The introduction of the Quran into congressional oath-taking is evidence of the growing religious diversity of the United States. The Quran used by Ellison during his January 4 ceremonial swearing-in is unique. It once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the Declaration of Independence and third U.S. president. The Library of Congress, which obtained the book from Jefferson in 1815, loaned it to Ellison for the occasion. It is an English translation from the Arabic first published in London in 1734.Workday Minnesota yesterday said that at a community send-off in St. Anthony, MN, Ellison received blessings from a Baptist pastor, a Jewish rabbi, and a Muslim imam. Meanwhile on the floor of the House of Representatives, Ellison and Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode-- who had strongly criticized Ellison's use of the Koran-- shook hands and agreed to talk more at a later date. (Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch).
Jefferson, who gave much thought to religion, in 1802 wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association: “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.”
Muslims first arrived in the United States in slave ships from Africa. One of these, Abdur Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori, was brought from Guinea to Mississippi in the early 19th century. He won his freedom through the intercession of Mississippi Senator Thomas Reed and the sultan of Morocco, who successfully petitioned Secretary of State Henry Clay and President John Quincy Adams to free Sori.
Today, Muslim Americans number several million. Ellison’s election and his inclusion of the Quran in his swearing-in ceremony highlight the legacy of religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution and the contributions to American society made by people of diverse faiths.
Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, January 05, 2007
State Department Praises Ellison's Swearing-In
Iranian Musician Sentenced For Insulting Islam
Suit Challenges Church's Eviction of Charter School
Park Service Still Sells Creationist Account Of Grand Canyon
India Court To Hear Challenge To Statue of Anti-Hindu Reformer
A report yesterday from News Today says that the Supreme court arguments today focus on a request to have the statue covered pending a hearing on the underlying dispute scheduled in the Madras High Court. The controversial statue carries an inscription (quoting Periyar) that reads: "One who worships god is a barbarian. One who preaches about god is an idiot and one who professes any religion is a fraud." The suit alleges that allowing the statue to remain near the temple would infringe Constitutionally protected freedom of religion. The suit argues that it is the duty of the State to protect residents from injury or insult to their religious sentiments.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Ellison Will Use Thomas Jefferson's Quran For Swearing-In
Minneapolis Airport Proposes To Suspend Muslim Cabbies Who Refuse Passengers
Refusals of service on religious grounds has become a significant problem as a large percentage of airport cab drivers are Somali Muslims. However the Somali Justice Advocacy Center supports the proposed new penalties.
Muslims also have another disagreement with the Airports Commission. They want a separate prayer room at the airport. However MAC spokesman Patrick Hogan says that there is a quiet area currently open to everyone for contemplation and prayer, and separate space for a particular religion will not be provided.
Military Times Poll On Religion In Military Released
The methodology used for the poll makes it unclear how accurate it is in reflecting the opinions of the entire military. Military Times mailed questionnaires to 6,000 people drawn at random from its list of active-duty subscribers-- those who pay the annul $55 subscription fee. It is unclear whether the subscriber base is representative of the entire military. The Military Times did not specifically indicate how many of the 6,000 questionnaires were returned; however an examination of the raw data available online suggests that 955 readers responded. The Military Times did report that 35% of respondents said they were Protestant, 29% were Catholic, 7% were Evangelical Christian, 2% were Mormon, 1% were Jewish, 0% were Muslim, 13% were Other, and 12% had No Preference.
Arrest Warrant Need Not Reflect Current Religious Name
Discrimination Against Christians In Syria
Michigan Church Wins RLUIPA Challenge; Law's Constitutionality Upheld
UPDATE: The decision is now available on LEXIS at 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28.
Romania's President Signs Controversial Religion Law
UPDATE: The Romanian civil rights group, Solidarity for Freedom of Conscience, plans to go to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge Romania’s new Religion Law. On Friday Playfuls.com reported that critics claim this provision is broad enough to cover rock songs or works of Western literature and philosophy such as Nietzsche’s, The Antichrist. Meanwhile the Catholic Church in Romania says that the new law “is still perfectable”. (Mediafax).
