Property Ownership In Michigan Church Split Is Before State Court

Sunday's Grand Rapids, Michigan Press carried a story about a case scheduled for trial yesterday in state court involving the question of who owns the property of the Lamont, Michigan Christian Reformed Church. The battle is between those congregants who remained loyal to the parent body and local members who formed a new church-- allegedly a majority of the congregation-- after their pastor was defrocked by the parent body. At issue in the case is whether the Christian Reformed Church follows an hierarchical structure as to property disputes as well as to doctrine. If the judge finds it does, under settled First Amendment precedent he will leave determination of the property dispute to a church body. The dispute has begun its way through the Christian Reformed Church's decision making procedures, with a regional body already ruling in favor of those who remained loyal to the parent group. [Thanks to Brian D. Wassom for the lead.]

Judge Excludes Religious Appeal In Closing Arguments

Monday's Philadelphia, Mississippi Evening Bulletin reported on a fascinating ruling made by Mississippi federal district court judge Michael P. Mills. Trial attorney Jim Waide represents a police officer in a suit in which the officer claims he was fired because he criticized the Grenada, Mississippi police chief. Attorney Waide is known for appealing to jurors' religious beliefs in his closing arguments. For example, he has been known to ask the jury to consider "what would Jesus do?". At the request of attorney Gary Friedman, representing defendants, the judge has issued an order prohibiting either attorney from making religious references "in such a manner as can reasonably be construed to indicate that the jury should consider the teachings of or beliefs of the deity or any religious references in addition to or to the exclusion of the law." Friedman argued that counsel should not be put in the position of having to object to religious references in front of the jury.In explaining his order, Judge Mills wrote: "Religious values should not be used for temporal or adversarial gain or to invoke sectarian prejudice or bias. Such tactics have no utility in an unbiased search for the truth and as such are improper in the courtroom." Needless to say, attorney Waide does not agree, arguing that the nation's Christian heritage and the law are intertwined.

Serbia Guilty of Not Preventing Genocide of Muslims, But Not Guilty of Comitting Genocide

The New York Times reports that yesterday the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a decision in Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro, (Summary of Judgment). In the case, Bosnia had sued Serbia civilly for committing genocide in the massacre of Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995. The court found that Serbia was not guilty of committing genocide, but that it did violate its obligation to prevent genocide. It found that Serbia also violated its treaty obligations when it failed to transfer Ratko Mladić to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Details of the decision are discussed in ICJ Press Release 2007/8.

Cert. Denied In Challenge To Polygamy Laws

Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari (Order List) in Holm v. Utah (Case No. 06-535). Petitioners had asked the court to review a decision of the Utah Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of Utah's polygamy laws. Petitioners argued that the right to privacy precludes states from regulating intimate relationships that occur outside of marriage. (See prior posting.)

French Supreme Court Finds Humorist's Remarks Were Anti-Semitic

France's Supreme Court of Appeal has reversed a decision of the Versailles Court of Appeal that had exonerated humorist Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala of making a public racial insult against the Jewish community. Yesterday's European Jewish Press reports that the Supreme Court found that Dieudonné's words-- published in 2002 --were "clearly anti-Semitic". It rejected the lower court's holding that Dieudonne's remarks were not aimed at Jews, but instead at the influence of religion.

Quebec Soccer League Prohibits Wearing Hijab In Games

One of the rules of the Quebec Soccer Federation prohibits players from wearing headgear during the game. Yesterday's Winnipeg Free Press reports that last Sunday, an 11-year old Muslim girl was told by the referee that she must remove her hijab (head scarf) if she wanted to play in a tournament being held near Laval. The action, taken by a Muslim referee, has provoked controversy, with some arguing that it is another example of inadequate accommodation of individuals' religious practices. The Muslim Council of Montreal urged Quebec to follow the lead of the Ontario Soccer Association that allows players to wear religious clothing on the field.

New Religious Liberty & Church-State Articles

From SSRN:
Camil Ungureanu, The Relation Between Democracy and Religion: Towards a European Discursive “Model”?, (December 2006).

Thomas Charles Berg, Can Religious Liberty be Protected as Equality?, Texas Law Review, Vol. 85, No. 5, April 2007

From SmartCILP:
Chai R. Feldblum, Moral Conflict and Liberty: Gay Rights and Religion, 71 Brooklyn Law Review 61-123 (2006).

Patrick M. Garry, A Congressional Attempt to Alleviate the Uncertainty of the Court's Establishment Clause Jurisprudence: The Public Expression of Religion Act, 37 Cumberland Law Review 1-23 (2006-2007).

Andrew Koppelman, You Can't Hurry Love: Why Antidiscrimination Protections for Gay People Should Have Religious Exemptions, 71 Brooklyn Law Review (2006).

Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, John Randolph Tucker Lecture: Comparing Religions, Legally, 63 Washington & Lee Law Review 913-928 (2006).

Steven K. Green, "Bad History": The Lure of History in Establishment Clause Adjudication, 81 Notre Dame L.aw Review, 1717-1754 (2006).

Marci A. Hamilton & Rachel Steamer, The Religious Origins of Disestablishment Principles, 81 Notre Dame Law Review 1755-1791 (2006).

Douglas Laycock, Regulatory Exemptions of Religious Behavior and the Original Understanding of the Establishment Clause, 81 Notre Dame Law Review 1793-1842 (2006).

NJ Rescue Mission Ordered To End Drug & Alcohol Treatment

In Asbury Park, New Jersey, the Market Street Mission, a gospel rescue mission seeking to operate a homeless shelter, was ordered last Thursday by the state Department of Social Services to stop providing alcohol and drug abuse treatment because the Mission has not obtained a permit. Yesterday's Asbury Park press reported on the new development. The battle between the Mission and local residents has been back and forth between the courts and the zoning board since 2005. The Mission believes its right to the free exercise of religion means it does not need a license. Asbury Park residents believe that the Mission will bring more homeless, unemployed people to the city and that the Mission does not properly screen its residents. In addition, Asbury Park is a city that was largely revitalized by a gay community, while the Mission believes that gays and lesbians require treatment for a sexual addiction.

Recent Prisoner Free Excercise Cases

In Searles v. Bruce, (10th Cir., Feb. 15, 2007), the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal for lack of jurisdiction under the "collateral order" doctrine that allows an interlocutory appeal of a denial of qualified immunity only on questions of law. Here a Jewish prisoner claimed prison officials denied him use of tefillin and denied him a meaningful religious observance of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.

In Henderson v. Frank, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11064 (WD WI, Feb. 15, 2007), a Wisconsin the court federal district court rejected an Establishment Clause claim brought by a Taoist prisoner. held that a policy that creates seven "umbrella religions" under which all other religions fall, is merely a system to manage the many faith traditions and does not give any particular benefit to some religions that is denied to others. It also held that the prison's refusal to purchase Taosit religious texts for the prisoner failed to raise a Free Exercise claim.

Maine Bill Would Separate Clergy's Role In Marriages From Legal Recognition

A bill has been introduced into the Maine legislature that would separate the religious role of clergy in performing marriage ceremonies from the legal recognition of marriage. The bill, LD 779, titled An Act to Remove Clergy as Signatories on Marriage Licenses, was introduced by a legislator on behalf of Rev. Mark Rustin, a Congregationalist minister, who says that he does not want to be an agent for the state of Maine. The bill calls for the legal aspect of the marriage contract to be carried out by lawyers, justices, judges or notaries. Today's Village Soup Times reports that Rev. Rustin is concerned that the present role of clergy places them in a difficult position when they need help a couple get through a divorce. Also, he said, that sometimes older couples want the clergy’s blessing to live together, but do not want a legal marriage contract because they will then lose Social Security benefits. Some people think the bill will also impact the issue of same-sex marriages.

Challenge To Sale of Boston Land To Mosque Dismissed As Untimely

In Boston, a Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging on Establishment Clause grounds the sale of a parcel of land by the Boston Redevelopment Authority to the Islamic Society of Boston. The land was sold at a price well below its appraised value. Today's Boston Globe reports that the court held the appeal of the BRA's decision to be untimely. The judge found that the plaintiff was bound by the requirement that BRA decisions be appealed within 30 days. of the sale of the land. (See prior related posting.)

Union Has Independent Accommodation Requirement Under Title VII

United States v. State of Ohio, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11895 (SD OH, Feb. 21, 2007), is an opinion on the award of attorneys fees to a Presbyterian state employee after he won a settlement in a suit brought on his behalf by the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement allowed him to direct a portion of his union fees to a charity because of his opposition to the union's support of abortion and gay rights. (See prior posting.) In the course of its decision to award attorneys' fees, the court held that the union had an independent duty under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to accommodate the employee's religious beliefs, even though state law (and a directive of the State Employee Relations Board) provided that the state would not do so. State law permitted accommodation of public employees who hold sincere religious objections to joining or financially supporting a union only when they belonged to a religion that historically held conscientious objections to such support.

Religious Defense In Charges Of Possessing Hawk Feathers

In Marietta, Ohio Municipal Court, Steve Coulter is defending against charges of possessing hawk feathers without a permit, arguing that he was using them for a Native American religious ceremony. Friday's Marietta Times reports that Coulter picked up two dead hawks found along the highway. Coulter, who was raised as a Baptist, is now he leader of a local Native American tribe, "The People’s Nation". The group uses hawk feathers to make fans to lift smoke and prayer during religious ceremonies.

Defiant Pastor Back In Georgia Supreme Court

The Associated Press reports today on a dispute between the pastor of a small church in Cedartown, Georgia and the deacons of the church. Last week the dispute was back in the Georgia Supreme Court for the third time. Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church pastor Willie M. Bolden refuses to leave his post. In an earlier round of litigation, the court ordered a congregational vote on whether the deacons control the church's property. By a vote of 27-12, the congregants said they do.

Jewish Groups Testify In Favor Of Maryland Divorce Bill

The Institute for Public Affairs reports that last Thursday, representatives of a number of Jewish organizations testified before the Maryland legislature in favor of pending bills that would require courts to refuse to grant a civil divorce where Jewish husbands had not given their wives a religious divorce document ("get"). (See prior posting.) An opinion letter from Maryland's attorney general says that the legislation does not violate the Establishment Clause. Here is the written testimony presented by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

Teachers Pray For Students' Success, and Create Controversy

A different kind of controversy over prayer in the classroom has broken out in Brooksville, Florida. Thursday's St. Petersburg Times reported that after school hours on a Friday night at the beginning of February, the principal and several staff members decided to pray for the success of Brooksville Elementary School students on the FCAT-- Florida's achievement tests. They offered Christian prayers and anointed the students' desks with prayer oil. Some teachers however mistook the episode for vandalism because on Monday morning the desks were still greasy from the oil. After some complaints and a conversation with superintendent Wendy Tellone, the school's principal said that future prayer meetings would be held off campus. An attorney for the Hernando County school system said that as long as the religious activities were not disruptive, the school cannot discriminate against people because of their religious practice. [Thanks to Dispatches from the Culture Wars for the lead.]

High Schooler's Religious Objections End Teacher's Creative Essay Assignments

Yesterday's Everett, Washington Herald reports that a Lake Stevens, WA high school teacher is in trouble for assigning creative essays to his students. Gary McDonald asked his students to write an essay to compare "World on the Turtle's Back"-- an Iroquois creation myth -- with other creation stories and their own concepts of good and evil. He asked them to discuss how that story, and how the creation account in Genesis, reflect the four functions of myth. In a later assignment he asked students to write on how evil can exist if God is good and all-powerful. One of McDonald's 17-year old students complained that the assignments were offensive to her Christian beliefs. The complaint came one day after McDonald-- after being asked by one of his students-- told the class he was an atheist. McDonald's principal reprimanded him and told him to eliminate material he had added to standard assignments in the textbook. McDonald says he was trying to prepare students for the study of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," based on the Salem witch trials.

Spanish Court Upholds Right Of Chruch School To Fire Teacher

In Madrid, Spain, the constitutional court today upheld the right of a religious school to fire a teacher because she was separated from her husband and living with another man. Reuters reports the court ruled that religious authorities have the right to decide whether a teacher should be retained, and in doing so they can consider not only a person's knowledge of dogma and the person's teaching ability, but also the individual's personal behavior. It said that behavior may be a vital element since personal witness is a way of transmitting values. Dismissed teacher Maria del Carmen Galayo said that she will appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights.

Missouri Courthouse Bible Group Changes Location

At St. Charles County, Missouri Bible study group group that had met each week in the county courthouse has now moved to a room in the county administration building. After a complaint by a local attorney about the group's use of courthouse premises (see prior posting), Judge Matthew Thornhill who leads the study group decided on the move. Unlike the courthouse, the county administration meeting room is available for other groups to reserve as well. Yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Thornhill as saying: "I sought the Lord, and I made the decision that I believe was best for the circuit."

California Suupreme Court Refuses To Hear Mt. Soledad Appeal

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court announced that it would not hear an appeal from a November decision by a state appellate court in the long controversy over the Mt. Soledad cross. The decision at issue here had rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to a vote by San Diego residents that authorized the city to donate its interest in the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial to the federal government. WorldNet Daily reports that the court's ruling in Paulson v. Abdelnour also denied a request by the ACLU to depublish the Court of Appeals opinion. Yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune, reporting on the decision, quotes Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, who said that this decision effectively ends the state court litigation challenging the cross-- which is now owned by the federal government. Federal lawsuits, however, are still ongoing. [Thanks to Richard Watson for the lead.]