California May Pass Law Limiting Funeral Pickets

Yesterday's Contra Costa Times reports that California may join a number of other states in enacting legislation to ban protests near funerals or memorial services. AB 2707 was introduced largely in response to protests at veterans' funerals around the country led by Topeka, Kansas Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps and his followers carry signs claiming that soldiers are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan because God is punishing the United States for being tolerant of gay and lesbian behavior. Attorney Shirley Phelps-Roper, one of Rev. Phelps' daughters argues California's bill is unconstitutional: "They may not remove us from sight or sound of our target audience. What (AB 2707) has done is targeted our religious message, and they are prohibiting the free exercise of our religion." Last week's Mail & Guardian discusses Phelps' activities. Phelps' website, "God Hates Fags" lists upcoming funerals at which he and his followers will be carrying picket signs.

Florida State Charitable Campaign Sued By Religious Charities For Access

Yesterday, the Association of Faith-Based Organizations filed suit in federal court in Florida challenging the refusal by Florida’s State Employees’ Charitable Campaign to include religious charities in the organizations to which state employees may contribute funds. Attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund and the Christian Legal Society represent AFBO. (News Release.) The complaint (full text) alleges that the policy violates free exercise, speech and associational rights of religious charities and denies them equal protection of the laws. A somewhat similar suit is pending in Wisconsin.

Rastafarian Prisoner Can Move Ahead On One Claim

In Acoolla v. Angelone, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21559 (WD Va., April 10, 2006), a Rastafarian prisoner sued the Virginia Department of Corrections claiming that his religious beliefs require him to keep his hair and beard uncut; wear religious beads in his hair; eat a vegan-kosher diet; use prayer oil; and participate in group worship on Saturday in a ceremony that includes the use of drums, chanting, readings, and religious conversations. A Virginia federal district court rejected all of the prisoner's claims of access to these, except for his request for a kosher vegan diet. On that claim the court denied summary judgment, finding that the record was insufficient at present to support a finding that defendants' refusal furthered a compelling interest by the least restrictive means.

First Use Of Utah's Hate Crime Law May Be For Religious Bias In Assault

The county attorney in Utah County, Utah, says that the first prosecution under the state's new hate crimes law may be in the offing. An 18-year-old man was arrested for aggravated assault after he allegedly harassed a 21-year-old Orem man about the LDS Church, and then attacked him with a bat. Yesterday's Deseret News reported on the arrest. The new law provides for a one-step misdemeanor enhancement in sentencing for hate crimes. It also permits the impact of a hate crime to be considered as an aggravating factor in sentencing. Even though the effective date of the new law is May 1, prosecutors apparently believe it is available for a crime committed before that date.

Judge Apologizes To Sikh Excluded From Courtroom

A judge in Laurens County, Georgia has written a letter of apology to Tarun Singh Kataria, a Sikh who was denied entry to the court last August under its "no hats" policy. Sunday's Panthic Weekly reported that the court has also formally changed its security policy on religious head coverings to explicitly permit Sikhs wearing turbans into the courthouse. The Sikh American Legal Education and Defense Fund (SALDEF) intervened for Mr. Kataria, obtaining not only an apology from Judge Helen Harper, but a refund of the traffic fine Kataria was coming to court to contest.

Two Cases Reject Church Autonomy Jurisdictional Challenges

Wooten v. Crayton, (Mass. App., April 24, 2006) involved a dispute between two factions of a congregational church over congregational votes to disaffiliate with the United Church of Christ, to authorize the building of a new church, and to affiliate with the American Baptist Church Conference. A Massachusetts appellate court held that the trial court should not have completely dismissed the case on church autonomy grounds. Instead "in recognition that there is a secular interest in facilitating a peaceful solution", the court concluded that it could enforce the decision of the body that had authority to govern the church. Finding that the church by-laws called for governance by the church membership, the appellate court held that the membership votes should be enforced.

In a recently available decision in Passmore v. Sixth Judicial District, 2005 Mont. LEXIS 705(Mont. Sup. Ct., Nov. 16, 2005), the Montana Supreme Court refused to intervene to stop a trial court from proceeding in a case against a church alleging negligence in hiring, retaining and supervising the church's pastor. Petitioners had claimed that the trial court's proceedings would impinge on the church's teaching of religion or free exercise of religion.

