Obama To Support Expansion of Faith-Based Initiative

An advance text of remarks by Barack Obama to be delivered today in Zanesville, Ohio indicates that Obama will support expansion of President Bush's faith-based initiative. According to the AP: "Obama proposes to elevate the program to a 'moral center' of his administration, by renaming it the Office of Community and Faith-Based Partnerships, and changing training from occasional huge conferences to empowering larger religious charities to mentor smaller ones in their communities." Obama would also allow faith-based charities receiving federal money to make hiring decisions on the basis of religion, but does not support religious restrictions on aid recipients or use of federal funds to proselytize.

UPDATE: The original AP report was inaccurate in saying that Obama will support religious-based hiring. In the full text of his remarks, Obama says just the opposite:

Now, make no mistake, as someone who used to teach constitutional law, I believe deeply in the separation of church and state, but I don’t believe this partnership will endanger that idea – so long as we follow a few basic principles. First, if you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them – or against the people you hire – on the basis of their religion. Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs. And we’ll also ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to those programs that actually work.

Salon provides further coverage. [Thanks to Blog from the Capital for the lead.]

Russian Musem Officials Being Prosecuted For Religiously Offensive Art Show

In Moscow, the director and the curator of the Andrei Sakharov Museum and Community Center have been charged with inciting religious hatred because of its "Forbidden Art" exhibition held last year. France24 reports that vandals destroyed some of the art, claiming it is offensive to Orthodox Christians, but they were not prosecuted. The art (some of which is shown in the France24 story) often uses Jesus as a theme. For example, one piece superimposes Lenin's head on Jesus on the cross.

Australian State Imposes Rules For World Youth Day Conduct

Later this month, the 6-day long World Youth Day festival will take place in Sydney, Australia. Pope Benedict XVI will be in the country and will lead mass and conduct prayer meetings at the event. Today's International Herald Tribune reports that a regulation promulgated recently by New South Wales gives police and emergency services workers power to order anyone to stop behavior that "causes annoyance or inconvenience to participants in a World Youth Day event." It also bans conduct that obstructs the event or causes risk to the safety of others. Police already have similar authority at large sporting events, but Anna Katzman, president of the New South Wales Bar Association, criticized the new police powers. The provision is part of a broader World Youth Day Regulation 2008 promulgated by New South Wales governor on June 25. (The full text is published in the Government Gazette [scroll to page 5813]). The regulation also requires those selling various items during the festival-- including religious items-- to obtain a permit, and restricts planes carrying advertising banners over events.

Report Supports British Faith Schools

The Centre for Policy Studies, a British think tank, issued a controversial report (full text) this week titled: In Bad Faith: The New Betrayal of Faith Schools. The report's author, Christina Odone, concludes in her 41-page report:

Faith schools have been wrongly attacked for the wrong reasons. Political positioning has led the Minister of Education to denounce these schools. In so doing, he was stoking and validating a smear campaign, orchestrated by a strident secularist lobby, that has long plagued this sector....

The schools do not cream-skim pupils. The intake of Christian schools reflects a broader ethnic range than comprehensive schools in the same area. Faith schools do not turn away children in care..... The schools are not divisive.... Faith schools are not misogynist. Girls who attend Muslim schools are more than twice as likely to go on to higher education than those who attend secular state or independent
schools.

Faith schools do not charge parents for places.... The schools do not create a ghetto mentality.... Faith schools do not teach Creationism in science classes.... Faith schools have an excellent academic record, serve their local communities, and ground their students in a religious as well as the national identity....

[F]or low-income parents, these schools represent the only way their children can be taught the faith that their own family holds dear....For Muslims in particular, faith schools offer a bridge between their religious community and the wider secular society. For Muslim girls, they are the route out of a forced marriage, or their parents’ kitchen, and into higher education.... Quite simply, we need more, not fewer, faith schools.

Odone's report has been attacked by the British Humanist Association and by Ekklesia. (Ekklesia release.)

Dutch Will Not Prosecute Wilders For Anti-Muslim Film and Statements

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service issued a statement yesterday (full text) saying that right-wing politician Geert Wilders will not be prosecuted for a letter he wrote to a national newspaper urging that the Quran be banned in the Netherlands (see prior posting), nor will he be charged in connection with his anti-Muslim film, Fitna (see prior posting). The Prosecution Service's statement said in part:

The fact that statements are hurtful and offensive to a large number of Muslims does not necessarily mean that such statements are punishable. It is true that some statements insult Muslims, but these were made in the context of public debate, which means that the statements are no longer of a punishable nature....

Criticism of religion is not covered by the prohibition of discrimination, unless this criticism includes insulting conclusions about the adherents of the religion concerned.... [T]he Public Prosecution Service arrives at the opinion that neither the film Fitna nor Mr Wilders’s statements incite hatred against Muslims.

CBC News reports on the Prosecution Service's statement.

Epsicopal Bishop Urges Separation of Civil and Religious Marriage

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California is urging that the state begin to follow the pattern of some European countries and separate civil marriage from religious marriage. Today's Sacramento Bee reports that under the proposal, every couple would first marry civilly, and then, if the couple wished, the marriage would be blessed by the church. This removes clergy as agents of the state in performing marriages. The proposal was triggered by the California Supreme Court's recent legalization of gay marriage. (See prior posting.)

Texas Sheriff Apologizes For Staff's Religiously Insensitive E-Mails

For the second time this month, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Tommy Thomas apologized for e-mails sent by his staff. Yesterday's Houston Chronicle reported that Thomas appeared personally before the Islamic Society of Greater Houston to apologize for e-mails forwarded by Chief Deputy Mike Smith that offended Muslims. One used Muhammad's name to make a joke about eating pork; a second involved cartoons about Muslim terrorists. Last week other e-mails that were racist, insensitive or off color were revealed when a local TV station sued to prevent them from being deleted.

Employer's Proposed Accommodation Found Inadequate In Title VII Case

In Walker v. Alcoa, Inc., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45684 (ND IN, June 9, 2008), a Title VII employment discrimination case, an Indiana federal district court held that Alcoa failed to reasonably accommodate a worker who refused to work on Sundays for religious reasons. The court held that while various accommodations were offered by Alcoa to employee Timothy Walker, none of them completely removed the religious conflict. The court said that factual disputes remain as to whether Walker's preferred accommodation-- a permanent guarantee of Sundays off-- would impose an undue hardship on Alcoa. The court, however, dismissed Walker's claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Legal Peyote For Ceremonial Purposes Is Becoming Hard To Find

Yesterday's Brownsville (TX) Herald reports that peyote, used in ceremonies by members of certain Native American religions, is becoming more difficult to obtain. A special exception in federal drug laws-- 42 USC 1992a-- permits Native Americans to use the otherwise banned hallucinogen for traditional religious ceremonial purposes. Peyote grows naturally only in four south Texas counties, and traditionally it has been harvested by peyoteros who then sell it to Native American vhurch members. The DEA and the Texas Department of Public Safety supervise their work. However it has become more profitable for Texas ranchers to lease their land to oil developers or as hunting preserves, than to get fees from peyote harvesters seeking out the rare cactus. This is leading to over-harvesting of the remaining U.S. supplies. Church members believe they must use naturally growing peyote, so greenhouse cultivation is not an option. Mexico has a large supply of the cactus, but is unlikely to allow export because of U.S. pressure on it regarding illegal drugs.

President's Radio Address Focuses On Faith-Based Initiative

President Bush's weekly radio address on Saturday (full text) focused on last week's White House conference on faith-based and community initiatives. The President said in part:

Putting hope in people's hearts is the mission of our Nation's faith-based and community groups, so my Administration decided to treat them as trusted partners. We held these groups to high standards and insisted on demonstrable results. And they have delivered on those expectations.

Through their partnerships with the government, these organizations have helped reduce the number of chronically homeless by nearly 12 percent -- getting more than 20,000 Americans off the streets. They have helped match nearly 90,000 children of prisoners with adult mentors. And they have helped provide services such as job placement for thousands of former inmates. Faith-based and community groups have also had a powerful impact overseas.