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
No Plaintiffs Volunteer To Challenge Florida County's Ten Commandments
Iraqi Christians Formally Petition For Separate Province
Malaysia's High Court Permits Challenge To Selangor Sharia Enforcement
North Carolina County Council Debates Sectarian Invocations
French Tribunal Says Pig Soup Is Not Discriminatory
Religious Objections Raised To FDA's Green Light On Cloned Animal Products
Israeli Court Upholds Deceased's Right To Cremation
UPDATE: On Monday, Knesset member Ya'acov Cohen (United Torah Judaism) introduced an amendment to the burial law to effectively ban cremation. (Jerusalem Post, Jan. 8).
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Was Saddam's Execution On Sunni Eid Illegal?
The death penalty cannot be carried out on official holidays and special festivals connected with the religion of the condemned person.Sunnis and Shiites disagree on the date for the celebration of Eid al-Adha. Saddam's execution-- at dawn on Saturday-- was hurried to avoid the Shiite celebration of Eid al-Adha that began Saturday evening (see prior posting). However the Sunni celebration had already begun on Friday at sundown. Saddam was Sunni, so it would appear that Section 290 would preclude his execution on the Sunni dates of the Eid. That is what Rizgar Mohammed Amin, the Kurdish judge who originally presided over Saddam's trial thinks. (International Herald Tribune, Jan. 1).He was removed during the trial when Shiites claimed he was too lenient.
All of this makes very important the remark of Munir Haddad, a judge on the Iraqi High Tribunal who represented the Tribunal at the execution. He was quoted by the International Herald Tribune on Friday as saying: "The official Id in Iraq is Sunday... Saddam is not Sunni. And he is not Shiite. He is not Muslim." It is not clear whether Haddad claims to have any legal basis for this assertion, though during Saddam's rule Shiites objected strongly to the secular policies of Saddam's Sunni-backed Ba'athist government.
At any rate, the timing of Saddam's execution, coupled with executioners' remarks as Saddam was being hanged, reinforces the image of Saddam's execution as revenge by Shiites on Sunnis. (Baltimore Sun; Los Angeles Times).
Christian Lawyers Petition Queen To Protest Rules On Equal Rights For Gays
Monday, January 01, 2007
Injuries In Turkey From Animal Sacrifices Outside Municipal Facilities
Happy New Year and Thanks To Religion Clause Readers
Happy New Year! As 2007 begins, let me thank all of you for your readership, your comments, the material you send to me, and the links to Religion Clause that you place on your own websites and blogs. Thanks in particular to my regular readers, some of whom tell me that they check the blog every day. Please continue to keep in touch. The e-mail address for communicating with me about Religion Clause has recently changed. You should now send your e-mails to this NEW address: religionclause@bex.net
Readership of Religion Clause during 2006 has grown steadily. Shortly after midnight ushered in 2007, the Religion Clause site meter (measuring readers since the blog began) turned to 104,271. In 2006, Religion Clause attracted over 82,000 readers. I hope this means that there continues to be a need for serious, non-ideological, coverage of legal and political developments relating to religious liberty and to church-state relationships.
Over the last year, international developments have become a more significant portion of my coverage. Increasingly nations around the world-- even though they may have different legal systems-- are facing issues similar to those that regularly arise in the United States, as well as fascinating issues that are unique to their legal systems and traditions. I hope that you find these as fascinating as I do.