Professional Football Team To Wear Bible-Themed Jerseys

The Establishment Clause only applies to limit governmental action. It does not apply to conduct of private parties. However the line between "state action" and private action is sometimes fuzzy, for example where a private party and a state entity act together to carry out a program. The resolution of where that line lies may be important in evaluating an interesting new promotion by the Birmingham (Alabama) Steeldogs, a football team run by its private owner, but whose games are played in a public stadium, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The Steeldogs announced last week that on Friday, May 5, for the first time in sports history, a professional franchise will wear Bible-themed jerseys during a game.

On the jerseys, "Steeldogs" is replaced by "Samson", referring to the Old Testament hero known for his strength. On the back of the jerseys, the player's last name will be replaced by a book of the Bible. The number on the jersey will correspond to a chapter and verse of that particular book. Fans in attendance will be able to find the reference in free Bibles that will be handed out to everyone courtesy of Spiritual Outdoor Adventures. After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to local non-profit ministries. This event is the first of three "Barber's Dairy Faith Nights" with the Steeldogs.

Texas School Board Offers To Settle Suit With Bible Club

The Plano, Texas school board has offered to settle a lawsuit filed against it by Liberty Legal Institute challenging the school's refusal to allow a student bible group to place its information on the Haggard Middle School website along with information from other student groups. (See prior posting.) When the suit was filed, the school agreed to give the students website access, but Liberty Legal also objected to the failure to give the group a faculty sponsor. Under the settlement proposal, as reported by the Dallas Morning News, all noncurricular groups will get equal access to bulletin boards, fundraising activities, student activity accounts and other privileges, and will be entitled to have a faculty sponsor. However, school staff will only be able to attend religious meetings "in a nonparticipatory capacity". The settlement offer came after a federal judge granted the student group, Students Witnessing Absolute Truth, a preliminary injunction. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram.)

Satmar Grand Rabbi Dies Without Resolving Power Battle Between His Sons

Litigation over the last several years in New York courts between supporters of two rival sons of the leader of the Satmar sect of Hasidic Jews has been part of the larger question of who will succeed Satmar Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum. (See prior posting.) WABC-TV New York reports that yesterday the 91-year old Grand Rabbi died without explicitly announcing which son he wished to succeed him. Queens College Professor Samuel Heilman suggested that Teitelbaum may have left either a traditional will or a "moral will" indicating who should take over his position. Ultimately there may be more than one leader.

UPDATE: According to a report by the Associated Press on Tuesday evening, the Satmar's Rabinnical court has announced that Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum left a will naming Zalmen Teitelbaum, the third of his four sons, as the next Grand Rabbi. However, Richard Schwartz, an adviser to the followers of rival son, Aron Teitelbaum, said "The will is not the vehicle for establishing succession if history is to be our guide." He argued that Moses Teitelbaum was not in a lucid state of mind when he wrote the will and that Satmar tradition provides for the oldest son to be the successor.

UPDATE 2: The New York Times reports that less than 2 hours after the Moses Teitelbaum's death, New York Judge Stewart A. Rosenwasser issued several orders at the request of Aaron Teitelbaum's supporters. They included requirements to maintain order and decorum during the funeral and the mourning period, and to assure that neither Aaron's nor Zalmen's supporters were shut out. But Zalmen Teitelbaum's supporters say the orders also solidify Aaron's claim to power, and the filed an appeal. Tuesday afternoon, an appellate judge struck parts of Rosenwasser's ruling.

Viet Nam Official Announces Government Policy On Religion

Viet Nam News Service yesterday reported that Ngo Yen Thi, head of Viet Nam's Committee for Religious Affairs has affirmed that the country's policy is to respect and ensure freedom of belief and religion for all Vietnamese citizens. Speaking at a press conference at the 10th National Communist Party Congress, Thi summarized the Party's policy:

1. Belief and religion are the spiritual need of a portion of the population, which exists and will continue to exist within the nation during the process of socialism construction in Viet Nam. Fellow citizens of all religions are part of the great national unity bloc.

The State will continue to implement the consistent policy of respecting and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion and normal religious activities in accordance with the law.

2. The Government would implement the consistent policy of great national unity; unite fellow citizens of different religions and unite fellow citizens who are religious and who are not; strictly prohibit discrimination against citizens on the grounds of belief and religion; and strictly prohibit misuse of belief and religion for superstitious activities, contravention of the law and State policies and incitement to sow division among people and ethnic groups, or disturb and infringe national security.

Thi also outlined provisions of law regarding recognition of religious groups and reviewed achievements of the past years in implementing the government's religious policies.

The timing of Thi's remarks may not have been coincidental. The annual report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will go to Congress on May 1. (Associated Press report.) Viet Nam did not fare well in last year's report. (See prior posting.)

6th Circuit Denies En Banc Review of 10 Commandments Case

In a 9-5 decision today in ACLU of Kentucky v. Mercer County, (6th Cir., April 24, 2006), the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant en banc review of a decision by a 3-judge panel of the Court that upheld the constitutionality of a display containing the Ten Commandments. The display, in a court house in Mercer County, Kentucky, was identical in content to the display in McCreary County, Kentucky, that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2005. Nevertheless, the 3-judge panel found that Mercer County lacked the religious purpose that McCreary county had evidenced. (See prior posting.) A strong dissent to the refusal to rehear the case was written by Judge R. Guy Cole. He said: "The panel read Mercer County’s action of quickly and exactly copying its fellow counties’ embattled and religiously motivated display out of the record. Rather, the panel held as a matter of law ... that the reasonable observer would perceive a predominantly secular purpose behind Mercer County’s display."

The American Center for Law and Justice, which represented Mercer County, issued a statement praising the decision. It said: "This is an important defeat for the ACLU and other groups that are committed to removing our religious heritage and traditions from the public square." The Louisville-Courier Journal reports on the en banc determination.

Cert. Denied In "Jesus Poster" Case

The U.S. Supreme Court today denied certiorari in Baldwinsville Central School District v. Peck (05-899). The Second Circuit Court of Appeals had rejected an Establishment Clause challenge, agreeing with the school district that there was no evidence that teachers or administrators had acted with the intent to inhibit religion when they folded a kindergarten student's environmental poster in half to hide a robed figure representing Jesus before displaying the poster at a school assembly. The Court of Appeals, however, did conclude that the case should be remanded for trial to determine whether the school district engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination that violated the student's speech rights. (See prior posting.) The Associated Press reports on the denial of cert.

Norway Opens Hearings On Church-State Separation Proposal

Norway today opened hearings on a proposal to amend the country's constitution to provide for separation of church and state, according to Mainichi Daily News. A State-Church Panel recommended the move after three years of study. (See prior posting.) The government has asked 2,500 people and groups, including every congregation and city in Norway, to comment on the Panel's proposal by Dec. 1. For 469 years, the Church of Norway has been the established church in the country. With its Lutheran ideology, the Church of Norway is funded by the government that also hires its clergy. About 86% of Norway's population are formally members of the Church. However, since registration at birth is automatic, a far smaller number are actually active members.

Homeowners Association Settles Suit On Religious Group's Use of Community Room

Recently there has been increased concern about rules of private homeowners associations, coop boards and tenants associations that bar residents from using common space for religious meetings, worship or for religious symbols. (See prior postings 1, 2.) The latest example is a settlement announced April 19 by the Arizona Attorney General's office. A lawsuit was filed against the Sunland East Homeowners Association in Mesa upon the complaint of a group of residents who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Homeowners' Association first attempted to charge a fee, and then barred use of the community room by religious groups. The Arizona Attorney General sued alleging that this was religious discrimination that violated the state's Fair Housing Act. The court has approved a settlement that will lead to a revision of the room-use rules and training of employees and residents to acquaint them with the state's fair housing requirements. The East Valley Tribune on Friday reported on the settlement.

Vatican-China Move Toward Normalizing Relations

Yesterday's Washington Post reported that China and the Vatican are close to normalizing their relations. The Vatican has signaled that it is willing to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan and set up diplomatic relations with Beijing as part of an overall agreement that would protect the Church's role in China. The other major dispute between the Church and China is over who has the power to appoint Catholic bishops. This is also moving toward resolution, as the Chinese government has begun to select bishops it knows have already been chosen by the Vatican. However, Chinese leaders are still concerned that the Vatican might encourage activity in opposition to government policies among Catholics in China.

South African Court Hears Discrimination Claim By Hindu School Girl

The Cape Times today reports on a court hearing in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa last Friday, appealing the decision handed down last year by the Durban Equality Court. The magistrate below had rejected a discrimination claim by Sunali Pillay, a 16-year old high school girl who has been barred from wearing a gold nose stud. Pillay claims that the stud is a cultural and religious practice that has been adopted by South Indian Hindu women. The school says it is merely a fashion item.

