Israeli Officials Express Frustration Over Strict Conversion Rules

In Israel, the strict rules for conversion to Judaism imposed by the Chief Rabbinate continue to rankle government officials who want to find a way to help some 300,000 Russian immigrants who are not technically Jewish under religious law. Many of them wish to convert, but do not want to commit to a strict Orthodox Jewish religious lifestyle which is imposed as a condition of conversion by rabbis who control the government's conversion courts. Yesterday's Jerusalem Post reports that in a speech to the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, outgoing Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel warned of the political problem posed by the situation. He said: "If the haredim [ultra-orthodox] don't begin to show flexibility, the moderate Orthodox establishment in Israel will begin to independently convert many thousands of Jews. In the end, the State of Israel will be forced to recognize these conversions regardless of the desires of the Chief Rabbinate or the official Conversion Authority."

Earlier this week, according to JTA, the Jewish Agency Assembly adopted resolutions calling for Israel to create an independent authority on Jewish conversions and special courts of Jewish law that would apply more "moderate and tolerant" halachic legal standards to facilitate conversions. (Full text of Jewish Agency resolutions.)

Tzipi Livni, the Kadima party candidate for prime minister in the upcoming Israeli elections, took an even more iconoclastic view in a speech to Americans and Canadians in Jerusalem attending the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities. The Jerusalem Post quotes her remarks: "A Jewish state is not a monopoly of rabbis. It's what each and everyone feels inside. It's not about learning Hebrew or about joining the army, it's about Jewish tradition, Jewish history."

UPDATE: Here is the full text of Foreign Minister Livni's speech from the Ministry of Foreign Affair's website. The relevant quote is slightly different in this version.

Magistrate Says Subpoena for Megachurch Records Was Improperly Issued

Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that a federal magistrate judge in Minneapolis has recommended that the court refuse to enforce an IRS subpoena for financial documents issued to Living Word Christian Center. The church argued that the subpoena for financial records was not approved by "an appropriate high-level Treasury official" as required by Internal Revenue Code Section 7611. IRS sought information about loans, lease of an aircraft and compensation paid by the Brooklyn Park (MN) megachurch to its pastor, Mac Hammond. (See prior posting.) The magistrate judge agreed with the church that authorization by the Director of Exempt Organization Examinations did not meet the Internal Revenue Code's standard. In United States v. Living Word Christian Center, (D MN, Nov. 18, 2008), the magistrate judge suggested that after a 1998 IRS reorganization, the authority to "halt over-zealous examination of churches" should have been given to the Commissioner of Tax Exempt and Government Entities.

AG Choice Eric Holder Has Little Record On Church-State or Religious Freedom Issues

Barack Obama's reported choice for Attorney General, Eric Holder, appears to have little record on church-state or religious freedom issues. The one aspect of his past record that arguably relates to these issues is his support for strong hate crimes enforcement and legislation. His biography on the Lawyers for One America website says that as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, he "supported a renewed enforcement emphasis on hate crimes so that criminal acts of intolerance would be severely punished." As Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department in 1999 he presented testimony (full text) strongly supporting the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999. The Act however did not pass Congress. Holder's record gives little hint of whether or not he would continue the Justice Department's "First Freedom Project" launched in 2007 by then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The project, operated in the Civil Rights Division, emphasizes enforcement in religious discrimination and religious liberty cases.

Objector Arrested For Disrupting Council's Moment of Silence With Loud Prayer

In Southport, Indiana, 70-year old Charles Lynch objects to Mayor Rob Thoman's practice of beginning City Council meetings with a moment of silence instead of a prayer as was the practice before Thoman's election. At Monday night Council's meeting, Lynch began reading a prayer out loud during the moment of silence. When he was asked to stop, he began to pray louder. He also refused to leave the meeting and resisted police trying to take him out, despite the mayor's warning at the beginning of the meeting against such conduct. Lynch was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Yesterday's Indy Star reports that Lynch is now threatening to sue for false arrest. He said: "I'm not promoting any church or any religion. All I want is the way it was. Why take away our rights as citizens to have a word of prayer, because we've always had it."

Suit Challenges Refusal To Issue Vanity Plates Refering To God

In Indiana, for an added fee the Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues personalized license plates bearing the driver's selected combination of letters and numbers. Indiana Code Ann. 9-18-15-4 permits the BMV to refuse an application of the requested lettering would be "offensive to good taste and decency." A state regulation interpreting this statute (140 Ind. Adm. Code 2-5-2) prohibits vanity plates that refer to race, religion, deity, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political party or affiliation" except for generally accepted references to race or ethnic heritage. Elizabeth Ferris applied for plates reading "BE GODS"-- which she explained was inspired by a Christian musician and meant "belonging to God." On Monday, Ferris filed suit in federal district court (full text of complaint) alleging that the refusal to issue her the requested plates violated the free speech, free exercise, equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Alliance Defense fund issued a release announcing filing of the lawsuit. It pointed out that Ferris had been issued the plates for 9 years previously before this refusal, and that the state issues its own "In God We Trust" specialty plates. (See prior related posting.) Yesterday's Indy Star also reported on Ferris' lawsuit.

UPDATE: Wednesday's Indy Star reports that the Indiana BMV now says that it will allow Elizabeth Ferris to obtain her "BE GODS" license plate because she attempted to reserve the plates before the Nov. 6 effective date of new regulations that prohibit plates that refer to the deity. However BMV Commissioner Ron Stiver defended the new policy, saying that once it allows mention of God on plates, it will also be forced by prohibitions on viewpoint discrimination to issue offensive plates such as "GODLESS".

Algerian Appeals Court Upholds Conviction For Smoking During Ramadan

In Algeria, an appeals court yesterday upheld the convictions of three men for smoking cigarettes on the street during the Ramadan daylight fasting period this past September. However their sentences for offending religion were reduced from 3 month to 2 months in jail, and they are likely to be released this week. The court reversed the conviction of a fourth defendant who was smoking in private. AP reports that the men-- all of whom were construction workers-- were caught in an upscale Algiers neighborhood. Apparently they were charged under a 2001 law that punishes "denigrating the dogmas or precepts if Islam." Algerian secularists are concerned about growing government enforcement of religious rules.

Maryland County Residents Urge Council To Reject RLUIPA Settlement

In Bristol, Maryland, zoning officials denied Riverdale Baptist Church a permit to construct an expanded campus for its Arundel Bay Christian Academy. The Church in turn filed a RLULIPA lawsuit in federal district court charging discrimination. County attorneys negotiated a settlement under which the county would adopt legislation essentially permitting the project to proceed. Yesterday's Annapolis Capital reported that at Monday's South County Council meeting, some 50 residents urged Council to reject the proposed settlement and fight the lawsuit in court. They point to traffic, water runoff and urbanization concerns.

Newsweek Criticized For Article On Obama As the Antichrist

This week's issue of Newsweek carries an article titled Is Obama the Antichrist? The article reports on various signs pointed to by Christian millennialists leading them to the conclusion that the president-elect is the world leader who will usher in the great battle, the Rapture and the Second Coming. Among the portents is the fact that recently one of the winning lottery numbers in Illinois, Obama's home state, was 666 (the sign of the beast). The article reports that Liberty University's law school dean Mat Staver says he does not believe Obama is the Antichrist, but can see how others might believe it. A posting yesterday on Media Matters takes Newsweek to task for giving credibility in its article to the views of RaptureReady.com editor Todd Strandberg

Holder of Sharia Law Degree Becomes Egypt's First Woman Marriage Registrar

Al Jazeera yesterday published an interview with Amal Soliman, the first woman in Egypt to be appointed as a Mazouna, or female marriage registrar. Registrars conduct wedding ceremonies, recite verses from the Quran at the ceremony and sign the official certificates making the marriage legally binding. They also officiate at divorces. The the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns had challenged Soliman's application, saying that it is inappropriate for a woman to hold the position. However Soliman, who holds a post-graduate degree in Sharia law, eventually won out over ten male applicants for the position. Local family court judge Khaled el-Shalkamy accepted Soliman's application last February, but it took until late September for the Egyptian Minister of Justice to formally sign off on the appointment. Soliman conducted her first wedding ceremony on Oct. 25. On Nov. 14, United Arab Emirates followed suit by appointing its first woman as a Mazouna.

HHS Proposal on Religious Objectors Opposed by Some EEOC Members

Today's New York Times reports on the many comment letters that the Department of Health and Human Services has received on its proposed regulations designed to protect conscience rights of doctors and other health care providers participating in programs receiving HHS funding. The regulations apply to those who have moral or religious objections to providing certain medical procedures, including sterilization and abortion. (See prior posting.) Among the many individuals opposing the rule were three officials of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: its Republican legal counsel, Reed L. Russell, and two Democratic EEOC members, Stuart J. Ishimaru and Christine M. Griffin. They contend that the new rules are unnecessary in light of existing legal precedent. The Times quotes from the letter submitted by Ishimaru and Griffin which argues that the proposed rules would throw into question from 40 years of court decisions had carefully balanced "employees' rights to religious freedom and employers’ business needs." Here is a link to the public submissions on the rule that have been received by HHS.

Indiana's Sale of "In God We Trust" Plates Without Added Fee Is Upheld

In Studler v. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, (IN Ct. App., Nov. 17, 2008), an Indiana state appellate court rejected a challenge to Indiana's sale of "In God We Trust" license plates to motorists without charging the $15 administrative fee that is added to the cost of most other special plates. An Indiana driver who was assessed added fees for the state's "Environment" license plate argued that the differential treatment violated Art. I, Sec. 23 of the state's Constitution. That section provides: "The General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens." The court rejected plaintiff's argument, holding that "the classification is reasonably related to the inherent characteristics of the license plates," and "the unequal burden is uniformly applicable to all similarly situated class members." Yesterday's Munster (IN) Times reports on the decision.

Religious Groups Ask California Supreme Court To Void Proposition 8

Yesterday the California Council of Churches along with a number of liberal Protestant and Jewish groups filed a "Petition for Writ of Mandate or Prohibition" (full text) with the California Supreme Court seeking to prevent enforcement of Proposition 8 that was approved by voters earlier this month. (Press release). The petition alleges that the state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage was adopted using improper procedures. California's constitution (Art. XVIII) has stricter requirements for constitutional "revisions" than it does for "amendments." Only amendments can be adopted through the initiative process-- the route used for Proposition 8. Revisions require a two-thirds vote of the legislature before being submitted to voters. The Petition filed with the Supreme Court reads in part:

The religious institutions that file this petition ... count on article XVIII to ensure that the California Constitution's guarantee of equal protection for religious minorities cannot be taken away without a deliberative process of the utmost care possible in a representative democracy. If Proposition 8 is upheld, however, the assurance will disappear-- for, just as surely as gay men and lesbians could be deprived of equal protection by a simple majority vote, so too could religious minorities be deprived of equal protection-- a terrible irony in a nation founded by people who emigrated to escape religious persecution.

Six separate legal challenges to Proposition 8 have been filed with the California Supreme Court. (San Jose Mercury News, Nov. 17). [Thanks to Don Clark for the lead.]

German Homeschoolers Seek Political Asylum In U.S.

In Germany, children are required to attend public school and home schooling is banned. Uwe and Hannelore Romeike who homeschool their children recently left Germany for the United States in order to avoid fines, jail and possible loss of custody of their children. HSLDA reported yesterday that a petition for political asylum has been filed by the Romeikes who refuse for religious reasons to send their children to Germany's secular public schools. The Romeike family currently lives in Tennessee where they are free to homeschool. Asylum is available where individuals in the U.S. have a well-founded fear of actual persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion if they return to their home country. Homeschool Legal Defense Association is supporting the unusual asylum application.

Town Sued Over Zoning Ban Preventing Church From Sheltering Homeless

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pennsylvania ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday on behalf of First Apostles Doctrine Church of Brookville, Pennsylvania. The church and its pastor, Rev. Jack L. Wisor, want to use the church as a homeless shelter, saying providing shelter to "guests" is part of its ministry. In August, Wisor was fined $500 for zoning violations stemming from his allowing three homeless men to live in the church's parsonage. (See prior posting.) The lawsuit alleges that the zoning enforcement violates the 1st Amendment's free exercise clause, the 4th Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure, RLUIPA and Pennsylvania's Religious Freedom Protection Act.

UPDATE: The day after the lawsuit was filed, the parties reached a settlement agreement and on Wednesday the court issued an order that permits the church to resume housing up to eight homeless people and two staff members. (York (PA) Daily Record).

French Appellate Court Reverses Controversial Annulment

An appellate court in Douai in northern France yesterday reversed a decision by a lower court that had granted a Muslim husband an annulment when he discovered that his wife was not the virgin she had claimed to be. The lower court had held that the husband was misled "concerning essential qualities" of his wife. (See prior posting.) Agence France Press reports that now the wife supports the annulment. Many European parliament members complained however that the lower court decision amounted to unacceptable infringement of religion into the public sphere. French Justice Minister Rachida Dati says that, despite the government appeal of the case, the annulment would be acceptable on other non-religious grounds such as breach of trust between husband and wife.

British Employment Appeal Tribunal Broadly Protects Against Religious Bias

In Saini v. All Saints Haque Centre, (UK Empl. App. Trib., Oct. 24, 2008), a British Employment Appeal Tribunal held that the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 were violated when Employee A is mistreated for the purpose of seeking to get rid of Employee B on the grounds of Employee B's religion. The claimant asserted that an immigration advice center was controlled by adherents to the Ravidass faith who were determined to bring pressure against Hindus employed at the center. Personnel Today reported on the case in yesterday's edition.

Nigerian Court Orders Release of Man Arrested For Having 86 Wives

IBN reports today that Nigeria's Federal High Court has ordered the unconditional release of Mohammed Bello Abubakar. The 84-year old man had been arrested and charged with "insulting religious" creed and "unlawful marriages" after local Muslim leaders ordered him to divorce 82 of his 86 wives. (See prior posting.) Initially he was arraigned by an Upper Sharia Court in Niger state. Now the Federal High Court has ordered the inspector general of police to give Abubakar protection from local authorities. BBC News reported several days ago that Abubakar had been released on bail, but IBN says he is still in custody. There is no law against polygamy in Nigeria, but Islamic law permits only four wives. The Niger state government says it will appeal the High Court's order. It is one of the Nigerian states that has reintroduced Sharia law.

Court Supervised Election of Buddhist Temple Board Upheld

In Wat Phra Buddha Chinnaraj Buddhist Temple v. Ketpongsuda, (CA Ct. App., Nov. 14, 2008), a California Court of Appeals upheld a trial court's resolution of a dispute over control of a Buddhist Temple in Chino Hills, CA. The trial court found that bylaws adopted in 1996 were the governing instrument and that later revisions were not properly adopted. It went on to order an election of new directors under the 1996 bylaws. The election was supervised by a court-appointed special master. The appellate court found that the court below properly applied "neutral principles of law" in making its determinations, and did not infringe the Temple's free exercise of religion protected by the California constitution.

Seven Amish Men Convicted For Refusing To Use Safety Emblem

After an all-day trial in a Graves County court in Mayfield, Kentucky, seven Amish men were convicted Friday of refusing to use the state-mandated orange "slow-moving vehicle" emblem on their horse-drawn buggies. They were fined a total of $250. Objecting to bright colors, they are willing only to use gray tape, plus lanterns at night. Believing that they should not trust their safety to a man-made symbol, they insist that the tape only outline the back of their buggies. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported yesterday that the defendants, members of the Swartzentruber Amish sect, plan to appeal. They claim that insistence on using the state emblem infringes their free exercise rights, and that their prosecution was discriminatory because the law has not been enforced against slow-moving farm machinery. (See prior related posting.)

Recent On-Topic Scholarly Articles and Book

From SSRN:

• Paul Horwitz, The Philosopher's Brief, (Constitutional Commentary, Forthcoming).


• Thomas Charles Berg, Religious Organizational Freedom and Conditions on Government Benefits, (Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy, 2009).


• Perry Dane, West Virginia State Board of Education V. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, David Spinoza Tanenhaus, ed., Gale, 2008).


• Amelia J. Uelmen, 'It's Hard Work': Reflections on Conscience and Citizenship in the Catholic Tradition, (Journal Catholic Legal Studies, Vol. 47, pp. 317-342, 2008).

From Bepress:

• Maurice Adams & Adriaan J. Overbeeke, The Constitutional Relationship between Law and Religion in the History of Ideas: A Contemporary European Perspective, (Global Jurist: Vol. 8 : Iss. 3, 2008)).

From SmartCILP and elsewhere (Constitutional Law issues):

• Paul E. McGreal, The Case for a Constitutional Easement Approach to Permanent Monuments in Traditional Public Forums, (Northwestern University Law Review, Oct. 27, 2008).


• Susan Gellman & Susan Looper-Friedman, Thou Shalt Use the Equal Protection Clause for Religious Cases (Not Just the Establishment Clause), 10 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law 665-743 (2008).


• Daniel A. Seeger, Reconciling Religious Faith and Democratic Practice: The Problem of the Elusive Definition of Religion, 84 Notre Dame Law Review 97-109 (2008).


• Deborah Jones Merritt & and Daniel C. Merritt, The Future of Religious Pluralism: Justice O'Connor and the Establishment Clause, 39 Arizona State Law Journal 895-948 (2007).

From SmartCILP (Law & Religion):

• Marriage, Religion, and the Role of the Civil State. Foreword by Joel A. Nichols; articles by Margaret F. Brinig, Steven L. Nock, Elliot N. Dorff, John Witte, Jr. and Joel A. Nichols. (Links to full text.) 5 University of St. Thomas Law Journal 544-615 (2008).


• Liaquat Ali Khan, Advocacy under Islam and Common Law, 45 San Diego Law Review 547-608 (2008).


• W. Jesse Weins, Employer Funding of Fertility Awareness Training: Acceptable Alternative to Mandated Prescription Contraceptive Coverage in Employee Benefits, 12 Michigan State University Journal of Medicine & Law 321-339 (2008).


• Alfred L. Brophy, How Missionaries Thought: About Property Law, For Instance, 30 University of Hawaii Law Review 373-399 (2008).


• Charles R. Foster, Identity and Integrity in Clergy Formation, 5 University of St. Thomas Law Journal 457-469 (2008).

Recent Book:

• John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, (Gallup Press, March 2008), author interview in Christianity Today.

Will Prince Charles Eventually Have Religiously More Inclusive Title?

According to an article in yesterday in Religious Intelligence, recent reports that Britain's Prince Charles would change the Coronation Oath to make it more multi-faith when he eventually becomes king are unfounded. Britain's monarch is head of the Church of England as well as head of state. Prince Charles has indicated in the past that he would like the king's traditional title, "Defender of the Faith", to be changed to the more inclusive "Defender of Faith"-- omitting "the" from the title. The exact style of the British sovereign has been modified over the years by Parliament. Apparently one way for Charles to accommodate his wishes would be for Parliament to revert to the original Latin form-- "Fidei Defensor." It can be translated either as referring to "faith" or "the faith". Despite the implication to the contrary in the Religious Intelligence article, the Coronation Oath does not appear to contain a reference to the title of the monarch.

Boy At Center of D.C. Hospital's Suit Buried After Heart-Lung Function Ends

AP reported yesterday that 12-year old Motl Brody died Saturday and was buried on Sunday in Brooklyn, NY. Brody was at the center of a pending lawsuit in Washington, D.C. (See prior posting.) Children's National Medical Center was seeking court approval to disconnect the boy's ventilator because he was pronounced brain dead. The religious beliefs of Motl's Orthodox Jewish parents were that life does not end until heart and lung functions cease. Apparently that point was reached Saturday.

German Professor of Islamic Theolgy Says Muhammad Never Existed

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports on Prof. Muhammad Sven Kalisch, head of the Center for Religious Studies at Germany's Munster University. A convert to Islam, Kalisch is Germany's first professor of Islamic theology. Hired to apply Western scholarship to Islamic studies, he has now concluded that the Prophet Muhammad probably never existed. He says this does not mean he is no longer a Muslim. Officials, alarmed at the implications of his scholarship, have removed him as head of a program to train teachers to teach religion to their Muslim students in public schools. Police have told Kalisch to move his Center to a more secure area. The Center has removed a sign identifying its location and has eliminated its address from its website.

Challenge To Religious Workers Visa Provisions Moves Ahead

In Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91967 (WD WA, Oct. 31, 2008), a Washington federal district court denied defendants' motion to dismiss a class action brought on behalf of certain foreigners in the United States who are seeking Religious Worker visas and by three religious organizations that employed them. The suit challenges a government regulation (8 CFR 245.2) that precludes applicants from filing for Adjustment of Status before their employer's visa application is approved. Plaintiffs were permitted to move ahead on their due process, equal protection, free exercise and Religious Freedom Restoration Act claims. (See prior related posting.)

Muslim Deli Owner Charges Yonkers Police With Selective Enforcement

A Yonkers, New York delicatessen owner has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against 14 Yonkers police officers. According to Friday's Lower Hudson Journal News, Haifa Tamimi says police engaged in selective enforcement against her of a city ordinance requiring businesses to close between midnight and 6 a.m. She says she was targeted beginning in 2002 because she was a Muslim and an Arab. The lawsuit claims other businesses were not ticketed. Her 24-hour deli did most of its business during the midnight to 6 a.m. shift.

Court Upholds Jurisdiction To Decide Which Faction Controls Church Property

Avondale Church of Christ v. Merrill Lynch, (TN Ct. App., Nov. 10, 2008) involves a dispute between two factions of a congregationally governed church. The dispute developed after the minister selected new leadership for the congregation. A Tennessee state appellate court affirmed the trial court's jurisdiction to decide who should control church funds and property and held that it acted properly in ordering a vote of the membership on that issue. However the trial court lacked jurisdiction to decide the propriety of the dismissal of the church's minister by the faction-- known as the Men's Business Committee-- that won the election or the identity of "church leadership" beyond control of church property.

Recently Available Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Charleston v. Rojas, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91573 (CD IL, Nov. 12, 2008), an Illinois federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that authorities denied his request for a vegan diet for religious reasons. the court found that plaintiff had not exhausted his administrative remedies.

In Berry v. Waushara County Jail, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91540 (ED WI, Nov. 4, 2008), plaintiff alleged that jail authorities violated his rights under the 1st Amendment and RLUIPA by failing to provide him with a Halal diet, refusing to let him order religious items, denying Muslims group worship and forcing him to purchase a Q'uran while Bibles were given out for free. The court allowed plaintiff to proceed in his claim for damages against the jail administrator in his official capacity, but dismissed claims for injunctive relief because plaintiff was now housed in a different facility.

In Means v. Lampert, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92257 (WD OK, Nov. 12, 2008), an Oklahoma federal district court held that an inmate's complaint should be construed to include a RLUIPA claim even though only 1st Amendment claims were initially referenced.

In Mosley v. Campbell, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71454 (ED CA, Aug. 11, 2008), a California federal district court approved a magistrate's recommendation (2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92409, July 15, 2008) to dismiss a Muslim inmate's challenge to prison grooming standards. The court found that plaintiff was not disciplined because he grew his beard, but instead because he "designed" the beard differently from its natural growth.

"Hisba" Lawsuits Growing In Egypt

A story in last Thursday's Middle East Times discusses the growing use of "hisba" lawsuits in Egypt and elsewhere in the Muslim world against bloggers, journalists and intellectuals. As explained in another Middle East Times article last August, hisba lawsuits are an invention of Islamic jurisprudence that permit private individuals to defend matters of faith to hold fellow citizens and the state accountable for upholding religious principles. Egypt's Decree Law 78 gives individuals the right to file lawsuits in cases where an exalted right of God has been violated. Increasingly however political critics are being charged with apostasy under these laws.

Speeches and Declaration From UN Sessions On Interreligious Understanding

The United Nations has released a summary of all the remarks made by world leaders at the Nov. 12-13 "Culture of Peace" meeting of the General Assembly called to discuss interreligious dialogue. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's opening statement at a press conference following the sessions thanked Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for initiating the conference. The Secretary General also read the Declaration adopted by the participants. It stated in part:

Concerned about serious instances of intolerance, discrimination, hatred expressions, and harassment of minority religious communities of all faiths, participating states underlined the importance of promoting dialogue, understanding, and tolerance among human beings, as well as respect for all their diverse religions, cultures and beliefs. Participating states affirmed their rejection of the use of religion to justify the killing of innocent people and actions of terrorism, violence and coercion, which directly contradict the commitment of all religions to peace, justice and equality.

(See prior related posting.)

Indiana School's Released Time Program Challenged In Court

The Ft. Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette reported yesterday on a federal lawsuit filed by the Indiana ACLU challenging a Huntington Indiana elementary school's "released time" program. The suit brought on behalf of parents of an 8-year old argues that the school district has violated the Establishment Clause by supporting the voluntary religious instruction program that is offered during school hours in church-owned mobile trailers parked in Horace Mann Elementary School's parking lot. The trailers use the school's electricity, students are escorted to the trailers by their teachers, and students who elect not to participate go to their school classroom but receive no alternative programming.

Diocese Repudiates Priest Who Told Obama Voters To Seek Penance

ABC News today reports on an unusual public repudiation by the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina of statements made by a Greenville, SC priest, Father Jay Scott Newman . Last week Newman wrote in his church newsletter that any Catholic who voted for Barack Obama needed to seek penance before again taking communion. He said: "Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."

Monsignor Martin T. Laughlin, Administrator of the Diocese of Charleston, issued a statement yesterday reading in part:

This past week, the Catholic Church’s clear, moral teaching on the evil of abortion has been pulled into the partisan political arena. The recent comments of Father Jay Scott Newman ... have diverted the focus from the Church’s clear position against abortion.... [L]et me state with clarity that Father Newman’s statements do not adequately reflect the Catholic Church’s teachings. Any comments or statements to the contrary are repudiated....

Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith. Therefore, if a person has formed his or her conscience well, he or she should not be denied Communion, nor be told to go to confession before receiving Communion.... We should all come together to support the President-elect and all elected officials with a view to influencing policy in favor of the protection of the unborn child.

Focus Continues on Mormon Leadership of Proposition 8 Campaign

The AP reports that Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, filed a complaint Thursday with the California Fair Political Practices Commission. It alleges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to report the full value of its in-kind contributions to the campaign in support of California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. Meanwhile today's New York Times ran an article detailing the extensive funding and volunteer efforts by members of the Mormon Church in the campaign for Proposition 8. Leaders were careful to keep the activities volunteer ones that did not formally involve the Church. But, according to the Times, "Proposition 8, was to many Mormons a kind of firewall to be held at all costs." (See prior posting.) [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]

Marines Sued By Contractor Whose Car Decals Were Banned On Base

Last Monday, Jesse Nieto, a Marine veteran who works as a civilian at Camp Lejuene Marine base in North Carolina, filed suit against military officials challenging their order that he remove various anti-Islamic decals from his car that he drives to work. Nieto's son was killed in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. The Base Magistrate issued a written order barring Nieto's car from the base and all other federal installations until all the decals were removed. This had the effect of also barring him from using his car to visit his son's grave at Arlington Cemetery.

According to an AP report today, Camp Lejeune's Equal Employment Opportunity office received several complaints that Nieto's decals were offensive. The suit reveals that among the offensive decals were one that read: "Islam = Terrorism"; and another that read: "Disgrace My Countries Flag. And I will SHIT On Your Quran." Even after the most offensive decals were removed, officers insisted that he remove others as well. The federal court complaint (full text) alleges that these orders violated Nieto's free speech and equal protection rights. It argues that the orders are not viewpoint neutral. A Nov. 12 release by the Thomas More Law Center that represents Nieto says that the orders are "political correctness run amuck."

NC Senator-Elect Drops Defamation Suit Over "Godless Americans" Ads

Kay Hagan, winner in the recent election of the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, has dropped her defamation lawsuit filed just before the election against incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole. CNN reported yesterday on Hagan's decision to focus on economic issues facing the country instead of pursuing the lawsuit that challenged election ads Dole ran against Hagan questioning her religious beliefs. The challenged ads attempted to identify Hagan with members of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee who attended a fund raiser for Hagan. Hagan is an elder of the Presbyterian church and a Sunday school teacher. (See prior posting.)

Colorado Governor Sued Over Day of Prayer Proclamations

In Colorado, the Freedom from Religion Foundation and several of its members filed a lawsuit in state court last Wednesday challenging Gov. Jim Ritter Jr.'s practice of issuing National Day of Prayer proclamations. The complaint (full text) alleges that the proclamations and related celebrations amount to governmental endorsement of religion in violation Art. II, Sec. 4 of Colorado's Constitution. The Daily Kenoshan reports on the lawsuit. Other suits challenging day of prayer proclamations were filed earlier this year in Wisconsin and Texas. (See prior postings 1, 2.)

Court Says It Can Decide On Validity of Board Expansion By Jewish School

In Schwimmer v Welz, (NY App. Civ., Nov. 12, 2008), a New York appellate court held that a civil court could decide whether an amendment to the certificate of incorporation expanding the number of board members of United Talmudic Academy of Boro Park, and the election of new board members under those amendments, were valid. The court said that even though the Academy is a religious corporation, deciding the case does not turn on religious issues: "Membership on the Board is not conditioned upon any religious criteria, and the issues raised with respect to the challenged status of the various individuals claiming to be Board members concern only notice requirements, requisites for the conduct of Board meetings and elections, and requirements for amending corporate documents." The case was remanded to the trial court for it to join additional necessary parties. [Thanks to J.J. Landa for the lead.]

Bush Speaks At U.N. Session On Interfaith Cooperation

Yesterday, President George W. Bush spoke (full text of remarks) at the United Nations High-Level Debate on Interfaith Dialogue. Here are some excerpts:

One of my core beliefs is that there is an Almighty God -- and that every man, woman, and child on the face of this Earth bears His image. Many years ago, faith changed my life. Faith has sustained me through the challenges and the joys of my Presidency. And faith will guide me for the rest of my days....

Freedom is God's gift to every man, woman, and child -- and that freedom includes the right of all people to worship as they see fit. Sixty years ago, members of the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged this truth when we adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights....

Our nation was founded by people seeking haven from religious persecution.... And through the generations, our nation has helped defend the religious liberty of others -- from liberating the concentration camps of Europe, to protecting Muslims in places like Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Today, the United States is carrying on that noble tradition by making religious liberty a central element of our foreign policy. We've established a Commission on the International Religious Freedom to monitor the state of religious liberty worldwide. We strongly encourage nations to understand that religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. We're not afraid to stand with religious dissidents and believers who practice their faith, even where it is unwelcome.

The U.N. session was initiated by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. (See prior posting.)

Unusual Delay of Oral Arguments In Summum Case Requested, But Apparently Ignored

Last Monday, a letter was delivered to Chief Justice John Roberts making an unusual request in connection with the then-upcoming oral arguments in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum. At issue in the case was a request by Summum to post a 7 Aphorisms monument in a city park where a 10 Commandments monument already stands. The letter from Robert Ritter, president of the Jefferson Madison Center for Religious Liberty (full text), asked the Court to postpone the scheduled oral arguments "until such time as the Court publicly discloses ... that a literal translation of the Hebrew on the tablet that Moses is holding on the Court's South Wall Frieze is opposite of the Ten Commandments...."

At issue is a depiction in the Supreme Court building of Moses holding two tablets, with his robe and beard hiding much of the lettering on them. So, for example, the Hebrew inscription for "Thou shall not murder" is partially covered so the Hebrew word "lo" ("thou shalt not") is hidden. Ritter's letter suggests that the Court's 2005 decision in Van Orden v. Perry, upholding a 10 Commandments display on the Texas state capitol grounds, was influenced by the belief that the display in the U.S. Supreme Court was an accurate rendition of the Decalogue. In his majority opinion in Van Orden, Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote: "Since 1935, Moses has stood, holding two tablets that reveal portions of the Ten Commandments written in Hebrew, among other lawgivers in the south frieze."

The Supreme Court's docket entries in the Pleasant Grove City case do not reflect that the Ritter's letter was made part of the formal file in the case.

Statements Offer Advice To Obama On Issues of Concern On Religious Matters

The incoming Obama administration is receiving advice from numerous quarters on positions it should take on issues of interest to various religious groups. Chicago Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement (full text) welcoming the opportunity to work with Obama. The statement, which was unanimously approved by nearly 300 bishops, warned however: "The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve." Christianity Today reported on the statement.

Meanwhile Prof. Marci Hamilton posted an article at Findlaw titled The Five Religion-Related Issues that Should Most Concern the Future Obama Administration. Her suggested agenda for the new President includes: (1) End religious discrimination in programs that receive government funding; (2) choose an Attorney General, Solicitor General and, if necessary, Supreme Court Justices who demonstrate a healthy respect for the Establishment Clause and the separation of church and state; (3) support state measures to prevent and prosecute child sex abuse, even when it occurs within religious communities; (4) offer federal resources to investigate the abuses -- including child abuse -- that typically arise from polygamy.; (5) as part of the government's aid to homeowners, revoke laws that unfairly privilege religious groups in local zoning conflicts.

Ithaca Sued By Evangelist Over Enforcement of Noise Ordinance

Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that it had filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Ithaca, New York on behalf of traveling Christian evangelist James Deferio. The complaint (full text) alleges that Deferio's free speech and due process rights were violated when police attempted to enforce against his loud preaching a city ordinance banning noise that can be heard more than 25 feet away. In 2006, a federal court judge had enjoined the city from enforcing this noise ordinance in a suit brought by another evangelist.

Brazil's President Signs Agreement With Vatican

In the Vatican yesterday, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an agreement with the Vatican on the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Brazil. CNS reports that the Vatican will not publish the full text of the agreement until it is ratified by Brazil's Parliament. In general, however, the agreement recognizes the legal status of the Church, its educational degrees and its teaching of religion in the public schools. The agreement also recognizes marriages performed by the Church and assures access of Catholic chaplains to military bases, prisons and hospitals. An innovation in this agreement is its assurance that "other religious confessions" as well as the Catholic Church will be able to teach their tenets in Brazil's schools.

Study Released On State Anti-Discrimination Laws and Same-Sex Marriage

Earlier this week, the Becket Fund announced the release of a study titled Same-Sex Marriage and State Anti-Discrimination Laws. The Executive Summary says in part:

The survey revealed that over 350 separate state anti-discrimination provisions would likely be triggered by recognition of same-sex marriage.... Based on this data, we conclude that if same-sex marriage is recognized by courts or legislatures, people and institutions who have conscientious objections to facilitating same-sex marriage will likely be sued under existing anti-discrimination laws—laws never intended for that purpose. Lawsuits will likely arise when religious people or religious organizations choose, based on their sincerely held religious beliefs, not to hire individuals in same-sex marriages, refuse to extend spousal benefits to same-sex spouses, refuse to make their property or services available for same-sex marriage ceremonies or other events affirming same-sex marriage, or refuse to provide otherwise available housing to same-sex couples.

The study recommended that states "ensure that any recognition of same-sex marriage is preceded by robust exemptions to anti-discrimination rules." Along with the report, the Becket Fund published a useful chart on existing religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, by state.

Islamist Insurgents Take Somalian Seaport

Islamist insurgents have expanded the area they control in Somalia. Today's New York Times reports that Islamist guerrillas took over Merka, and important seaport 60 miles south of Mogadishu. The insurgents met no resistance. The Islamists are part of a group called the Shabab (background) that has been designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department. Many Somalis, seeking law and order, welcome the takeover. The group has imposed strict Islamic law in some areas it controls.

Court Refuses To Dismiss Most Claims Against Archdiocese In Abuse Case

In Noll v. Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 2008 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2661 (CT Super, Oct. 20, 2008), a Connecticut trial court refused to dismiss claims that the Hartford Catholic archdiocese was negligent in failing adequately to supervise, evaluate, and train a priest who abused plaintiff and failed to investigate reports of the priest's wrongful behavior. The court, analyzing prior case law, held that "the bulk of the plaintiff's claims of negligent and reckless institutional failure to appropriately deal with child sexual abuse will not inexorably entangle the court in a doctrinal dispute." However the court did strike from the complaint portions of two counts that specifically refer to religion-based obligations.

Group Wants New Military Rules Protecting Nonbelievers

Stars and Stripes reported yesterday that the Secular Coalition for America is asking the incoming Obama administration to issue new rules against proselytizing in the military. It also wants more training for chaplains on how to deal with non-religious troops. At a news conference on Monday, the group called for new rules that would eliminate public prayer from any event where troop attendance is mandatory and prohibit the Defense Department endorsing any specific religion or religion in general. Around 20% of service members say they have no particular religious affiliation.

Suit Challenges Washington State Limits On Special Ed In Religious Schools

In Washington state, three families represented by the Institute for Justice have filed suit against the state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction challenging regulations that require religious school students to travel off premises to obtain special education services. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC 1412) requires states to make these services available to children in private a well as public schools. Unlike many other states, Washington will not offer therapeutic services on site at religious schools (Wash. Admin. Code 392-172A-04075), relying on the state Constitution's ban on state funding for any religious establishment (Art. I, Sec. 11)and its requirement that no school receiving state aid may be under sectarian control (Art. IX, Sec. 4). The complaint in DeBoom v. Bergeson, (WD WA, filed 11/12/2008), alleges that the Washington regulations violate the Free Exercise, Establishment, Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the federal Constitution. Yesterday's Seattle Times reports on the lawsuit. the Institute of Justice website provides additional background material.

Humanists Run "Why Believe In God?" Ad In Time For Christmas

The American Humanist Association is apparently fueling a new round in the debate over public displays at Christmas time. CBN News reported yesterday that the AHA will spend $40,000 to place ads on the outside and inside of buses in Washington, D.C. Space is being purchased through December. The ads read: "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." (Photo of ads.) An AHA spokesman explained: "Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists, and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays...." An AHA press release last Tuesday says that similar ads are running in the New York Times and Washington Post.

Federal Court Will Not Stop Utah Hearing On Sale of FLDS Land

A Utah federal district court judge yesterday said he would not bar a Friday hearing in a Utah state court on whether to approve sale of Berry Knoll Farm by the FLDS United Effort Plan Trust. (See prior posting.) However Judge Dee Benson asked FLDS attorneys to report on Friday's hearing. The court will then decide-- before the sale closes--whether to hold a further hearing on FLDS claims that its free exercise rights are being violated by Utah's reformation of the terms of the UEP Trust and its takeover of administration of trust property. Yesterday, the Salt Lake Tribune and KSL-TV News reported on the federal judge's ruling.

UPDATE: On Friday, Utah state court Judge Denise Lindberg postponed the scheduled hearing on the sale of Berry Knoll Farm so that the parties could work out "a global resolution" of pending litigation and a plan for its future management. The postponement came at the request of the Utah Attorney General's office and after a meeting in chambers between the judge and attorneys for both parties. Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune reported that 2500 members of the FLDS Church showed up at Friday's hearing to show their disapproval of the proposed land sale.

Council of Europe Gives Guidance on Religious Symbols and Hate Speech

The Council of Europe announced yesterday that it is publishing Manuals to offer guidance on two controversial issues. The Manual on the Wearing of Religious Symbols in Public Areas, authored by Prof. Malcolm Evans, points out that European Court of Human rights case law gives states broad regulatory discretion, but individuals should enjoy the fullest possible freedom of belief. The Manual on Hate Speech, authored by Anne Weber, attempts to distinguish insulting speech that is protected from unprotected hate speech. The Council has posted online in English a fact sheet on wearing religious symbols in public (Word document) and a fact sheet on hate speech (Word document).

California Catholic Bishops Defend Passage of Proposition 8

The Executive Committee of the California Catholic Conference yesterday issued statement defending its support of California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. The ballot measure passed last Tuesday, and its passage has generated continued controversy. The statement said in part:

The radical change in the definition of marriage to include same-sex partners discounts both history and biology and ignores how deeply marriage—as the union of a man and a woman—is embedded in our culture, language, and laws and how foundational it is for the well-being of children and the flourishing of society. To change the definition of marriage to include any two adults diminishes the institution to mean only a legal partnership.

Under present law domestic partners continue to have the rights and benefits of married couples in the State of California. It is our conviction that it is not necessary to change the definition of marriage to protect those rights and benefits.

Denmark Proposing Ban On Judges Wearing Headscarves In Court

Denmark's Justice Minister Brian Mikkelsen says he is about to introduce legislation that would prohibit Muslim women judges from wearing headscarves in court. Politiken.dk yesterday reported on the proposed legislation that would reverse a ruling handed down last year by Denmark's independent Judicial Board. A Justice Ministry news release explains: "during court hearings, judges must not, through behaviour or clothing, express religious or political affiliations or attitudes towards religious or political issues." (See prior related posting.)

"Seven Aphorisms" Case Argued In Supreme Court [UPDATED]

The Supreme Court this morning heard oral arguments in Pleasant Grove City, UT v. Summum (Docket No. 07-665), a case in which the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals held that members of the Summum faith are entitled to erect a "Seven Aphorisms" monument in a city park in which a 10 Commandments monument donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles is already displayed. (See prior posting.) Links to all the merit and amicus briefs filed in the case are available on Scotus Wiki. The parties in their briefs focus on whether the existing park monuments are government speech or private speech, and whether the Utah city park is a traditional public forum for unattended permanent displays. A release by Americans United on Monday, and an editorial in today's New York Times, reflect the view put forth in some of the amicus briefs that the Court should analyze the case under the Establishment Clause, instead of treating it as merely a speech case. An articles in yesterday's New York Times previews the case.

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, argued on behalf of Pleasant Grove City. Last month, one of the venues in which he rehearsed his argument was Liberty University School of Law (Liberty Champion). The Solicitor General's Office also presented oral argument in support of Pleasant Grove City. Deputy Solicitor General Daryl Joseffer opened his argument as follows:

Of course the Government can select the content and viewpoint of monuments on the National Mall and in other public parks across the country. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial did not open us up to a Viet Cong memorial. When the Martin Luther King Memorial is completed on the mall, it will not have to be offset by a monument to the man who shot Dr. King.

Washington attorney and law school professor Pamela Harris argued on behalf of Summum. Early in the argument, Chief Justice John Roberts asked Sekulow why the city had agreed to put up the 10 Commandments monument originally, though later Roberts also challenged Harris' arguments. The Washington Post, reporting on today's oral arguments, says: "Although the debate was spirited, it lacked some of the rancor of the last time the high court took up a dispute over the 10 Commandments."

The full transcript of oral arguments is available online.

Indian Panel Investigating Dow Chemical Construction At Holy Hindu Site

Members of the Warkari Hindu sect believe that land near the town of Chakan in the Maharashtra state in India is sacred because it is the land of a 17th century sage, Sant Tukaram. Today's Business Standard reports that last month, members of the sect burned down a Dow Chemical research and development facility being constructed there because they feared it would pollute the sacred area. In response, Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, put a hold on Dow's construction activity and appointed a four-person committee to look into the complaints. The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge S. P. Kurdukar was to submit a report this week. However now the environment ministry says that Justice Kurdukar has resigned after discovering that a close relative previously worked as legal counsel for Dow.

U.N. Session on Religious Tolerance Opens Today

A two-day session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss religious tolerance and inter-religious cooperation begins today, with over a dozen world leaders in attendance. Most of them are in the United States also to attend a G-20 Financial Summit in Washington beginning Friday. The U.N. session, titled "Culture of Peace" was initiated by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah who will open the session. He will be followed by Israel's president Shimon Peres, as well as Lebanese and Palestinian leaders. U.S. President George Bush will speak on Thursday. Abdullah and Peres were invited to dinner last night by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Reports on the U.N. meeting appeared yesterday in the International Herald Tribune, Jerusalem Post, and Abu Dhabi's The National. The meeting is seen as emphasizing the importance that world leaders place on resolving religious disputes without resort violence. Human rights activists however criticize King Abdullah for lack of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Police Break Up Fight Between Monks In Church of Holy Sepulcher

The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli police entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher last Sunday and arrested two monks after a fight broke out between them at the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. The dispute between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks involved a Greek Orthodox attempt to place a monk inside what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus. The incident occurred during the annual Armenian procession commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used for Jesus' crucifixion. Total Catholic reported yesterday that a Franciscan official said the altercation resulted from confusion over "Status Quo Agreements" that regulate the way that six Christian groups divide control over the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. [Thanks to Religion and State in Israel for the lead.]

Court Says County Violated RLUIPA, Equal Protection In Denying Church Applications

In Reaching Hearts International, Inc. v. Prince George's County, (D MD, Nov. 4, 2008), a Maryland federal district court upheld a jury verdict in favor of a Seventh Day Adventist Church that, because of various regulations and administrative actions, was prevented from constructing a church and school on land it owned. The court said the church found itself engaged in "a fruitless three-year-long shadowboxing match that was doomed from the start."

The jury, in special verdicts, found that the county's actions were motivated, at least in part, by religious discrimination in violation of the Equal Protection Clause, and that those actions imposed a "substantial burden" on plaintiff's rights in violation of RLUIPA. Accepting those findings, the court concluded that the county failed to demonstrate a compelling interest for its actions and that its actions were not the least restrictive means that could be used. The court confirmed the jury's $3.7 million damage award and granted injunctive relief as well, in part ordering the county to consider future applications by the church "without any discriminatory animus." Yesterday's Maryland Daily Record reported on the decision.

Liberty Counsel Renews "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign"

Liberty Counsel, a legal advocacy group, announced yesterday that it is launching its sixth annual "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign." The campaign includes distribution of legal memoranda defending public references to Christmas and its celebration in the workplace. (Memo on Public Christmas Celebrations; Memo on Celebrating Christmas in the Workplace). The campaign, which provides "free assistance to those facing persecution for celebrating Christmas," focuses on situations such as use in retail ads of "holiday" instead of "Christmas", renaming of Christmas trees as "holiday trees", exclusion of religious Christmas carols in schools and bans on religious decorations in public places. Its "Naughty and Nice List" names retailers that specifically refer to Christmas and those that instead use more generic terms in their advertising, on their websites and in their stores.

Israel's New Divorce Law Aids Women By Accelerating Property Split

Israel's Knesset last week passed new divorce legislation that permits courts to award a financial settlement before the divorce is finalized by the giving of a religious divorce document ("get"). The Jerusalem Post reports that the new law will prevent husbands from using their power to refuse to give a get as leverage to achieve a better financial settlement or child custody rights. Under the new law, courts have the power to divide marital assets between the parties 12 months after the divorce action is filed, even if the divorce has not been finalized. Even earlier property distribution is permitted in cases of violent and abusive spouses. (Jerusalem Post.) Most, but not all, members of the Knesset from religious parties opposed the amendments to the Financial Relations Law. It was, however, strongly supported by women's rights proponents who have been working to resolve the problem of so-called agunot -- women who cannot remarry because their husbands refuse to give them a get. [Thanks to Religion and State In Israel for the lead.]

Louisiana Street Preachers' Suit Against City Dismissed

In World Wide Street Preachers Fellowship v. Town of Columbia, Louisiana, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90674 (WD LA, Nov. 7, 2008), a Louisiana federal district court-- in a case on remand from the 5th Circuit-- held that a police officer was not motivated by the content of the speech of a group of demonstrators when he dispersed the group, arrested one of its members and threatened to arrest others. The group, an organization of street preachers, on several occassions carried signs protesting abortion and the ordination of women as ministers. The court held that because the officer, in dispersing the demonstration, did not offer protesters any alternative other than ending their demonstration, his interference was not narrowly tailored to further a significant governmental interest and leave open alternative channels of communication. However the court found no widespread municipal practice of infringing speech rights. Therefore it dismisssed plaintiffs' Section 1983 suit against the city. (See prior related postings 1, 2 .)

Indian Court Rejects Ban On Publication of Hindu Book

In India yesterday, the Delhi High Court reversed a lower court decision that had banned the Sarvadeshik Press from publishing of a 135-year old Hindu religious book, Satyarth Prakash, written by social reformer Swami Dayanand Saraswati. IANS reports that the lawsuit challenging the book had alleged that its publication hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. The High Court said it was not its role to decide on the truthfulness of religious books or to regulate religious sentiments, and said the lawsuit was merely a publicity stunt.

Appeal and New Suit Continue Challenge To Sale of FLDS Property

Members of the FLDS Church are attempting in both state and federal court to prevent the sale of Berry Knoll, a large tract of farm land along the Utah-Arizona border owned by the Church's United Effort Plan Trust. The land was supposed to be a future site of an FLDS temple. The sale is being proposed by the special fiduciary appointed by a Utah state court. (See prior posting 1, 2.) Yesterday's Deseret News reports that the members have filed an emergency appeal with the Utah Supreme Court to block the sale. Church representatives argue that the lower court proceedings that were supposed to ensure that the UEP Trust was properly administered have "now become a vehicle ... to ensure that the trust is administered to destroy and thwart the religious doctrines and goals of the FLDS Church." Also, according to the paper, a lawsuit had now been filed against the fiduciary, Bruce Wisan, in Arizona by FLDS member Willie Jessop.

European Parliament Says Sikh Members Cannot Wear Kirpan In Building

Asian Image reported yesterday that security authorities at the European Parliament in Brussels have decided that the Sikh kirpan (ceremonial dagger) is a security threat, and so have refused to allow Sikh Parliament members to enter the Parliament building wearing their religious daggers. This prevented a new All-Party Sikh Interest Group from holding their planned first meeting in one of the Parliament's main rooms.

Israel's High Court Orders Bus Company To Accept Ads of Women Candidates

In Israel, elections for mayor and City Council of Jerusalem are being held today. (Background JTA article.) Yesterday Israel's High Court of Justice, in a suit filed by the Wake Up Jerusalem movement, ruled that the Egged Bus Cooperative cannot refuse to accept election ads that portray women candidate for Council. According to Y Net News, Canaan Advertising Agency that sells advertising space at the Egged bus stops had refused to accept the posters, fearing that Ultra-Orthodox Jews would destroy the posters and the bus stop shelters on which they hung.

University Offers Refund On Tickets To Controversial Plays

At Southeastern Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, a student production of Christopher Durang's, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, offended Wendy Kurka Rust. The campus theater in which the play was performed is one named after Rust-- presumably because she was a major donor to it. Yesterday's Southeastern Missourian reported that the University has offered to refund the play's $6.40 ticket price to anyone who requests it, and is also offering an $11.80 refund on tickets to Tony Kushner's, Angels in America. Rust wrote a letter to the school complaining about the Durang play, saying: "a play that ridicules and scorns the Christian religion under the label of satire is inappropriate to be included in the offering of season ticket holders." The University provost says that in the future, a committee will decide which plays being performed should be part of the season ticket package.

Recent Articles and Book Of Interest

From SSRN:

• P.G. Monateri, The Prophetic Nature of Equity, (THE CONCEPT OF EQUITY, Daniela Carpi, ed., pp. 69-82, Heidelberg, Winter 2007).


• Perry Dane, A Holy Secular Institution, (Emory Law Journal, Forthcoming, 2008).


• Susan J. Stabil, The Challenges of Opening a Dialogue between Catholic and Secular Feminist Legal Theorists, (U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 08-33, Oct. 12, 2008).

New Book:

• Edward Kritzler, Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom--and Revenge, (Doubleday, Nov. 18, 2008), reviewed by San Francisco Chronicle.

Malaysian Blogger Released, But Appeal Being Considered

In September, Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was arrested by Malaysian authorities under the Internal Security Act on charges that articles he posted threatened public order and security. He was charged with "causing tension among the country's multi-racial and multi-religious society" through postings on the news blog Malaysia Today of articles insulting to Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad and defamatory of Malaysia's leaders Amnesty International reported last Friday that the high court in the state of Selangor said that the arrest was unconstitutional and ordered Kamarudin released, ruling that the country's Home Minister Syed acted beyond his powers in having him arrested. However, the Daily Express reports that the Federal Attorney General's Office has been asked to look into a possible appeal of Kamarudin's release.

Recent Prisoner Free Excercise Cases

In High v. Baca, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77385 (D NV, Oct. 1, 2008), a Nevada federal district court adopted a federal magistrate's recommendation (2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88077 (Feb. 6, 2008)) not to dismiss plaintiff's claim that his free exercise rights were violated when officials served him breakfast during Ramadan before sunrise, instead of before dawn.

In Johnson v. Sisto, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88253 (ED CA, Oct. 21, 2008), a California federal magistrate judge recommended denial of plaintiff's request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. Plaintiff prisoner alleged that he was denied substitutions for menu items forbidden by his religion and tht he was prevented from wearing his religious headwear in the library.

In Sacred Feather v. Merrill, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89783 (D ME, Oct. 29, 2008), a Maine federal district adopted the recommendations of a federal magistrate judge (see prior posting) and dismissed claims by a Native American prisoner. The court concluded that a reasonableness test, rather than a compelling governmental interest test was proper as to plaintiff's First Amendment claims, and that plaintiff had waived his RLUIPA claim.

In Gilbert v. Steed, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90507, (D KA, Nov. 6, 2008), a Kansas federal district court held that plaintiff had a plausible free exercise claim. He alleged that he was segregated from other inmates while eating his kosher diet.

In Ketzner v. Williams, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90500, (WD MI, Sept. 30, 2008), a Michigan federal district court agreed with a federal magistrate's conclusion that temporarily removing prisoners from the Kosher Meal Program when they are in possession of non-kosher food items does not violate either the Establishment or the Free Exercise clause.

In Garrison v. Dutcher, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90504, (WD MI, Sept. 30, 2008), a Michigan federal district court held that RLUIPA does not authorize individual-capacity claims. It held that plaintiff can move ahead on his official-capacity First Amendment and RLUIPA claims alleging delays in delivering him his spiritual herbs. It concluded that the test for a substantial burden under RLUIPA is whether the government, by act or omission, renders impracticable, significantly restricts, or forecloses one's religious exercise, or puts substantial pressure on an individual to modify his behavior in violation of his religious beliefs. Finally the court upheld a prison policy that requires books, including Bibles, to be received only directly from the publisher or an authorized vendor. (See prior related posting.) UPDATE: For later proceedings in the case, see 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91438 (June 29, 2009) and 2009 U.S. Dist LEXIS 90842 (Sept. 30, 2009).

Sikh Defendant Will Not Be Allowed To Wear Turban At Trial

Today's Stockton (CA) Record reports that a San Joaquin (CA) County Superior Court Judge has ruled that a defendant in a murder case who is a Sikh will not be allowed to wear his turban during trial. Judge Charlotte Orcutt ruled that there is too much risk that 56-year-old Gurparkash Khalsa could hide a weapon or noose in the 18 to 24 feet of fabric. There is concern that other inmates could use the turban to harm Khalsa in the courthouse holding cell, so Khalsa proposed putting it on just outside the courtroom. But this would require bailiffs to spend 10 to 15 minutes with him while he wraps his turban. Khlasa, who is is being held on charges of murdering his daughter's former boyfriend, is not allowed to wear his turban in jail either and has rejected the alternative of a smaller cloth head covering.

Tonight Is 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht

Tonight is the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a Nazi Germany pogrom that killed 92 Jews. Over 25,000 Jews were arrested and many were sent to concentration camps. Jewish businesses were vandalized and more than 200 synagogues were destroyed. The event is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust. Vatican Radio reports that Pope Benedict XVI's Angelus Address today recalled the event and appealed more broadly against all forms of discrimination and anti-Semitism. He also called attention to the current slaughter of innocent civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also, marking Kristallnacht, Lubavitch.com reported on Jewish life in Germany today.

California School Board Says "No" To Display of "Under God" Motto

The trustees of Antelope Valley Union High School District in California last Wednesday defeated, by a vote of 3-2, a proposal to place the motto "one nation under God" on the wall of their board room. Yesterday's Contra Costa Times reports that board proponent Al Beattie said the line from the Pledge of Allegiance does not unconstitutionally promote religion. Opponent Ira Simonds said if any line from the Pledge were put up, he would prefer "with liberty and justice for all".

Rhode Island Auto Dealers Split Over Repeal of Sunday Closing Law

Yesterday's Providence (RI) Journal carries an article over the split among car dealers in Rhode Island over whether the state's ban on Sunday car sales should be repealed. Thirteen other states have similar laws. The Journal reports: "Rhode Island's 60 dealers have split into cultural camps: those who would jump at Sunday work even in a boom, versus those who'll never work on Sundays, even in the current bust."

Saudi Arabia Attempts To Deprogram Arrested Islamic Militants

Today's New York Times Magazine carries an article titled Deprogramming Jihadists. It describes the post-prison rehabilitation program used by Saudi Arabia to deprogram Islamic extremists. According to the article: "Most prisoners complete the program within two months. Upon release, each former jihadist is required to sign a pledge that he has forsaken extremist sympathies; the head of his family must sign as well. Some also receive a car (often a Toyota) and aid from the Interior Ministry in renting a home. Social workers assist former jihadists and their families in making post-release plans for education, employment and, usually, marriage."

Federal Suit To Be Filed On Behalf of Amish Over NY Building Codes

Several towns in northern New York have brought suits to enforce their building code requirements against members of a conservative Amish sect. (See prior postings 1, 2, 3 .) While state courts have rejected their free exercise defenses, WNYF News reported Friday that the Becket fund is planning to file a federal lawsuit against the Town of Morristown on behalf of nearly a dozen Amish men facing code violation charges there. In anticipation of that, a judge in Hammond (NY) has postponed further proceedings in an eviction proceeding against two Amish families there.

Louisiana City's Festival Creates Church-State Issue

Thibodeauxville, Louisiana's annual music and food festival has become the latest focus in the battle over the proper division between church and state. The flyer promoting the festival says it will include "all-day Christian music and dance." A citizen's complaint over this led the ACLU to write the mayor seeking an end to future city participation in events that highlight the Christian faith. However, according to Thursday's Lafourche Parish Daily Comet, the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce says that it, not the city, is the sponsor of the annual festival, so no church-state issue arises. But the Louisiana ACLU says City Council has a cooperative-endeavor agreement of $10,000 with the Chamber to promote tourism and economic development. Yesterday's Daily Comet reports that the Alliance Defense Fund has offered free legal assistance to the city to fight the ACLU's charge. Chamber of Commerce president Kathy Benoit, though, says that the controversy has been one of the best sources of publicity for the festival.

California Same-Sex Marriage Backers Protest Against Mormon Church

Angry that California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage passed, on Thursday some 2000 protesters demonstrated outside the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles. The Mormon Church was particularly active in campaigning for passage of the ballot measure. (See prior posting.) Reporting on the demonstrations, Britain's Independent says that a public relations war against the Mormon church is planned, with demonstrations likely across California, including during Mormon services today. A report on Thursday's demonstration from LifeSiteNews says one protester urged taxing the Mormon church and others carried signs with slogans such as: "Don't teach hate" and "Mormons have 10 wives - I can't have one?" Some argue that the LDS church and other religious groups violated principles of church-state separation by backing Tuesday's ballot measure. However the Episcopal church in California supports same-sex marriage and says it will continue to work to validate it.

Beyond California, on Friday, according to the New York Times, a rally and march around the headquarters of the Mormon church took place in Salt Lake City (UT). Speaking at the rally, Utah State Senator Scott D. McCoy, one of three openly gay Utah legislators, told the crowd of 2000: "The way to deal with this problem is to love more, not hate."

Meanwhile today's Los Angeles Times reports on more general protests around California over the passage of proposition 8.

UPDATE: On Nov. 7, The LDS Church issued a statement decrying the protests against it, saying "it is wrong to target the Church and its sacred places of worship for being part of the democratic process." The Roman Catholic diocese of Sacramento also issued a statement, saying: "Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8."

7th Circuit Says Illinois May Reject "Choose Life" License Plates

In Choose Life Illinois, Inc. v. White, (7th Cir., Nov. 7, 2008), the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the refusal of the state Secretary of State to issue a special "Choose Life" license plate after proponents obtained the requisite number of signatures requesting it. The court said:

Specialty license plates implicate the speech rights of private speakers, not the government-speech doctrine. This triggers First Amendment "forum" analysis, and we conclude specialty plates are a nonpublic forum. Illinois may not discriminate on the basis of viewpoint, but it may control access to the forum based on the content of a proposed message—provided that any content-based restrictions are reasonable. The distinction between content and viewpoint discrimination makes a difference here.

It is undisputed that Illinois has excluded the entire subject of abortion from its specialty-plate program; it has authorized neither a pro-life plate nor a pro-choice plate. It has done so on the reasonable rationale that messages on specialty license plates give the appearance of having the government’s endorsement, and Illinois does not wish to be perceived as endorsing any position on the subject of abortion. The State’s rejection of a "Choose Life" license plate was thus content based but viewpoint neutral, and because it was also reasonable, there is no First Amendment violation.

Judge Manion wrote a concurring opinion. The court’s decision reversed the district court that had ordered the Secretary of State to issue the specialty plates. (See prior posting.) Today’s Chicago Sun Times reports on the 7th Circuit’s decision. The Thomas More Society, representing Choose Life Illinois, announced that they will seek a rehearing, and if that fails will seek Supreme Court review. [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]

Cert. Filed In Exorcism Case

A petition for certiorari was filed last Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court in Pleasant Glade Assembly of God v. Schubert, (Docket No. 08-592). In the case, the Texas Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, rejected the lawsuit brought by then 17-year old Laura Schubert alleging false imprisonment and assault by the pastor, youth minister and several members of an Assembly of God Church. The suit grew out of psychological injuries plaintiff suffered from a "laying of hands" on her to exorcise demonic forces. The majority held that deciding the case would unconstitutionally entangle the court in matters of church doctrine. (See prior posting).

UPDATE: Here is the full text of the cert. petition. [Thanks to Scott Gant.]

Remaining Claims In "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Case Settled

Last year, the Supreme Court last year decided Morse v. Frederick, holding that Juneau, Alaska school officials did not violate a student's free speech rights when they confiscated his banner reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" displayed at the at the Olympic Torch Relay.(See prior posting.) However, there were additional claims left to be decided on remand. The AP reported yesterday that now the school district and former student Joseph Frederick have reached a settlement in the case. In exchange for Frederick dropping his remaining claims, the school district will pay him $45,000 and will also hire a neutral constitutional law expert to chair a forum on student speech rights this school year. Under the settlement, the school district will continue to enforce its policies prohibiting students from displaying materials that advocate or celebrate illegal drug use.