Best wishes for 2007,
Howard M. Friedman
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Nellis v. Jahnke, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92965 (ED WI, Dec. 21, 2006), a Wisconsin federal district court permitted a Native American prisoner to move ahead with his free exercise claim against prison officials. The inmate's complaint alleged that he had been denied "chapel studies", the only means of practicing his religion, after he quit his voluntary employment with the prison's food service department out of fear that co-workers would harm him.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
White House Issues Greetings To Muslims Celebrating Eid al-Adha
Reports Of Chinese Arrests Of Priests Loyal To Vatican Denied
Church-State Relations Being Redefined In Europe
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Invasive Fish Regulations Said To Violate Fish Owner's Free Exercise Rights
Soccer League Permits Sikhs To Play Wearing Patkas
Another Indian State Passes Anti-Conversion Law
California Supreme Court Rejects Murderer's Complaint On Use Of Bible In Jury Deliberations
Saddam's Execution Hurried To Miss Muslim Holiday
Iraqi law, written during Saddam’s regime, prohibits executions during a religious holiday. The International Herald Tribune reports that some confusion existed on timing because the Eid does not begin until Sunday for Shiites—who now control the Iraqi government. So the official holiday in Iraq did not begin until then. However for Sunnis—Saddam's sect—the holiday began on Saturday. An Iraqi official expressed some frustration at the confusion: "According to the law, no execution can be carried out during the holidays. After all the hard work we have done, why would we break the law and ruin what we have built?" CBS News reports that the Iraqi government consulted Muslim clerics on the timing issue. In the end, according the International Herald Tribune: "the hanging was carried out with such haste that an ad hoc air at times overshadowed the historical import."
According to Pakistan's The International News, two other defendants sentenced to death along with Saddam will not be executed until after the holiday ends-- Tuesday for Sunnis and Wednesday for Shiites.
To those looking for historical analogues, the hurried execution in the face of an upcoming religious celebration brings to mind the circumstances surrounding the execution 53 years ago of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in the United States. The convicted atom spies' execution was hurriedly advanced from 11:00 p.m. on Friday night to 8:00 p.m. after the Rosenberg's lawyers—seeking a 24 hour delay—argued that it would be a sacrilege to kill the Rosenberg's—who were Jewish—on their Sabbath. (from Natl. Comm. to Reopen Rosenberg Case).
UPDATE: Governments in a number of Sunni Muslim countries have criticized the decision to execute Saddam Hussein on Eid al-Adha. Sunday's Chicago Tribune reports that leaders in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan criticized the timing of the execution. Among Arab countries, only Kuwait welcomed the developments. Saad bin Tafla al-Ajmi, former information minister of Kuwait, said "This is the best Eid gift for humanity." Meanwhile, Reuters reports that a number of European leaders, as well as the Vatican, have criticized use of the death penalty even for Saddam.
4th Circuit Decides Two RLUIPA Cases
In Madison v. Commonwealth of Virginia, (4th Cir., Dec. 29, 2006), the 4th Circuit upheld the constitutionality of RLUIPA as a valid exercise of Congress’ spending power. It rejected Virginia’s broad sovereign immunity defense, finding that Congress conditioned Virginia’s acceptance of federal correctional funds on the state’s consent to be sued under RLUIPA. However, the court held that because RLUIPA does not unequivocally indicate that the waiver of sovereign immunity extends to money damages, the Eleventh Amendment bars claims for monetary relief against Virginia.
The case was brought by a Virginia inmate seeking the prison’s “Common Fare” meals. He claimed that his “Hebrew Israelite” religion directs him to eat a kosher diet. The United States had intervened in the case on the side of the inmate, and amicus briefs in support of the prisoner’s position had been filed by the ACLU, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and the Coalition of Prison Chaplain Associations. The Associated Press reported on the decision.
In Lovelace v. Lee, (4th Cir., Dec. 29,2006), the 4th Circuit in a 2-1 decision held that Virginia prison officials had not adequately justified their policy on Ramadan observance that resulted in a disciplinary denial of a Nation of Islam prisoner's participation in the Ramadan fast and weekly prayer services. It held that under RLUIPA, prison officials had the burden of showing that their actions were the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. The court held that mere negligent deprivations did not violate RLUIPA, but that here plaintiff’s claim against the correctional officer alleged intentional conduct. The majority also permitted plaintiff's free exercise and due process claims to proceed and refused, on the present state of the evidence, to find that a correctional officer defendant had qualified immunity.
