Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
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).