are matters of “core ecclesiastical concern.”...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[T]o determine whether the internal proceeding was brought “by reason of” Kawimbe’s role as a representative of the Church, the Court would have to consider the responsibilities and powers given to Kawimbe in his role as bishop and whether the accusations against him involved those responsibilities and powers. This inquiry would necessarily entangle the Court in matters of church governance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8203663471992319240"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8203663471992319240"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/bishops-suit-for-indemnification.html","title":"Bishop's Suit for Indemnification Dismissed On Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4300182475159618678"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-27T16:17:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-27T16:17:26.336-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cockfighting"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Louisiana"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ban On Cockfighting Does Not Violate Pastor's Free Exercise Rights"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/louisiana\/lamdce\/3:2020cv00361\/57621\/39\/0.pdf?ts=1630057708\"\u003EPlumbar v. Landry\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(MD LA, Aug. 26, 2021), a Louisiana federal district court rejected a free exercise challenge to Louisiana's ban on cockfighting. Plaintiff who challenged the law was pastor of Holy Fight Ministries, a church that believes cockfighting is an essential part of its faith.\u0026nbsp; The court held that the ban is a neutral, generally applicable statute whose purpose is to prevent animal cruelty.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4300182475159618678"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4300182475159618678"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2021\/08\/ban-on-cockfighting-does-not-violate.html","title":"Ban On Cockfighting Does Not Violate Pastor's Free Exercise 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":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v5bWCnmUtK8\/XKQZQzKGGPI\/AAAAAAAAAhQ\/3zJ80aLPerQqnh90B9GWdW9BdlsBGubHgCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]}]}});