Judge Wilkinson, dissenting, said "not content to recognize this case for what it is — a possibly legitimate complaint by a Muslim prison inmate that his Ramadan fasting rights were deliberately and maliciously violated by a prison guard — the majority expands it to what it is not, an excuse for top-to-bottom fine tuning of an accommodating policy designed to foster the very values of religious expression set forth in RLUIPA."
Friday, December 29, 2006
Top Ten 2006 Free Exercise- Church/State Developments
1. Muslim nations react strongly to publication of Muhammad caricatures by Danish newspaper.
2. Fundamentalist Christian clergy work to energize conservative voters for November elections, walking fine line on IRS limits.
3. Military chaplains split on support for guidelines emphasizing inclusive prayer at military events.
4. A federal district court strikes down Iowa’s faith-based prison rehabilitation program.
5. Muslim women around the world find increasing resistance by government agencies, courts and politicians to their wearing of niqab (veil), or even hijab (headscarf).
6. Polygamy begins to regain respectability despite prosecution of FLDS leader.
7. Supreme Court holds religious use of hallucinogens is protected by RFRA.
8. Attempts in courts and Congress to save the Mt. Soledad Cross continue.
9. The Rahman case in Afghanistan and the punishment of proselytization and conversion in Asia and the Middle East capture world attention.
10. Politicians and commentators object to swearing-in on Koran for first Muslim member of Congress.
You can compare the top ten picks for 2006 by the Religious Newswriters Association. Their poll looks to all the year's "religion stories", not just the ones that involve legal or church-state issues. Interestingly, we agree on the top story, but not on many of the others. And if you want to review my 2005 picks, they are still online from a year ago.
UPDATE: Here is another top ten list posted just this morning by Don Byrd at Blog from the Capitol.
Utah Cities Change New Years Celebrations Because Of Mormon Traditions
U.S. Military Seeking To Recruit More Muslims
Thailand Bars "Coyote Ugly" Dancers As Religiously Offensive
TSA Trains Agents In Cultural Sensitivity For Hajj Pilgrims
Court Requires Church To Comply With Amended Zoning Law
Thursday, December 28, 2006
6th Circuit Awards Attorneys' Fees In RLUIPA Case
Gerald Ford Remembered For Helping Soviet Jews Gain Freedom
Keith Ellison Speaks Out On His Muslim Faith and Politics
I'm not a religious leader, I've never led religious services of any kind. I'm not here to be a preacher, but in terms of political agenda items, my faith informs me....
I'm a little incredulous about why anyone would care about what I'm going to swear on. In fact, if I swore on a book that wasn't of my tradition ... would you trust me?
Many people see their religion as an identity thing, much in the same way Crips or Bloods might say, "I'm this, this is the set I'm rolling with". They've never actually tried to explore how religion should connect us, they're into how religion divides us. .... They haven't really explored ... how my faith connects me to you.
Texas City Sued By Santeria Priest Over Animal Sacrifice Ban
Suit and Counter-Suit In Illinois Priest Sex Abuse Case
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Russia May Back Off of New Church Reporting Rules
Religious Freedom Case Pending In Texas Supreme Court
Profile of Kentucky's Prison Staff Chaplains
Judge Rejects First Amendment Defense To Marijuana Charges By Church Founders
UPDATE: The full opinion in United States v. Quaintance is now available at 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94439 (D NM, Dec. 22, 2006).
Employee Awarded Damages In Religious Discrimination Case
Dispute Over Cross In William & Mary Chapel Continues
Land Use Dispute Between Jewish Student Group and Milwaukee Neighbors
Indian Judge Stays Order Limiting Sacrifices By Muslims On Bakri Eid
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Hajj Begins Thursday
Political Adviser Urges Democrats To Campaign More On Their Religious Beliefs
Dutch Teacher Fired For Refusing To Shake Men's Hands
Church-State Scholar Saluted As He Faces ALS
EU Bishops Want Reference To Religion In Anniversary Document
Monday, December 25, 2006
White House Issues 2006 Christmas Greetings; Queen Elizabeth Podcasts Hers
"For unto us a child is born ... and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6Meanwhile in Britain, Queen Elizabeth's annual Christmas Day message to the Commonwealth will not only be televised, but will be available by podcast and can be watched directly online as well, according to today's Daily Express. By subscribing ahead, those who are interested can get the podcast delivered directly to their iTunes or other MP3 software. The Queen's message to the Armed Forces is also available in MP3 form. An archive of all the Queen's Christmas broadcasts since 1952 is available on the British Monarch website.
