Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Last-Ditch Attempt To Save Mt. Soledad Cross
UPDATE: Sunday's San Diego Union Tribune profiles Jim McElroy, lawyer for the plaintiff in the Mt. Soledad cross case. McElroy has received a good number of nasty, and even threatening, e-mails and phone calls from outraged defenders of the cross.
US Civil Rights Commission Investigating California Campus Anti-Semitism
Role of Christianity In Air Force, Academy, Continues To Provoke Interest
Jeremy Gunn, director of the ACLU's program on religious freedom spoke at the Air Force Academy Thursday, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. Gunn told Air Force cadets and faculty that the alleged war on Christians in America is a myth driven by politics. In fact, he said, religion has never enjoyed a time of greater freedom. Philosophy Professor Col. James Cook, who invited Gunn to speak, said the debate over the role of faith in the military has led the school to seek out a variety of opinions without taking sides.
Meanwhile, today's edition of the Forward profiles Air Force Academy alumnus Mikey Weinstein who has led opposition to federal legislation to permit military chaplains to offer sectarian prayers. Weinstein is suing the Air Force Academy over anti-Jewish slurs and coercion experienced by his sons while they were students there. The suit also challenges the Air Force's revised guidelines for chaplains. (See prior postings 1, 2, 3 .) Weinstein, a lawyer who worked for the Reagan White House and once served as Ross Perot's general counsel, has formed the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to call attention to religious coercion in the military. Weinstein strongly criticized the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish organizations for their positions on church-state issues in the military and their refusal to file amicus briefs in his lawsuit.
And the blog Jews On First this week carries a report about another issue exposed by Mikey Weinstein. Air Force Maj. General Jack J. Catton Jr. has used his military e-mail account to urge 200 of his Air Force Academy classmates to support a Colorado Republican congressional candidate, Retired Air Force General Bentley Rayburn. The Air Force general wrote: "We are certainly in need of Christian men with integrity and military experience in Congress." He attached a message to the e-mail from candidate Rayburn, who, referring to Congressional debates on religious intimidation at the Air Force Academy said: "For those of us who are Christians, there is that whole other side of the coin that recognizes that we need more Christian influence in Congress."
Wal-Mart Pharmacist Convicted For Religious Tirade To Customers
Pat Robertson Uses 700 Club To Attack "Americans United"
Chinese Christian Activists Meet With President Bush
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Jury Convicts Priest In 1980 Murder Of Nun
Immediately after the verdict, Toledo Catholic Diocese Bishop Leonard Blair issued a statement saying, "Let us hope that the conclusion of the trial will bring some measure of healing for all those affected by the case as well as for our local church." He emphasized that Robinson is a retired priest who "continues to be barred from any public ministry." Local church officials expect that the Vatican will take some kind of additional action against Robinson.
WTOL News has a good summary of events leading up to the trial.
Israel's High Court Upholds Draft Exemptions For Yeshiva Students
While upholding the law, the High Court's majority criticized it as causing "serious harm to the human dignity of the majority who are obligated to do national service". Chief Justice Aharon Barak's decision said, however, that the problem needs to be solved by national consensus, not by a court ruling. The opinion suggested that if changes are not made, in the future the Court might find the law unconstitutional.
Graduation Prayer Initiative Launched
Last week, Liberty Counsel also announced that it was launching the "Friend or Foe Graduation Prayer Campaign" in cooperation with Dr. Jerry Falwell, the Founder and Chancellor of Liberty University. It will educate, and where necessary file suit, to vindicate speakers' right to deliver prayers or make religious comments at graduation ceremonies.In [one] school, the valedictorian sneezed after giving the valedictory address. The students responded in unison, “God bless you.” Although this is a humorous way of acknowledging God during a ceremony, the Constitution does not require students to resort to such tactics in order to acknowledge God. When student speakers enter the podium during a graduation ceremony, they do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of expression, just like they do not shed this right when they enter the schoolhouse gate.
School Board Has Second Thoughts On Religious Literature Policy
Montreal School Accommodates Muslim Students Over Some Objections
Religious Land Use Issues Continue To Arise
Meanwhile, in Bedford County, Virginia, Liberty Counsel has written the county on behalf of Raymond Bell, the pastor of The Cowboy Church of Virginia, claiming that the county is violating RLUIPA. The owner of a local farm agreed to permit use of his barn every Thursday night for worship services by the Cowboy Church, but the county has issued a Notice of Violation because the farm is not zoned for use for religious meetings. (Liberty Counsel News Release, May 10.) [Thanks to Rick Duncan via Religionlaw for the lead.]
Finally, in Yavapai County Arizona, the Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing next week on a proposed amendment to the county zoning code to require religious institutions and certain schools to obtain use permits before they construct new buildings. The Board's Planning and Zoning committee has recommended a tightening of current regulations so that there will be notification of surrounding property owners and an administrative review process with public comment before construction begins. Opponents of the amendment argue that religious institutions are constitutionally protected from such regulation. (Verde Arizona Independent, May 10.)
India's Supreme Court Rejects Challenge To Muslim Family Law
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Church Gives 10 Commandments Display To Kentucky County
Director of Evangelism's Retaliation Suit Dismissed Under Church Autonomy Rule
Iranian President Lectures Bush Using Appeal To Religion
Can one be a follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH), the great Messenger of God ... But at the same time, ... because of the possibility of the existence of WMDs in one country, it is occupied, around one hundred thousand people killed, its water sources, agriculture and industry destroyed....
Another big question asked by people is why is this regime [Israel] being supported? Is support for this regime in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ (PBUH) or Moses (PBUH) or liberal values? Or are we to understand that allowing the original inhabitants of these lands – inside and outside Palestine – whether they are Christian, Muslim or Jew, to determine their fate, runs contrary to principles of democracy, human rights and the teachings of prophets? If not, why is there so much opposition to a referendum?....
If prophet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with us today, how would they have judged such behaviour? Will we be given a role to play in the promised world, where justice will become universal and Jesus Christ (PBUH) will be present? Will they even accept us?...
Mr President, According to divine verses, we have all been called upon to worship one God and follow the teachings of divine prophets. "To worship a God which is above all powers in the world and can do all He pleases." ...
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point –that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is: “Do you not want to join them?”
Mr President, Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in the Almighty and justice and the will of God will prevail over all things.
Apartment Managers Ban Bible Study In Commons Area
The management company involved here, One Management, justified its action as a way of preventing potential tenets from feeling that a particular religion is preferred at the apartment complex. One Management owns between 40 and 50 complexes across the Carolinas and Virginia, and manages 12 others.
UPDATE: Wednesday, after South Carolina lawmakers said that One Management has misinterpreted the law, the management company announced they would allow residents to continue their bible study while the company sought advice from the Special Counsel for Religious Discrimination with the United States Department of Justice. (Fox Carolina News.)
Canadian Hutterites Win Challenge To License Photo Requirement
Defense Bill Would Permit Chaplains To Offer Sectarian Prayer
Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible.Current policies of the military and military academies generally call on chaplains to offer non-denominational inclusive prayers when offering invocations at military ceremonies. (See prior postings 1, 2 .) Yesterday's Washington Times, disclosing the language, quoted House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter who said it is "folly" to tell chaplains to "start editing prayers."