French Far Right Presidential Candidate Opposes "Islamization" of France

In France, right-wing politician Philippe de Villiers, head of the anti-immigrant Mouvement Pour La France party, began his 2007 presidential campaign on Sunday by denouncing the Islamisation of the country and contending that Islam is incompatible with France's secular values. He called for the government to stop all mosque construction, according to a Reuters report yesterday. He also proposed a citizen's charter that would require strict separation of religion and state, freedom to change religions, and respect for the equality of men and women.

More Religion In Ohio Political Ads

In Ohio, candidates in the upcoming May 2 primary continue to affirm their religious credentials to fundamentalist Christians. (See prior posting.) In the latest example, reported by the Associated Press on Thursday, State Auditor Betty Montgomery, who is a Republican candidate for state Attorney General, has taken out an ad in a newspaper distributed by Fairfield Christian Church, the congregation of Ohio Restoration Project leader Rev. Russell Johnson. The ad features Montgomery standing on the Seal of Ohio outside the State House. She is in front of the state motto, "With God all Things Are Possible". The motto is inscribed in the bronze flatwork outside the State House. The ad’s tagline: "Betty Montgomery has fought all the way to the top to protect our values." In today’s Toledo Blade, columnist Russ Lemon reports that Montgomery is also incorporating the state motto into her latest radio ads.

By the way, the state motto, taken from the New Testament (Matthew 19:26), was upheld against an Establishment Clause attack in an en banc U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in 2001. The source of the motto does not appear in the version outside the State House. This link will take you to a photo of the motto as it appears on the State House plaza.

Native American Prisoners In New Hampshire Seek Sweat Lodge Use

Yesterday’s New Hampshire Union-Leader carried an article about the ongoing efforts by Native American prisoners in New Hampshire to obtain the use of Sweat Lodges for religious ceremonies and the negotiations with state correctional officials over the rules that will apply.

Background On A.D. vs. C.E. Labeling For Historical Dates

I recently posted a story on the debate over the Kentucky Board of Education’s decision to begin using C.E. and B.C.E. along with B.C. and A.D. in teaching historical dates. Here is some additional background. (Sources include Wikipedia, and April 2005 Washington Times.)

The practice of referring to years in relation to the date of the birth of Jesus was originated by a Scythian Monk, Dionysius Exiguus, in Rome in 525. It came into common use in the 8th century. Historians now agree the Exiguus was a few years off in setting the year of Jesus’ birth. Jesus appears to have in fact been born between 4 and 8 B.C. (B.C.E.) Pope Gregory continued using the B.C./A.D. designations when he created the Gregorian calendar in 1582. The notations have always been a low level source of irritation to non-Christians, reminding them that Western civilization defines itself in Christian terms. Particularly the use of A.D. ("in the year of our Lord"), not just "after Christ", seems to require the user to proclaim a religious acceptance of Christianity. Jewish scholars for over a century have used. C.E. (common era) and B.C.E. (before the common era) in their work.

The leaders of the French Revolution attempted to introduce a dating system that counted years from the beginning of the "Republican Era", i.e. the day the First French Republic was proclaimed. In the United States, dating of official documents from the date of the Declaration of Independence, along with the use of A.D., was a practice that was sometimes used. The Constitution of the United States concludes with the following:

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth.

It was only in the 1990's that a movement began to use C.E. and B.C.E. more generally. The United States Supreme Court recognizes the problem that the notation poses for some attorneys. Its instruction form for applicants for admission to the Supreme Court bar tells attorneys how to request a certificate of admission reflecting the date of the lawyer’s admission without the accompanying phrase "in the year of our Lord".

In 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the following Resolution opposing the secularization of dates, and at the same time reflecting why use of the traditional system is problematic for non-Christians:

WHEREAS, Historically, our (Gregorian) calendar marked the centrality of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus by the designation B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (anno Domini…); and WHEREAS, Some recent publishing practices alter this designation in favor of B.C.E. … and C.E….; and WHEREAS, This practice is the result of the secularization, anti-supernaturalism, religious pluralism, and political correctness pervasive in our society. WHEREAS, The traditional method of dating is a reminder of the preeminence of Christ and His gospel in world history; and WHEREAS, This retention is a reminder to those in this secular age of the importance of Christ’s life and mission and emphasizes to all that history is ultimately His Story.

Therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention…, encourage Southern Baptist individuals, churches, entities, and institutions to retain the traditional method of dating and avoid this revisionism.