For centuries, patient men and women listened to the words of prophets and lived in joyful expectation of the coming Messiah. Their patience was rewarded when a young virgin named Mary welcomed God's plan with great faith, and a quiet birth in a little town brought hope to the world. For more than two millennia, Christians around the world have celebrated Christmas to mark the birth of Jesus and to thank the Almighty for His grace and blessings.
In this season of giving, we also remember the universal call to love our neighbors. Millions of compassionate souls take time during the holidays to help people who are hurt, feed those who are hungry, and shelter those who need homes. Our Nation also thinks of the men and women of our military who are spending Christmas at posts and bases around the world and of the loved ones who pray for their safe return. America owes a debt of gratitude to our service members and their families.
The simple story of Christmas speaks to every generation and holds a sense of wonder and surprise. During this time of joy and peace, may we be surrounded by the love of family and friends and take time to reflect on the year ahead. Laura and I pray that this season will be a time of happiness in every home and a time of peace throughout the world. Merry Christmas.
Uncounted Overseas Missionaries Could Lead To Larger U.S. Congress
Now Utah leaders have endorsed a proposal that would permanently increase the number of members in the House of Representatives from 435 to 437. Then Utah would get its fourth seat-- presumably a Republican-- and the District of Columbia would get its first voting member-- presumably a Democrat. Since the total number of representatives is controlled by statute, and not specified in the Constitution, the added member for Utah would presumably be permissible. However, there is doubt whether D.C. can be given a voting representative without a Constitutional amendment.
Leaders In Pakistan and Nepal Extend Greetings To Christian Minorities
In largely Hindu Nepal, IANS today reports that the Christian community is celebrating Christmas in a new atmosphere of tolerance. Earlier this year, a pro-democracy movement removed the king and installed a multi-party government that promised to make Nepal a secular state instead of one whose official religion is Hinduism. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala added Christmas to the list of official programs and extended greetings to the Christian community.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Iraqi Christians Suggest Competing Plans For Autonomous Region
Connecticut Priest Abuse Court Records Unsealed
In China, Christians Sentenced For Protests, While Christianity Spreads
North Carolina School Board Liberalizes Policy On Distributing Material
Secularist Group Charges Large French Subsidies To Religion Exist
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases Mostly Focus On Prison Diets
In Blount v. Johnson, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90979 (WD VA, Dec. 15, 2006), a Virginia federal district judge held that-- assuming he can prove a sincerely held religious belief-- denying a prisoner who is a member of the House of Yahweh access to the prison's common fare diet substantially burdens his free exercise of religion. The court rejected the magistrate judge's conclusion that officials are entitled to qualified immunity on the claim.
In Andreola v. Wisconsin, (7th Cir., Dec. 18, 2006), the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of claims by an Orthodox Jewish prisoner that his free exercise and RLUIPA rights were violated when prison officials failed to provide him with kosher food meeting his strict standards and failed to permit him to supervise the preparation of his meals. The court also dismissed his claim that officials committed fraud by representing the food served to him as kosher.
In Hallford v. California Department of Corrections, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92536 (ED CA, Dec. 21, 2006), a California federal district court held that a Buddhist prisoner had not exhausted his administrative remedies before he filed suit challenging the difficulties he experienced in attempting to gain access to a vegetarian diet in prison.