Russia's Supreme Court Holds Sunday School Need Not Get State License

Forum 18 today reports that Russia's Supreme Court earlier this month issued an important decision protecting religious organizations. In a June 10 opinion, the court reversed a Smolensk Regional Court that had closed down a Methodist congregation for operating a Sunday school without an educational license. Holding that the lower court's decision was "unlawful and without foundation", the high court concluded that the Sunday school is not covered by either the 1992 Education Law or state education regulations, and so does not require a state licence. However confusion remains over which religious schools-- particularly adult programs-- do require licensing. An Education Ministry official, Yelena Romanova, had previously indicated that no license is required if an educational program results in merely internal qualifications.

Recently Available Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Bennett v. Goord, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48925 (WD NY, Jan. 7, 2008), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of sex offenders' unusual free exercise claim. Plaintiffs argued that the prison counseling program's requirement that they acknowledge their guilt to avoid losing good time credits violates their free exercise rights by "compelling them to recant the truthful testimony they proffered under oath at their trials, where in they placed their hands on the Bible and swore to tell the truth, will subject them to eternal damnation."

In Lombardo v. Holanchock, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48753 (SD NY, June 25, 2008), a New York federal district court held that it was reasonable for the defendants to believe that their challenged action was related to a legitimate penological interest. They had restricted a civilly committed offender's participation in one co-ed religious service.

In Maier v. Maurinac, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48273 (D MT, June 24, 2008), a Montana federal district court accepted a magistrate's recommendation that a prisoner be permitted to proceed with his free exercise and RLUIPA claims (as well as his ADA claim). However his harassment and due process claims were dismissed.

In Barnes v. Missoula County Detention Facility, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48271 (D MT, June 24, 2008), a Montana federal district court accepted a magistrate's recommendation that a Muslim prisoner's free exercise claim be dismissed, with leave to amend. Plaintiff needed to name as defendants the officials who allegedly denied his requests for a no-pork diet, a prayer rug, a kufi and a Qur'an.

In Christiansen v. Adams, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47766 (SD IL, June 20, 2008), an Illinois federal district court set aside a prior default judgment against defendant in a case in which a prisoner claimed that officials interfered with his free exercise of religion. Plaintiff claimed officials failed to provide him with a diet and hygiene items that are free of animal products, forced him to attend programs that promoted Christianity and denied him space and time for his prayer and fasting rituals. Defendant originally failed to respond because when served, he no longer was employed by the Department of Corrections and thought that the state Attorney General's office would handle his defense.

Colorado Catholic Bishop Bans Clergy From Giving Political Contributions

The Ft. Collins Coloradoan reports today that Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will issue a directive this week barring priests and deacons in his diocese from either endorsing political candidates or contributing funds to their campaigns. The ban applies to partisan political campaigns, and not to non-partisan electoral initiatives on issues such as abortion or immigration. Federal Election Commission records show that nationwide during the 2007-08 election cycle, nearly $100,000 has been given to federal candidates and to political parties by approximately 100 Catholic priests and deacons.

Court Says Religious Handbilling In Park Must Be Permitted

In Apple of His Eye, Inc. v. City of St. Louis, Missouri, (ED MO, June 24, 2008), a Missouri federal district court issued a preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of a city ordinance that prohibits distribution of literature in public parks. The lawsuit was brought by individuals who were prevented from handing out religious literature and expressing their religious beliefs during the 2006 gay pride festival held in St. Louis' Tower Grove Park. The court held that: "enjoining the enforcement of § 22.16.100, thereby allowing Plaintiffs to distribute their religious literature and express their religious views in a City park, does not significantly impinge on the public interest, as long as the City retains the authority to enforce other Code provisions which are content-neutral reasonable time, place and manner restrictions, in order to maintain public safety and order." The court also enjoined enforcement of a provision making handbill distributors responsible for proper disposal of the handbills within a 100 foot radius of their distribution. Alliance Defense Fund issued a release on the decision on Thursday.

Moderate Muslims In India Worry About Growing Radicalism

Today's Washington Post reports on the concern among moderate Muslims in India about the growth of stricter forms of Islam in the country. Many of India's Muslims are Barelvi Sunni who are also followers of Sufism, a movement seen as blasphemous by more traditional Muslims. Some moderate mosques have taken to posting signs listing the names of stricter Islamic groups whose followers are not welcome in the mosque. During the past ten years, at mover than 30% of Barelvi Sunni mosques, more fundamentalist Wahhabi groups have contributed funds for repair and have slowly taken them over. In the background of this are a series of bombings during the last three years in India by radical Islamic groups.

Report Says Many Prisoners Claim To Be Jewish To Get Kosher Food

The AP reported Friday on an Idaho prisoner who has been denied kosher food because he has not shown that he is Jewish. The article says that 20,000 inmates nation-wide are claiming to be Jewish without being able to show that this is the case. Gary Friedman, chairman of Jewish Prisoner Services International (JPSI), said that many of these inmates are seeking kosher meals because they offer more variety and are seen as more sanitary. He said that many prisoners "have paranoia about how their food is prepared." Apparently JPSI validates for institutions whether or not a prisoner's claim to be Jewish is accurate.

Origins of "Obama Is A Muslim" Rumor Are Traced

Saturday's Washington Post carries a long article tracing the origins of rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim. The rumors were spread over the Internet, particularly through chain e-mails. Danielle Allen of the Institute for Advanced Studies, has traced the rumor to an article posted online in 2004 by Andy Martin who, at the time, was attempting to run against Obama for the U.S. Senate. Ted Sampley, a North Carolina man, published a similar article on his own website around the same time. Discussion of these on the Free Republic website discussion forums increased interest in the rumor. However, the exact identity of the person who began the chain of e-mails carrying the rumor has not been determined.

Trial Court Upholds Constitutionality of Virginia's "Division Statute"

In In re Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation, (VA Cir. Ct., June 27, 2008), a Virginial trial court judge upheld the constitutionality of Virginia's "Division Statute" against Free Exercise, Establishment Clause, Equal Protection and Takings Clause challenges. The statute permits the majority of a congregation to decide to which branch of a church its property will belong when there has been a "division" in the church. The court emphasized that the Episcopal Church could have avoided the possibility of a majority in a congregation breaking away and taking church property with it by titling the property in the name of a Bishop or other ecclesiastical officer of the parent church, but did not do so as to the eleven break-away congregations involved in this litigation. (See prior posting and background in Saturday's Fairfax (VA) Times coverage.) In its 49-page letter opinion, the court left open the question of whether the Division statute violates the Contract Clause of the Constitution by impairing contractual relationships between local congregations and the hierarchical church.

In a companion 14-page letter opinion, the court ruled on five other interpretive issues under the Division Statute, concluding that the court's role was merely to determine whether the congregational vote was "fairly taken", and not to consider other factors. It distinguished cases involving the withdrawal of a single congregation from an hierarchical church where there was not a "division" within the church. In an order accompanying the two letter opinions, the court asked for further briefs from the parties on certain remaining procedural issues.

Reports on the court's decision were published by the Washington Post and Episcopal News Service. (See prior related posting.)

US House Passes Resolution Supporting Gospel Music Heritage Month

On June 26, the House of Representatives passed by voice vote H. Con. Res. 370: Expressing Support for Designation of September 2008 as "Gospel Music Heritage Month". In its ten paragraphs extolling gospel music, the only mention of the religious nature of the genre is a paragraph that traces the history of gospel music to "multiple and diverse influences and foundations, including African-American spirituals ... and melodic influences from Irish folk songs and hymns," but saying that gospel music also "borrowed from uniquely American musical styles including ragtime, jazz, and blues". Most of the resolution focuses on the secular contributions of gospel music, such as: "beyond its contribution to the musical tradition of the United States, gospel music has provided a cultural and musical backdrop across all of mainstream media, from hit television series to major Hollywood motion pictures...."

Texas High Court Says Exorcism Claims Entangle Court in Religious Dispute

In Pleasant Glade Assembly of God v. Schubert, (TX Sup. Ct., June 27, 2008), in a 6-3 decision, the Texas Supreme Court yesterday rejected a lower court's award of damages to young woman for false imprisonment and assault by the senior pastor, youth minister and several members of an Assembly of Gods Church. The lawsuit grew out of psychological injuries suffered by then 17-year old Laura Schubert from a "laying of hands" on her to exorcise demonic forces from her. The court held that deciding the case would unconstitutionally entangle it in matters of church doctrine. the majority said:

We do not mean to imply that "under the cloak of religion, persons may, with impunity," commit intentional torts upon their religious adherents.... Moreover, religious practices that threaten the public’s health, safety, or general welfare cannot be tolerated as protected religious belief.... But religious practices that might offend the rights or sensibilities of a non-believer outside the church are entitled to greater latitude when applied to an adherent within the church....

The Free Exercise Clause prohibits courts from deciding issues of religious doctrine. Here, the psychological effect of church belief in demons and the appropriateness of its belief in "laying hands" are at issue. Because providing a remedy for the very real, but religiously motivated emotional distress in this case would require us to take sides in what is essentially a religious controversy, we cannot resolve that dispute.

Chief Justice Jefferson in a dissent joined by Justice Green and in party by Justice Johnson said:

After today, a tortfeasor need merely allege a religious motive to deprive a Texas court of jurisdiction to compensate his fellow congregant for emotional damages. This sweeping immunity is inconsistent with United States Supreme Court precedent and extends far beyond the protections our Constitution affords religious conduct. The First Amendment guards religious liberty; it does not sanction intentional abuse in religion’s name.

Justice Green also filed a separate dissent as did Justice Johnson. Today's Austin American-Statesman reports on the decision.

Muslim Physicist Files Suit Charging Energy Department With Discrimination

In Pittsburgh, (PA) yesterday, nuclear physicist Dr. Moniem El-Ganayni filed suit in federal district court charging the U.S. Department of Energy with religious discrimination in its suspension of his security clearance last December. The suspension cost El-Ganayni his job with Bettis Laboratory where he had worked since 1990. Yesterday's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on the case. The Department of Energy has refused on national security grounds to disclose the reason for the security clearance suspension. El-Ganayni, a founder of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, says that the FBI and Energy Department have questioned him about his religious beliefs, his work as a prison chaplain, his political views on the Iraq war and speeches he gave at local mosques critical of the FBI. He says he was never questioned about security breaches or handling of classified information. The lawsuit also charges the security clearance suspension violated El-Ganayni's First Amendment free speech rights.

WI High Court Rules on Limitations Issues In Clergy Child Sex Abuse Case

In State of Wisconsin v. MacArthur, (WI Sup. Ct., June 26, 2008), a clergy child sexual abuse case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that sexual assault cases that occurred before 1989 are covered by the 6-year statute of limitations then in effect. It also held that the judge in a pretrial proceeding, not the jury at trial, decides whether the statute was tolled because the defendant was not a public resident of the state. Tolling need be shown only by a preponderance of the evidence. Yesterday's Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported on the decision.

President Speaks At National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast

Yesterday the President attended the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. In remarks (full text) he said: "Each of you here this morning is here to celebrate a simple and powerful act -- prayer to an Almighty God. You know the comfort that comes from placing our worries in the hands of a higher power. You know the humility that comes from approaching our Maker on bended knee. And you know the strength that comes from lifting our thoughts from worldly cares and focusing on the eternal." His wide-ranging remarks included references to his Faith-Based Initiative, to those serving in the military and to the struggle for human rights in Cuba. He concluded his remarks by thanking the attendees for their spiritual support, saying: "Being your President has been an unimaginable honor and a joyous experience."

9th Circuit Rules In Favor of Egyptian Copts Seeking Asylum

In Morgan v. Mukasey, (9th Cir., June 25, 2008), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals that had denied asylum to an Egyptian Coptic Christian couple and their three children. The immigration judge in the case found that the couple's testimony about their mistreatment in Egypt lacked credibility. The 9th Circuit concluded, however, that "the immigration judge’s negative credibility determination is fatally marred by the errors we have noted." The court also found due process denials as a result of the immigration judge's refusal to permit two of the couple's children to testify and his ignoring of a psychological report. The court also found significant problems with the fact that the government had lost its copy of the record in the case. The court remanded the case and suggested that it be assigned to a different immigration judge. Yesterday's Los Angeles Metropolitan News-Enterprise reports on the decision.

Britain Says Security Measures Limited By Muslim Religious Sensitivities

Today's London's Daily Express discusses a report issued by Britain's Department of Transport on experiments with security alternatives at Tube stations. Concluding that airport style screening is not feasible, the report urges reliance on sniffer dogs and x-ray, but says that use of these is constrained by religious sensitivities of Muslim passengers. Muslims consider dogs spiritually "unclean". According to the report, sniffer dogs should only come in contact with passengers' luggage, since their use is problematic for Muslims if the dogs make direct contact with passengers. In connection with x-ray screening, the report says that some female Muslims object to the use of a body scanner, seeing it as tantamount to being forced to strip.

White House Hosts Conference On Faith-Based Initiative

Yesterday and today the White House is hosting the "Innovations in Effective Compassion" National Conference, a meeting of over 1000 people interested in the federal Faith Based and Community Initiatives. In anticipation of the conference, OFBCI director, Jay Hein, held a press briefing (full text). Responding to a question about church-state issues raised by the program, Hein said:

I think really one of the stellar achievements of this initiative is that we've clarified ... what is allowable and what is not allowable, according to the First Amendment.... the President felt very strongly that it was wrong to just artificially close the door for those who were motivated by their private faith to perform a public service -- if they were creating these housing solutions for the homeless, and other important community outcome.

At the same time, we know that the First Amendment prohibits establishment of church, and so the President said very clearly that tax dollars are not to be used for spiritual mission -- only for secular mission; only for community service mission.

Yesterday as President Bush addressed the conference (full text of remarks), the White House issued a Fact Sheet on the Initiative. The President summarized the achievements of OFBCI:

we have helped level the playing field for faith-based groups and other charities -- especially small organizations that have struggled to compete for funds in the past. We've educated religious groups about their civil rights. We've made the federal grant application process more accessible and transparent. We've trained thousands of federal employees to ensure that government does not discriminate against faith-based organizations. We've ensured that these groups do not have to give up their religious character to receive taxpayer money.

The Justice Department has also released the text of Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey's remarks prepared for the conference. Describing the reexamination of federal policy represented by OFBCI, he said in part:

The Department of Justice has played, and will continue to play, a major role in that reexamination. In doing so, we built upon the principles behind Congress’s Charitable Choice laws and the Supreme Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence: that government must respect the essential character of faith-based providers; that no one needing help may be turned away because of his or her religion and that no one may be forced into religious practices; and that directly-awarded government funds must be spent on social services, not on religion.

UPDATE: Jim Towey, former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives,writes a column in the June 28 Washington Post setting out questions on the future of the faith-based initiative that he believes should be asked of the Presidential candidates.

Group Challenges July 4 Religious Broadcast Interview With Army General

Yesterday's Kansas City Star reported that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is objecting to a portion of a program scheduled to be re-broadcast on July 4 and 5 on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. MRFF says that 20 minutes of the 2-hour "Red, White and Blue Spectacular" starring Christian singer and evangelist Carman may violate a prohibition against uniformed military officers endorsing specific religions. The program, originally produced in 2003, includes an interview with Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, in uniform, introduced as president of the Officers Christian Fellowship and talking in part about his Christian religious faith. MMRF has posted online a video of the relevant portion of the broadcast.

Borough To Sue Churches Over Cemetery Upkeep

The Borough Council in Palmyra, Pennsylvania voted Monday night to file suit in Lebanon County (PA) Court against two local churches in order to determine who is responsible for the upkeep of a local cemetery. The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News yesterday reported that Palm Lutheran Church and Trinity United Church of Christ, congregations that cared for the cemetery for 140 years, now disclaim ownership and say the borough should care for the cemetery that contains about 1,000 graves.

Court Hears Arguments on Restraining Order Barring Boy From Services

In Todd County Minnesota District Court, a hearing was held on Tuesday on a temporary restraining order that had been obtained by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bertha (MN) to prevent congregant Carol Race from bringing her severely autistic 13-year-old son to church for Mass. Today's Wadena (MN) Pioneer Journal reports on the proceedings. The church alleged that Adam Race has engaged in highly disruptive conduct during services, including spitting, urinating, hitting a child and running out of church. The restraining order was obtained under Minn. Criminal Code, Sec. 609.748 allowing a person who is a victim of "harassment" to obtain a restraining order. Harassment is defined, in part, by the statutes as: "repeated incidents of intrusive or unwanted acts, words, or gestures that have a substantial adverse effect ... on the safety, security, or privacy of another."

Carol Race, representing herself in court, denies that her son's conduct was disruptive, and argues that the harassment statute unconstitutionally infringes on her son's right to assemble in a public place. The church argues that the parish has the authority to determine who comes onto its property. It also asserts that as a religious corporation it has exclusive authority to decide how its liturgy and religious business is conducted. Thomas Janson, attorney for St. Joseph's Church, argued that requiring the church to allow Adam Race in services would violate the church's free exercise rights protected by the U.S. and Minnesota constitutions.

ACLU Presses Naval Academy on Mealtime Prayer

Today's Baltimore Sun reports that the ACLU of Maryland is renewing pressure on the U.S. Naval Academy to end its long-standing practice of having one of its chaplains lead prayer before midshipmen eat their noon meal. Students stand at parade rest, and are asked (but not required) to bow their heads during the prayer. After receiving complaints from nine students, the ACLU wrote the Academy last month, saying in part: "The government should not be in the business of compelling religious observance, particularly in military academies, where students can feel coerced by senior students and officials and risk the loss of leadership opportunities for following their conscience." In a statement yesterday, Cmdr. Ed Austin said the Academy does not intend to change its practice, and is coordinating a response to the ACLU with the Department of the Navy. (See prior related posting.)

Tajikistan's Last Synagogue Destroyed In Urban Renewal Project

Truth News and Forum 18 this week both report on the destruction in Dushanbe, Tajikistan of the country's only remaining synagogue. This culminated legal steps begun in 2003 to clear land for construction of a new presidential complex, the Palace of the Nation. Last April, the Administrative Court of Dushanbe's Ismoiliy Somoniy District ruled that the synagogue must vacate its building. The building, which was nationalized by the Soviet Union in 1951 was being used free of charge under an agreement with the government signed in 1980. (Forum 18, May 2008). Apparently the community was offered land at the far edge of the city where it could build a new synagogue at its own expense-- something the Jewish community could not afford. When the synagogue destruction became inevitable, the Jewish community asked to be allowed to dismantle the building itself, but the remaining wall was bulldozed by the government when it became dissatisfied with the speed of the Jewish community's work. The loss of the synagogue has resulted in an end of Jewish worship services and of the Jewish community's food program for the poor and elderly. The Nani-Hayat (Bread of Life) Protestant Church is apparently next on the list to be torn down in the urban building project.

Justice Official Awarded Grant To Former White House Faith-Based Official

ABC News reported on Tuesday that the Department of Justice, under pressure from two senior Bush administration appointees, awarded a $1.2 million grant to an evangelical group and its consultant, a former White House official in the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. The grant went to Victory Outreach and to a consulting firm run by Lisa Trevino Cummins who previously led Hispanic outreach for the White House's OFBCI. Career Justice Department staff questioned Victory Outreach's qualifications for the grant and thought the one-third going to Cummins for consulting was excessive. Ultimately Victory Outreach rejected the grant after its board decided it was too large a project to handle. The grant was awarded by J. Robert Flores, the Administrator of the DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He is currentyl under investigation by the DOJ's Inspector General.

Reacting to the report (press release), Interfaith Alliance president C. Welton Gaddy said: "This incident of cronyism removes all doubts that the real mission of the faith-based initiative is to aid the Religious Right." [Thanks to Blog from the Capital for the lead.]

NY High Court Finds No Fiduciary Breach In Rabbi's Affair With Congregant

In Marmelstein v. Kehillat New Hempstead: The Rav Aron Jofen Community Synagogue, (NY Ct. App., June 25, 2008), New York's high court rejected a breach of fiduciary duty claim asserted against a well known Orthodox rabbi by a woman with whom he had a 3 1/2 year sexual relationship. Adina Marmelstein sued Rabbi Mordecai Tendler and his synagogue, claiming that when she came to Tendler for counselling, he suggested that having sex with him would "open her up to the world" and make her more attractive to men. The court's unanimous decision said:

Allegations that give rise to only a general clergy-congregant relationship that includes aspects of counseling do not generally impose a fiduciary obligation upon a cleric....

Although she contends that Tendler's ulterior motive for inducing the sexual relationship was the fulfillment of his own gratification, rather than the achievement of Marmelstein's goals, Marmelstein has shown only that she was deceived by Tendler, not that she was so vulnerable as to surrender her will and capacity to determine her own best interests. In the absence of a prima facie showing that a fiduciary obligation was owed by Tendler, no cause of action can be maintained for an extended voluntary sexual affair between consenting adults, even if Marmelstein could prove that her acquiescence was obtained through lies, manipulation or other morally opprobrious conduct (see Civil Rights Law § 80-a).

Yesterday's Newsday reported on the decision. [Thanks to J.J. Landa for the lead.]

Bush Meets With Vietnamese Prime Minister; Discusses Religious Freedom

President George W. Bush met at the White House yesterday with visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. In remarks (full text) after their meeting in the Oval Office, Bush said in part: "We talked about freedom -- religious and political freedom, and I told the Prime Minister that I thought the strides that the government is making toward religious freedom is noteworthy. And I appreciated the efforts that he and his government are making." NPR yesterday reported on the continuing concerns about Vietnam's human rights record. As reported by Reuters, in May the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Vietnam be placed back on the list of "countries of particular concern" because of infringements on religious freedom. (See prior posting.) In 2006, the State Department took Vietnam off that list. (See prior posting.)

County Seeks State Department Views On Saudi Academy

The Fairfax County (VA) Board of Supervisors has voted to renew the lease of a former county high school building for another year to the controversial Saudi Academy, but subject to State Department approval. On Tuesday, NBC4 and the Washington Post reported that in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Board wrote: "As a local governmental entity, Fairfax County is not capable of determining whether textbooks, written in Arabic, contain language that promotes violence or religious intolerance, or is otherwise offensive to the interests of the United States." The Academy, operated by the Saudi government, has been strongly criticized by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom that has pressed allegations regarding textbooks used in the school. (See prior posting.)

Lawsuit Challenges Georgia Restrictions On Sex Offenders As Church Volunteers

The Southern Center for Human Rights filed a federal lawsuit yesterday seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent implementation of an amendment to Georgia's sex offender law (GCA 42-1-15) scheduled to take effect July 1. The new law prohibits anyone required to register as a sex offender from volunteering at any church (in addition to the previously enacted ban on church employment of such individuals). The Motion for Preliminary Injunction (full text), claiming free exercise and due process violations, alleges:

The new statute ... intrudes upon core church functions and decisions. Under SB1, people on the registry cannot follow their faith's commandments to perform good works. And, despite a religious organization's own desires and decisions, it may not ever employ a person on the sex offender registry or ask such a person t volunteer as a choir member, serve on a church committee, or perform any other function. Even helping a pastor with Bible study or preparing a meal in a church kitchen will subject people on the registry to prosecution and imprisonment.

Plaintiffs also filed a Brief in Support of the Motion. The SCHR press release announcing the lawsuit contains links to other documents in the case as well. AP also reports on the litigation.

NJ Court Says Charitable Immunity Bars Slip & Fall Suit By Mother of Member

In Patterson v. Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, (NJ App., June 24, 2008), the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division decided that the state's charitable immunity statute protects a church against a lawsuit by a non-member whose 17-year old son was a member and regularly attended Bible study at the church. Plaintiff Joan Patterson slipped on ice in the driveway of the church youth director's house while picking up her son from a youth meeting. The court held that plaintiff was a beneficiary to some degree of the works of the church by reason of her son's attendance, and so was barred from recovery by NJSA 2A-53A-7. Newsday yesterday reported on the court's 2-0 per curiam decision.

Amici File Briefs In "Seven Aphorisms" Case

In the past week, around a dozen amicus briefs have been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Pleasant Grove City, UT v. Summum. (Links to full text of most of the briefs.) In the case, the 10th Circuit held that members of the Summum faith could put up a monument of their Seven Aphorisms in a city park that already featured a number of historical displays as well as a 10 Commandments monument donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. (See prior posting.) A joint brief (full text) for five groups supporting separation of church and state argues that the Court of Appeals erred in treating the case as a free speech case instead of one raising Establishment Clause issues. (ADL press release; AU press release.) A brief (full text) filed by Liberty Counsel argues that the city did not open a forum for everyone wishing to display a monument in the public park. (Press release).

Dobson Sharply Attacks 2006 Obama Speech

Yesterday, according to CNN, evangelical leader James Dobson used his radio show to sharply attack a speech made two years ago by Barack Obama. At issue was Obama's keynote address to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. (Full text of address.) In the long speech, Obama focuses on how religious people can bring their beliefs into public policy debates. Dobson accused Obama of using that speech to "deliberately distort... the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology," saying that Obama is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter." Here are links to audio of Dobson's full broadcast in which he refers to some of Obama's remarks as a "fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution." Obama, in turn, took issue with Dobson's criticisms. (AP).

University of South Carolina Settles Student Funding Litigation

A settlement has been reached in Christian Legal Society v. Sorenson, a case challenging the University of South Carolina's refusal to provide funding from student activity fees for recognized student religious groups. (See prior posting.) In Memorandum of Understanding signed June 20 (full text), USC agreed to revise University and student government policies to permit student religious groups to participate on an equal footing with other student groups in receipt of student funds. In turn, the Christian Legal Society agreed to drop its lawsuit without prejudice. An Alliance Defense Fund press release discusses the settlement. [Thanks to Isaac Fong for the lead.]

Israeli Chief Military Rabbi Given Sensitive Task As To Kidnapped Soldiers

The Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces, Brig. Gen. Avichai Ronski finds himself in the middle of a highly charged political situation. In July 2006, two IDF soldiers were kidnapped by Hizbullah in a cross-border raid from Lebanon. (Background.) Ever since, the fate of Sgt. Ehud Goldwasser and St.-Sgt. Eldad Regev has captured the attention of the Israeli public. Now amidst reports that a deal between Israel and Hizbollah relating to the two soldiers is in the offing, Rabbi Ronski has been given the task of deciding whether there is enough evidence to declare that Regev and Goldwasser-- currently listed as missing in action-- can be presumed dead.

Arutz Sheva reported yesterday that the IDF Chief Rabbi, as the military's highest religious authority, is generally the one given this task-- usually after intelligence services have concluded that individuals are not alive. However, Ehud Goldwasser's family may petition the High Court of Justice to prevent the IDF from beginning the process of determining whether the men should be classified as dead. Meanwhile, Haaretz says the fact that the men's files have been turned over to the Chief Rabbi signals that the deal with Hezbollah will not happen. It reports that intelligence officials object to releasing terrorist Samir Kuntar as part of the deal without resolution of the fate of a third missing Israeli, airman Ron Arad.

Michigan Supreme Court Will Not Review Witness' Religious Rights In Being Sworn

The Michigan Supreme Court in Donkers v. Kovach, 2008 Mich. LEXIS 1182 (MI Sup. Ct., June 13, 2008), denied leave to appeal a decision upholding the right of a witness to refuse for religious reasons to raise her right hand when being sworn in. (See prior posting.) However three judges dissented. In an opinion by Judge Markman they said: "plaintiff offered no explanation for her refusal to act in accord with the law other than vaguely claiming that she holds contrary 'religious beliefs'.... Even if factual developments established this as a bona fide "free exercise" claim, I would still not affirm the Court of Appeals, but rather would grant leave to appeal to determine under what standard such claims are to be evaluated in Michigan...."

6th Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Campus Evangelist's Claims

In Gilles v. Garland, (6th Cir., June 18, 2008), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the lower court's dismissal of claims by Christian evangelist James Gilles who was was denied permission to continue a speech at Ohio's Miami University campus. University policy permitted him to speak only if he obtained an invitation or sponsorship from a recognized student organization. The court held that while this requirement "is nominally unambiguous ..., it includes no standards by which student groups are to judge requests in discharging the authority delegated them by the university... [and therefore] is facially vulnerable to due process challenge." The court also reversed the lower court's dismissal of Gilles free speech claim, holding that "we are loath to conclude that plaintiff undoubtedly can prove no set of facts consistent with his allegations that would entitle him to relief." A concurring opinion by Judge Moore argued that the majority did not need to reach the question of whether open areas on campus are limited public forums. The majority held that they are. (See prior related posting.)

U.S. Muslims Frustrated With Obama's Distance From Them

Today's New York Times reports that Muslim voters are disappointed at Barack Obama's hesitancy to reach out to Muslims. While Obama has spoken at churches and synagogues, he has not visited any mosques. He also asked Representative Keith Ellison, the country’s first Muslim congressman, to cancel a speech supporting him scheduled before the Iowa primary last December in a mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Muslims are also frustrated that while Obama keeps denying rumors that he is a Muslim, he has never said that there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim.

UPDATE: Last Saturday's Wall Street Journal carried an article on the same topic.

Israel High Court Refuses To Block Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade

Israel's High Court of Justice on Monday refused to block the gay pride parade scheduled to be held in Jerusalem on Thursday. YNet News reported yesterday that Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski had urged the court to ban the parade, saying: "Past experience shows that the parade greatly offends, deliberately and unnecessarily, the feelings of Jews, Muslims and Christians, who view its sheer existence, and the blatant manner in which it takes place, as a desecration of the holy city and of the values with which they were raised." However the court said that parade participants do not plan on provoking Jerusalem residents in any way. Haaretz, also reporting on the court's decision, said: "protests against the Gay Pride parade will be far less substantial than in previous years, especially because of the religious community's understanding that it is precisely their protest that grants so much publicity to the event and exposes their youth to the gay/lesbian community."

Consultant Sues Wisconsin Diocese After Pressure To Turn Over Confidential Data

Last Friday's Madison (WI) Capital Times reported on a lawsuit that was filed earlier this month in Dane County Circuit Court against the Catholic Diocese of Madison by Phoenix Fundraising Counsel of Madison. The lawsuit claims that the Diocese has failed to pay Phoenix $350,000 it owes for the firm's survey work in connection with a planned capital campaign to build a new cathedral. The paper reports that conservative Bishop Robert Morlino tried to pressure Phoenix CEO John Richert to turn over the names of priests who, in the survey, expressed concerns or complained about Morlino. Phoenix refused because it had promised confidentiality to those who participated in the survey.

Pew Forum Issues New Report On Religious Views of Americans

Today's New York Times reports on the Pew Forum's new U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. It finds that "most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith. A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation." This report on Religious Beliefs and Practices/ Social and Political Views is the second to come out of data collected last year in a survey of 35,000 Americans.

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Meyer v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46639 (WD WI, June 13, 2008), a Wisconsin federal district court stayed a decision on whether a prisoner could proceed with a RUIPA claim while he supplements his complaint to identify his religion, the religious item he claims to have been denied, and its relationship to his religious practice.

In Harvey v. Adams County Sheriff's Office, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46390 (D CO, June 4, 2008), a Colorado federal magistrate judge ruled that a material factual dispute exists over whether an institution's vegetarian diet met a Muslim prisoner's religious needs. He also found that defendants did not show it was reasonable to deny Muslim inmates access to the institution's kosher diet-- in the absence of available Halal food. Plaintiff's rights under the 1st Amendment, RLUIPA and the equal protection clause were not violated, however, when officials failed to provide him a copy of Hadith -- a religious book or hold Muslim religious services.

In Tafari v. Annetts, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45901 (SDNY, June 12, 2008), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended granting of summary judgment to defendants in a case in which a prisoner asserted violations of his rights when he was denied kosher meals on four occasions during his transfer between institutions. The court also rejected his claim that his request to transfer institutions was denied on racial grounds. [Corrected].

In Sacred Feather v. Merrill, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47544 (D ME, June 19, 2008), a Maine federal magistrate judge, after having earlier dismissed some of plaintiffs' claims for failure to exhaust administrative remedies (2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47543), recommended that summary judgment be entered for defendant on claims by Native American prisoners regarding a shelter for their ceremonies, the right to have pow wows and feasts, the availability of a sweat lodge, and an entitlement to more funding. Much of the opinion criticizes counsel on both sides for their scanty presentation of facts and legal arguments.

Odinists Win Right To Group Worship In Prison

In an interesting prisoner free-exercise decision, an Indiana federal district court has ruled that the Indiana Department of Correction's policy banning all group worship for Odinists violates RLUIPA. In Hummel v. Donahue, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47534 (SD IN, June 19, 2008), the court held that while the interest in maintaining safety and security is compelling, prison officials must do more than speculate that a religious practice will lead to problems. Here officials were concerned that white supremacists would claim to practice Odinism, but presented no concrete evidence to support this. Secondly, there were less restrictive alternatives than totally banning group worship. These included pre-approved scripts for worship services, increased training for correctional officers, pre-approved volunteers from outside to lead services, and research into solutions found by other prison systems. The court gave defendants 60 days to put a new policy for group worship by Odinists into place.

Church Sites Important In Success of Federal Fugitive Surrender Program

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported yesterday that the success of Fugitive Safe Surrender programs is due in large part to the use of churches as surrender sites. Operated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the program "encourages persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting." A study by researchers at Kent State University to be released this week finds that 80% of those who surrendered say having the site at a church played an important role in their decision. An article in the Spring 2008 Kent State Magazine explores further the motivations of individuals who gave themselves up through the program.

Wrongful Death Suit Over Death of Jehovahs' Witness Girl Dismissed

In Canada, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary has dismissed most of the claims in a wrongful death suit by the father of a Jehovah's Witness girl who died from lukemia in 2002. Canwest News Service reported Saturday on developments in the suit by Lawrence Hughes against the the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada and two lawyers who had represented his daughter Bethany. After Bethany became ill, Hughes changed his religious views and fought to get her medical treatment. Eventually a court ordered blood transfusions, over Bethany's objections. The lawsuit claimed in part that Bethany's lawyers gave her inaccurate information about treatment of her condition, and that they had a conflict of interest because Watch Tower Society was also their client. In dismissing the claims, the court said Hughes, who is appearing pro se, had little chance of success.

Legal Maneuvering Goes On In Suits Involving FLDS Trust

Yesterday's Deseret News reports that legal maneuvering continues regarding the United Effort Plan Trust (UEP), the body holding real estate of the Fundamentalist LDS Church. In 2005, a Utah court took control of the trust from former FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, reformed it, and appointed a special trustee to oversee it. (See prior posting.) Elissa Wall, a former FLDS member who testified against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, has sued FLDS and the Trust alleging that when she was 14, they coerced her to marry her 19-year old cousin. The current UEP has asked the court to dismiss it as a defendant in Wall's lawsuit, saying it is not liable for actions of the old UEP trustees. Meanwhile UEP is still trying to get information about the management of the old UEP, and has subpoenaed documents taken in the recent raid of the FLDS Ranch in Texas, seeking information on FLDS assets that the Trust could recover.

Recently Available Scholarly Article of Interest

From SSRN:

• Lawrence McNamara, Catch the Fire Ministries v. Islamic Council of Victoria: Religious Vilification Laws in the Victorian Court of Appeal (30 March 2007).
• Patrick Parkinson, Religious Vilification, Anti-Discrimination Laws and Religious Minorities in Australia: The Freedom to Be Different, (Australian Law Journal, Vol. 81, No. 12, pp. 954-966, 2007 ).
• David N. Cassuto, Animal Sacrifice and the First Amendment, (in Animal Law and the Courts: A Reader, Taimie Bryant, David N. Cassuto, Rebecca Huss, eds., Thomson West, 2008.)
• Lawrence McNamara, Review of Neil Addison, Religious Discrimination and Hatred Law (Routledge-Cavendish 2007), (6(1) Entertainment and Sports Law Journal (2008)).

From SmartCILP:

• Jennifer S. Evans-Cowley & Kenneth Pearlman. Six Flags Over Jesus: RLUIPA, Megachurches, and Zoning, 21 Tulane Environmental Law Journal 203-232 (2008).
• Pamela S. Karlan, Harris Lecture: Taking Politics Religiously: Can Free Exercise and Establishment Clause Cases Illuminate the Law of Democracy?, 83 Indiana Law Journal 1-20 (2008).
• Ashira Pelman Ostrow, Judicial Review of Local Land Use Decisions: Lessons from RLUIPA, 31 Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 717-760 (2008).
• Steven G. Calabresi, Render Unto Caesar That Which Is Caesar's, And Unto God That Which Is God's, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 495- 504 (2008).

Grand Jury To Meet In FLDS Case; Jeff's Daughter May Testify

In Schleicher County, Texas tomorrow a grand jury will begin hearing testimony growing out of the state's raid earlier this year on the FLDS Ranch in Eldorado. Yesterday's Dallas News reports that searches on April 3 and 6 netted 1,000 boxes of evidence plus a number of DNA swabs from adult FLDS members. It appears that among the charges that the grand jury will investigate are claims of sexual abuse of minors. In that connection, the Deseret News reports that on Friday court-appointed attorney Natalie Malonis obtained a restraining order from Judge Barbara Walther to prevent FLDS leader Willie Jessop from having contact with her 16-year old client (and the client's mother). The 16-year old is a daughter of former church leader Warren Jeffs.

Attorney Malonis claims the girl is a victim of sexual abuse, and that Jessop is trying to coerce her to avoid a subpoena to testify to the grand jury. However on Thursday the girl wrote Judge Walther saying that she was not a victim of sexual abuse and is not pregnant. Church leader Jessop says that the court should appoint a guardian ad litem for the girl to argue in favor of the FLDS lifestyle. Attorney Rod Parker, who often speaks for FLDS, argued that the girl needs a new attorney because Malonis has a "dysfunctional relationship" with his client. (See prior related posting.)

9th Circuit Again Rejects Challenge To Cal State's Religious Studies Courses

In Lafreniere v. Board of Trustees of the California State University, (9th Cir., June 17, 2008), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals summarily dismissed a claim that Cal State's use of taxpayer money to fund certain religious studies classes violates the Establishment Clause and California's False Claims Act. It concluded that the issues raised in the pro se appeal are identical to those it rejected in a 2006 decision.

Court Rejects Challenges To Permit Requirement For Homeless Shelter

In Family Life Church v. City of Elgin, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47210 (ND IL, June 18, 2008), an Illinois federal district court rejected a series of challenges by Family Life Church to Elgin, Illinois requirement that it obtain a conditional use permit in order to operate a homeless shelter in its church building. It was eventually granted a permit, but sued challenging the 8-month delay it faced as well as the permit requirement. The court rejected the Church's free exercise and RLUIPA challenges, finding that "Elgin's zoning ordinances are facially neutral and generally applicable and ... have not saddled Family Life with a substantial burden." It also rejected the Church's Equal Protection challenge and its challenge under the "equal terms" and the "unreasonable limitations"provisions of RLUIPA. It rejected the challenge by a homeless man, also a plaintiff, to limitations on the length of time those from outside the city could stay at the shelter. Finally it rejected the Church's state RFRA claim and the homeless plaintiff's infliction of emotional distress claim.

Court Says Virginia's RFRA Only Applies In Suit Against Government

In the widely followed litigation between eleven break-away congregations and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, a state trial judge has ruled that Virginia's Religious Freedom Restoration Act is irrelevant to the case. In In Re: Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation, 2008 Va. Cir. LEXIS 49 (Cir. Ct., May 12, 2008), the court held that Va. Code Ann. § 57-2.02 only applies to lawsuits against governmental entities, not to a suit between two private parties. The holding came in a decision refusing to permit the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia to amend their previously filed answers in the lawsuit. The decision preceded an important May 28 hearing in the case on whether Virginia's post-Civil War "division statute" is constitutional. (See prior posting.)

Anti-Muslim Bias In Western Europe Explored

Writing in today's New York Times Magazine, Noah Feldman writes that in Western Europe, familiar arguments against immigrants "are mutating into an anti-Islamic bias that is becoming institutionalized in the continent’s otherwise ordinary politics." He suggests that:

[E]ven after 60 years of introspection about the anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust, Europeans are not convinced that culturally and religiously different immigrants should be treated as full members of their societies....

The U.S. had its own terrible legacy of legalized racism... [H]owever, we began slowly and agonizingly to come to terms with this past. Racial bias is still with us, but so is self-consciousness about our problems and how they must be overcome.

In Europe, by contrast, Hitler’s horrifying success at killing so many Jews meant that the burgeoning postwar societies of the continent never had to come to terms with difference, because it was to a great extent eradicated. Today, as the birthrate for European Muslims far outstrips that for their neighbors, it is as if Europe’s discomfort with difference is being encountered for the first time.

Ohio School Fires Controversial Science Teacher

On Friday, the Mount Vernon (OH) City School Board voted unanimously to fire controversial science teacher John Freshwater. (See prior posting.) AP reports that the vote came one day after a consulting firm released its report on Freshwater. The report (full text ) concludes that Freshwater taught creationism or intelligent design in class, told his class that anyone who is gay is a sinner, improperly used an electrostatic device to put a cross on the arm of a student, was excessively involved in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was insubordinate in failing to remove religious materials when ordered to do so by his principal. [Thanks for leads to Scott Mange and Dispatches from the Culture Wars.]

Sheriff Tells Church Students That God Was Briefer Than the Ohio Revised Code

In Weston, Ohio, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn was invited to be guest speaker at the Church of Christ's Vacation Bible School. His talk, as reported by Friday's Bowling Green (OH) Sentinel-Tribune, raises interesting church-state questions. After talking to the children about safety, the sheriff (apparently in his official uniform) held up a paperback copy of the New Testament and a thick volume of the Ohio Revised Code, telling students that God had been able to do in 10 rules what the state code takes so many more pages to do. He said it would be much simpler if society just had God's 10 rules, so a deputy could pull a driver over and inform him or her which of the commandments he or she had broken. The sheriff gave each child a plastic badge and offered them a copy of the New Testament furnished by the church. [Thanks to Tom Klein for the lead.]

Religious Discrimination Charged In Firing of Apartment Managers

A federal lawsuit charging religious discrimination was filed in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday by a husband and wife who were fired from their jobs as on-site apartment managers at a government-subsidized facility in Lake City (FL). Announcing the lawsuit, a release from Liberty Counsel said that the regional manager of the company that owns the apartments fired the couple because of a large piece of stained-glass artwork hanging on their office wall. The glass-- which had been up for 8 years-- depicted flowers and the words: "Consider the Lilies…Matthew 6:28." The suit alleges that Hallmark Companies' regional manager Christina Saunders told Daniel and Sharon Dixon that they were "too religious". Today's Lake City Reporter also reports on the lawsuit.

Canadian Committee Investigates Pakistan and Indonesia's Persecution of Ahmadis

In Canada last Tuesday, the country's House of Commons Sub-Committee on International Human Rights held a hearing on persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan and Indonesia. According to a PRWeb story on Thursday, in both countries Muslim hard liners press for prosecution of Ahmadis on the ground that they wrongly refer to themselves as Muslims. The full text of testimony and other submissions to the sub-committee are available online. (See prior related posting.)

Danish Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Muslim Lawsuit Against Newspaper

Last Thursday, an appeals court in Denmark affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a defamation lawsuit that had been brought by seven Muslim groups against the newspaper, the Jyllands-Posten. (See prior posting.) The lawsuit was triggered by the paper's printing in 2005 of controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Jurist reports that "The Vestre Landsret agreed with the judgment of the City Court of Aarhus that while some Muslims may be offended by the cartoons, they were an exercise in free speech, and there was no reason to believe the editors intended to insult Muslims." Time also reported on the decision. [Thanks to Dispatches from the Culture Wars for the lead.]

In Romania, Priests Try To Unionize

In northeastern Romania, 20 Romanian Orthodox Church priests have formed a labor union to seek higher pay and the right to make decisions without diocesan approval. ENI reported yesterday that the priests have applied to a court in Iasi to register their organization, the Mother of God Protection union. The Bucharest patriarchate opposed the move saying the priests are required to take their grievances to church bodies. In a statement, it said: "The initiatives to set up clergy trade unions are taken by priests tempted by the spirit of rebellion and division, and moving away from church discipline and communion." Priests are paid in part by the Romanian government and in part by local contributions.

Suit Challenges South Carolina's "I Believe" License Plates

On behalf of three ministers, a rabbi and a Hindu organization, Americans United for Separation of Church and State yesterday filed suit in federal court in South Carolina challenging the state's newly authorized "I Believe" specialty license plate. (AU press release.) The complaint (full text) alleges that the plate, featuring a cross superimposed on a stained-glass window along with the motto "I Believe", has the purpose and effect of endorsing the Christian religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. and South Carolina constitutions. It also alleges that the new plate amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in speech.

According to the complaint, after the legislature passed the bill authorizing the new plates, Gov. Mark Sanford allowed it to become law without his signature, indicating that he would have preferred that the plate have gone through the normal channels of approval by the Department of Motor Vehicles after a request by a private organization for its issuance. However Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer wants to see the plates produced immediately, and so has offered to put up the $4000 normally required as an alternative to 400 prepaid orders needed for a specialty plate. He expects the state will reimburse him once enough plates have been sold. SC Now yesterday reported on the lawsuit.

Pennsylvania Labor Bill Would Protect Lay Teachers In Religious Schools

In Pennsylvania last week, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski introduced HB 2626 to extend coverage of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act to lay teachers and other lay employees in religious schools. The bill provides that in labor disputes involving a religious organization, the state Labor Relations Board may not define or interpret religious doctrine, but may determine whether religious doctrine is being used as a pretext. Yesterday's Philadelphia Bulletin reports that the bill has 55 co-sponsors. The introduction of the bill follows a controversy over the Diocese of Scranton's including teacher Michael Milz in those who were laid off this year Milz was leading a movement to unionize employees, though the Diocese said this had nothing to do with its decision. The Diocese of Scranton has issued a statement opposing passage of the bill.

Court Says Scheduling Contempt Hearing On Jewish Holiday Did Not Violate Rights

In Segelman v. City of Springfield, (D MA, June 11, 2008), a Massachusetts federal district court rejected Shalom Segelman's claim that the city of Springfield, Massachusetts violated his free exercise, equal protection and due process rights when it "insisted" that a contempt proceeding against him go forward in state Housing Court on a Jewish holiday. The court said that the decision on the hearing date was made by the judge, not the city, and that failure to accommodate Segelman's holiday observance did not rise to a constitutional violation. The Springfield (MA) Republican reported earlier this month that the case grew out of a long-running attempt by the city to get Segelman to pay for repairs and operational expenses at a condominium complex he managed. Eventually the city closed down the complex for code violations. Segelman's damage suit also claimed that the city violated his civil rights by insisting that he be jailed for contempt at a facility that did not serve kosher food. [Thanks to The Docket for the lead.]

Israel's Justice Minister Wants To Dismiss Rabbinical Judge Who Invalidated Conversions

The London Jewish Chronicle today reports on a new clash in Israel between government and the Orthodox Jewish religious establishment. Controversy has raged over a recent ruling by Israel's Supreme Rabbinical Court that invalidated conversions carried out over the last nine years by the country's special conversion court. (See prior posting.) Now Israel's Minister of Justice, Daniel Friedmann, says he will follow the recommendation of the Judge’s Ombudsman, Tovah Strassberg-Cohen, and fire Rabbi Abraham Sherman, the rabbinical judge who wrote the controversial opinion. Sherman's removal however is likely to be difficult. It must be approved by the Dayanim Appointment Committee which, while co-chaired by Friedmann, has a majority of ultra-Orthodox members.

Large Number of San Diego Employees Opt Out of Performing Gay Marriages

When San Diego County Clerk Greg Smith told employees last month that he would accommodate those who had religious objections to performing gay marriages (see prior posting), he did not expect the response he received. According to yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune, at least 14 employees have raised religious objections. Smith says that keeping that many employees in their current jobs, but excusing them from performing gay marriages, would "unfairly burden other employees and would directly compromise the services we provide to the public." So Smith told objecting employees that they would have to seek reassignment to a different job in the county. This has led some of the employees to withdraw their objections.

CAIR Wants Indian Official Excluded Because of Religious Persecution

Section 604 of the International Religious Freedom Act (8 USC 1182(a)(2)(G) ) excludes from the U.S. "any alien who, while serving as a foreign government official, was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom..." The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced yesterday that it had sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking that Narendra Modi, chief minister of India's state of Gujarat, be denied a visa under this provision. Modi wants to attend the second World Gujarati Conference that will be held in Edison, N.J. in August. In 2002, anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat killed more than 1000. It was reported that Modi told officials to let the massacres run their course, calling them an "anticipated Hindu reaction." In 2005, Modi was denied a U.S. visa for a planned speech in Florida.

Blackwater Urges US Court To Apply Afghanistan's Shari'a In Plane Crash Lawsuit

Today's Raleigh News Observer reports on an interesting choice of law argument being raised in in a North Carolina federal district court case. The private military firm Blackwater is being sued by the widows of three American soldiers who died in a plane operate by the Blackwater affiliate, Presidential Airways. Blackwater argues that their claim should be decided using the law of Afghanistan since that is where the plane crash occurred. Afghanistan is governed by Islamic Shari'a law which, according to this report, does not hold a company responsible for the actions of employees performed in the course of their employment.

Ohio Township Says Churches Can Use Park Amphitheater

Miami Township, Ohio trustees have adopted a policy making it clear that churches can use its park amphitheater on the same basis as other non-profit groups. Today's Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the township decided it need a clear policy after the Clermont County (OH) public library was sued for barring use of its meeting rooms for religious events. (See prior posting.) Milford Assembly of God will be the first church to use the amphitheater when its band performs contemporary Christian music at a July 20 service.

Claim That Pollution Infringes Free Exercise Summarily Dismissed

In West v. United States Secretary of Defense, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46565 (WD WA, June 13, 2008), a pro se plaintiff challenged various aspects of a dredging project and cargo yard improvements in Olympia, Washington. In the case, a Washington federal district judge summarily dismissed plaintiff's claim that the dredging work caused pollution that violated his "right to life" and therefore his First Amendment free exercise of religion.

Pakistan Court Imposes Death Sentence For Blasphemy, But Execution Unlikely

In Sialkot, Pakistan yesterday, according to the AP, a judge imposed the death sentence on a Muslim man, Shafeeq Latif, for making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Separately Latif was sentenced to life in prison and a fine for desecrating pages of the Quran. Also reporting on the sentence, News.com.au says that while blasphemy convictions are fairly common in Pakistan, death sentences have never been carried out because convictions are usually overturned for lack of evidence. UPI says that after yesterday's verdict, banners and posters went up around Sialkot welcoming the death sentence.

Motion Seeks To Clear Names of Two Islamic Charities

In an unusual motion filed yesterday in federal district court in Texas, the ACLU of Texas is helping two mainstream Muslim charities clear their names. (ACLU press release). In its prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation, the federal government in a pre-trial brief filed last May named the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) as unindicted co-conspirators. Yesterday's motion asks the court to declare the public naming of the charities as unindicted co-conspirators to be a violation of their Fifth Amendment rights and to order expungement of their names from any public document filed or issued by the government that identifies them in this way. Petitioners' Memorandum of Law In Support of Their Motion (full text ) says:

In discussions with petitioners’ counsel ... the government confirmed that it did not believe either ISNA or NAIT had engaged in wrongdoing.... The lead HLF prosecutor explained to petitioners’ counsel that "the government’s public designation of ISNA and NAIT was a legal tactic" intended to permit the introduction of hearsay evidence.

Group Asks Wisconsin Legislature To End Opening Prayers

According to yesterday's Green Bay Press Gazette, the Freedom from Religion Foundation has asked Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch to end the long-standing practice of opening sessions with prayers. Under current practice, members of the Assembly sign up to either personally lead a prayer or have a constituent do so. FFRF said its review of 16 prayers offered by legislators in the past year found that all but one were overtly Christian, and some were critical of other religions. For example, in one case, Rep. Eugene Hahn prayed: "Those who don’t love us, may God turn their hearts. And, if he doesn’t turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles, so we’ll know them by their limping."

Obama Campaign Apologizes Over Refusal To Seat Muslim Women In TV View

The Barack Obama campaign has apologized to two Muslim women after campaign volunteers refused to seat the women, who were wearing Muslim headscarves, directly behind Obama at a Detroit rally on Monday. Staffers generally pick those who will sit behind the podium, and who will therefore be seen on television in the background as the candidate speaks. CBS News reported yesterday that in both cases, friends of the Muslim women were invited into the special seating, but the women were excluded. One volunteer cited the political climate as the reason that 25-year old lawyer Hebba Aref was not placed where she would be seen while Obama spoke. In the other case, Shimaa Abdelfadeel was told no one could wear a head covering of any kind in the special seats.

Canadian Doctors At Odds With Jewish Family Over Continuing Life Support

Since last November, the family of 84-year Samuel Golubchuck, an Orthodox Jew, has been battling with Canadian doctors over whether Golubchuck should be kept on life support. Doctors want to take him off of life support, but the family says this contradicts their religious beliefs that forbid the hastening of death. In February, a judge ruled that Golubchuck must be kept on life support in a Winnipeg hospital until the case goes to trial. (CTV, Feb. 13). Yesterday, according to CTV, doctors Bojan Paunovic and David Easton became the second and third to refuse continue to work in Grace Hospital's critical care unit in order to avoid what they consider the cruelty involved in keeping Golubchuk alive.

UPDATE: 84-year old Samuel Golubchuk died at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital on June 24, still on life support, before his case went to trial. (CTV.ca).

Science Teacher and School Officials Sued Over Teaching of Religion In Classroom

On Friday, a federal lawsuit was filed against controversial Mt. Vernon, Ohio middle school science teacher John Freshwater. District superintendent Steve Short and middle school Principal William White were also named as defendants in the suit claiming that Freshwater taught religion in his classroom and that school officials failed to discipline him for doing so. According to NBC4i News, the lawsuit alleges that Freshwater displayed the Ten Commandments, religious posters and Bible passages in his classroom, taught intelligent design, and told students that their textbooks contradicted the Bible. The complaint alleges that as advisor to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Freshwater participated in meetings and distributed Bibles. It also claims he burned a cross into the arms of two eighth-grade students in 2007. In April, Freshwater's refusal to remove a Bible from his desk in his classroom after being instructed to do so by school officials became the subject of wide media coverage. At that time Freshwater did comply with officials' request to remove the 10 Commandments from his classroom door. (See prior posting.)

Canada's Human Rights Commission Studying Approaches To Internet Hate Speech

Canada's Human Rights Commission is launching a review of how it handles complaints of Internet hate speech, according to today's National Post. In the wake of at least three cases involving complaints by Muslim groups about articles or cartoons appearing online, the Commission has asked University of Windsor Law Professor Richard Moon to conduct the study. Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act defines as a discriminatory practice communication over the Internet of "any matter that is likely to expose a person ... to hatred or contempt ... on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination." Critics say the "likely to expose" test is too broad, since it takes account neither of intent nor of truth as a defense. Prof. Moon's study could recommend legal changes or the drafting of guidelines for the Commission to use in such cases. At the same time, an internal study by the Commission will look at investigative methods used by the Commission staff. The Commission has been criticized for staff use of pseudonyms to access and post material on websites under scrutiny.

Church Sues Plano, Texas Over Acreage Requirement for Churches

Yesterday's Plano (TX) Courier Star reports on a lawsuit filed by the 50-member Vietnamese Baptist Church against the City of Plano challenging the Board of Adjustment's denial of an occupancy permit to the church. The city will not permit the church to have electricity and water service at the building it recently purchased for $400,000. While the basis of the denial is not completely clear, apparently the issue is the city's zoning requirement that churches located in residential areas be on at least two acres of land. Filed in state court, the lawsuit alleges that the restriction violates the church's 1st and 14th Amendment rights.

In Russia, Course For Teachers Spreads "Blood Libel"

Two years ago, schools in four areas of Russia began teaching required courses in Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture. (See prior posting.) Last week the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union reported on a troubling series of lectures presented at Tyumen State Oil-Gas University designed to train future teachers of the course. Professor Svetlana Shestakovaya taught students the Jewish blood libel-- the claim that Jews murder Christians to use their blood in making Matzoh. She also described Catholics are "a heresy," Protestants as "pseudo-Christian sects," and said that an "occult, evil spirit" inspired Muhammad to write the Quran.