In the one recent case on another topic, in Smith v. Sears, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92516 (SD OH, Dec. 21, 2006), an Ohio federal district court permitted a prisoner to amend his pending complaint to allege that forcing him to have his beard cut violated his rights under RLUIPA.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Congress Authorizes Diplomatic Privileges For Vatican's UN Mission
Morocco Journalists Face Prison For Article On Religious Jokes
Lawsuit Attempts To Prevent Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese From Taking Property
House Hearings On International Religious Freedom
Friday, December 22, 2006
Future Of Religious Freedom In Turkmenistan Unclear After Dictator's Death
Controversy Continues Around Government-Sponsored Holiday Displays
NZZ Online reports that in Switzerland a debate has been raging on whether Christmas celebrations in public schools should be banned out of concern for the feelings of Muslims. The debate originated when comments made by the president of the Swiss teachers' association were misconstrued. IN response, Muslim organizations have specifically requested that Christmas celebrations be kept in the schools.
In Olympia, Washington, officials have rejected a request by a resident that a nativity scene be placed beside the Menorah at the capitol building. The Associated Press reports that even though the Menorah was lit by the governor, officials believe that the nativity scene would be a stronger governmental endorsement of religion. However, in Wailuku, Hawaii, Maui County officials have installed a Christmas tree next to a Hanukkah menorah and dreidel already on display at the county building. The Honolulu Advertiser reports that the step was taken after the ACLU objected that the Hanukkah display alone could give the impression that the county was endorsing Judaism.
UPDATE: On Dec. 27, the Alliance Defense Fund announced that it had filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order in Washington state to permit a nativity scene to be displayed in the state capitol rotunda on the same terms as the menorah and holiday tree that are already there.
In a Toronto, Ontario courthouse, a Christmas tree that was originally moved to a back lobby on the orders of one of the judges (see prior posting) has reappeared in its original place in the courthouse's main foyer. The Toronto Star reports that after the province's attorney general spoke with the chief justice, the earlier directive was reversed. Officials also agreed that in January they would discuss creating a formal policy on holiday decorations. Attorney General Michael Bryant, apparently suggesting that the incident had been overblown, said: "We don't see the need to bring a habeas corpus application to free the tree just yet. Amnesty International has not called to date."
Virginia Congressman Reignites Controversy Over Swearing-In On Quran
Goode has refused to apologize for his remarks. (CNN). Congressman Ellison, however, responded charitably, saying he would like to meet with Goode to discuss Islam and find some "common ground." (CNN).When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand.
I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way.... [I]f American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran....I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.
The entire controversy was begun earlier this month when talk-show host Dennis Prager wrote a column saying Ellison should be required to use a Bible instead of the Quran. (See prior posting.) Yesterday the executive committee of the 68-member Holocaust Memorial Council on which Prager serves adopted a resolution critical of Prager's position. It said that Prager's position is "antithetical to the mission of the [U.S. Holocaust Memorial] museum as an institution promoting tolerance and respect for all peoples regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity." (New York Times.)
No Free Exercise Problem In Denial Of Medicaid For Services In Israel
Georgia State Board To Offer Minimal Guidance On Bible Courses
NY Court Upholds Zoning Charges Against Church
Thursday, December 21, 2006
New Study On Legal Developments Affecting Faith-Based Initiative
Italian Parliamentarians Use Nativity Scene To Promote Gay Rights
Do Open Meeting Laws Prevent Sensitivity Training Of Fellow Public Official?
Polish Legislators Propose Jesus As Honorary King; Church Demurs
Requirements of Quran Will Be Defense In South African Corruption Appeal
Bible-Carrying British Flight Attendant Challenges Saudi Travel Rules
Swedish Company Refuses To Bargain With Union On Religious Grounds
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Nativity Movie Will Show After All In Chicago's Daley Square
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, in a release circulated by e-mail this morning, says that the new decision came in "a matter of minutes" after the Becket Fund presented its Ebenezer Award on television to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. The Award is "a specially designed Christmas stocking filled with lumps of coal, and is given each year to the individual responsible for the silliest affront to the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays."