India Supreme Court Rejects Muslim Student's Challenge To Grooming Rule

India's Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge by a Muslim high school student to school rules that require him to shave his beard. The National and UCANews yesterday reported on the decision that permits a Catholic school, the Nirmala Convent Higher Secondary School, to enforce its grooming policy. Sixteen year old Mohammad Salim claimed that the ban violates his constitutionally protected right to practice his religion. He also argued unequal treatment since Sikh students are permitted to wear beards and turbans. Justice Markandey Katju said: "We should strike a balance between rights and personal beliefs." He also added: "We don’t want to have Taliban in the country. Tomorrow a girl student may come and say that she wants to wear a burqa [in the school] – can we allow that?"

President Signs Law Extending Foreign Religious Worker Program To Sept. 29

On March 20, President Obama signed H.R. 1127, a bill that makes "SR visas" under the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program available to aliens seeking to enter the U.S. before September 30, 2009. Under prior law the program had expired March 6. The State Department's website reports on the signing. Last December, the Department of Homeland Security amended regulations implementing the program. (See prior posting.) [Thanks to Josh Gerstein's Blog for the lead.]

Paper Says Catholic Church Knew of Priest Abuse Problem Earlier Than Previously Thought

National Catholic Reporter yesterday ran a long article disclosing that:

decades before the clergy sexual-abuse crisis broke publicly across the U.S. Catholic landscape, the founder of a religious order that dealt regularly with priest sex abusers was so convinced of their inability to change that he searched for an island to purchase with the intent of using it as a place to isolate such offenders....

Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, founder of the Servants of the Paracletes, an order established in 1947 to deal with problem priests, wrote regularly to bishops in the United States and to Vatican officials, including the pope, of his opinion that many sexual abusers in the priesthood should be laicized immediately. [Full text of letters.]

Ontario Expands Permissible Religious References On Personalized Plates

In Canada, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation announced last week that it was revising its personalized license plate program to permit religious titles to be used on personalized plates. The department says it has been guided by a report of a voluntary advisory panel (full text of report). Instead of the current rules that ban all religious messages, the panel urged the following guidelines:

Positive or neutral expressions of religious beliefs and mythology are permissible; including references to religious celebrations, titles, leaders and symbols. All religions and beliefs are permissible.... Negative, pejorative or derogatory reference to any religion whatsoever are not permitted.... Any meaning implying the superiority or exclusivity of one religion or creed over others or proselytizing statements are prohibited....

Suit On Court Employees' Bible Study Group Settled

Christian Examiner reported yesterday on a settlement in Barlow v. Superior Court of California, a case in which several court employees in San Diego sued to challenge the denial of their request to use an open jury room or court room for their weekly lunch-time Bible study meeting. (See prior posting.) The settlement permits employees to resume their Bible study, and San Diego County Superior Court agrees to pay some of plaintiffs' attorney's fees.

Morocco Takes Action Against Shiites, Christians

AFP reported last week that the Moroccan government has begun a campaign to counter activities that are seen as contrary to the "moral and religious values" of Moroccan society. Dozens of people suspected of Shiite sympathies have been arrested. Moroccans largely follow the Malakite school of Sunni Islam. The government is also attacking those calling for greater tolerance of homosexuality.

According to Earth Times yesterday, the government campaign has now spread to countering Christian activities. Four Christian missionaries (3 Spaniards and a German woman) were expelled from Morocco after it was alleged that they were illegally engaged in Christian proselytizing at a meeting they held in Casablanca on Saturday. However sources close to the missionaries say that only Christians were attending the communion meeting. The actions against Shiites were prompted in part by a broader controversy in the Middle East over a statement made last month by Iranian official, Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, who threatened Bahrain's sovereignty by announcing that Bahrain was historically a province of Iran. (New York Times, 3/29.)

Famous Indian Parliamentary Candidate Arrested For Anti-Muslim Speeches

In India, the battle over the candidacy of Varun Sanjay Gandhi, grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, continues. Varun Gandhi, a member of the BJP, is a candidate for the lower house of India's Parliament, running from a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. BBC News reported last week on the March 22 Order of the Election Commission (full text) recommending that Gandhi not be nominated as a candidate because of two speeches he made last month that contained highly derogatory references to the Muslim community. The BJP however continues to support Gandhi as a candidate, saying that the Election Commission was biased and lacked authority to disqualify Gandhi.

Initially two criminal cases were filed against Gandhi, one charging his with violations of India Penal Code 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 295A (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 505(2) (circulating statements likely to create or promote ill-will between religious groups). The other was brought under Sec. 125 of the Representation of the People Act 1951 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election). Then on Sunday, according to India.com, additional charges were also filed by the Uttar Pradesh government under the National Security Act. Under that Act, a person arrested can be detained without bail for up to one year. However, he can contest his detention before a 3-person Advisory Board headed by a High Court judge.

Paper Profiles FLDS Ranch One Year After Raid

Yesterday's Deseret News profiles the situation at the FLDS "Yearning For Zion Ranch" in Eldorado, Texas one year after a high-profile raid that temporarily took 439 children from the compound into state custody. Many families on the ranch were polygamous and state authorities argued that the children's safety was in danger. (See prior posting.) The FLDS temple on the ranch is no longer in use, but many families are back. Many children are still feeling the effects of having been temporarily placed in foster homes.

8 Venezuela Police charged In Attack on Caracas Synagogue

AP reported last Thursday that in Venezuela prosecutors filed formal charges against eight police officers and three other people in connection with the January attack on Tifaret Israel synagogue in Caracas. Among those charged is the bodyguard for a rabbi and one of the security guards on duty at the synagogue. Prosecutors have asked the court to approve charges of robbery, "acts of contempt against a religion," and concealing firearms. The attackers destroyed religious objects, spray-painted anti-Semitic slogans and took a computer database with the names and addresses of Jews in Venezuela. Police believe that the attackers were looking for cash to steal. The attack took place shortly after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cut off diplomatic ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza. Chavez has condemned the synagogue attack.

Senate Leader Will Repropose Federal Polygamy Task Force

Last Friday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would reintroduce legislation this session to set up a federal task force to focus on polygamy-related crime. According to Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune, Reid also said he will urge new Attorney General Eric Holder to take action against crime in polygamous communities. In connection with similar proposals last year by Reid, the Senate Judiciary Committee in July held hearings titled "Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response." (Witness list with link to webcast of hearing.) Reid is a Democrat from Nevada and a convert to Mormonism.

Recent Articles of Interest

From SSRN:

• Calvin R. Massey, Church Schisms, Church Property, and Civil Authority, (March 26, 2009).


• Harry G. Hutchison, Putting the World Back Together? Recovering Faithful Citizenship in a Postmodern Age, (George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 09-21 , March 25, 2009).


• Ali Khan, Jurodynamics of Islamic Law, (Rutgers Law Review, Vol. 61, No. 2, 2009).


• Albert H.Y. Chen, Three Political Confucianisms and Half a Century, (March 22, 2009).

From SmartCILP:

• Alan E. Garfield, Finding Shared Values In a Diverse Society: Lessons From the Intelligent Design Community, 33 Vermont Law Review 225-281 (2008).


• Jay Alan Sekulow & Erik M. Zimmerman, Pleasant Grove City v. Summum: Upholding the Government's Authority to Craft Its Own Message Through Privately Donated or Funded Monuments, Memorials, and Artwork, 3 Charleston Law Review 175-204 (2009).


• Lecture. The Bible and American Law. Lecture by Herbert W. Titus; responses by Jeffrey C. Tuomala and Michael J. DeBoer; responses by Herbert W. Titus, 2 Liberty University Law Review, 305-417 (2008).


• Symposium. The Supreme Court's Hands-Off Approach to Religious Doctrine. [Table of contents]. Introduction by Samuel J. Levine; articles by Christopher L. Eisgruber & Lawrence G. Sager, Richard W. Garnett, Andrew Koppelman, Bernadette Meyler and Kent Greenawalt, 84 Notre Dame Law Review 793-928 (2009). [Links are to full text of articles.]


• The Future of Law, Religion, and the Family. A 25th Anniversary Symposium. [Table of contents.] Foreword by Leah Ward Sears; Articles by Enola G. Aird, Stephen L. Carter, Don S. Browning, Margaret Brinig and Jean Bethke Elshtain, afterword by John Witte, Jr. 58 Emory Law Journal 1-102 (2008). [Links are to full text of articles.]

Controversy Continues Over Notre Dame's Commencement Invitation To Obama

Notre Dame University's invitation to President Barack Obama to speak at commencement and receive an honorary degree continues to generate controversy. In addition to Bishop John D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend who previously announced his opposition (see prior posting), now two other bishops have issued strong statements opposing the invitation. Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead of Phoenix wrote Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins on Wednesday saying that the invitation "is a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United States." (Full text of letter; CNA report.) On Friday, Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin (TX) wrote in his diocese newsletter that "it is very clear that in this case the University of Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity." (Full text of letter; LifeSite News report.)

A lengthy AP report yesterday quotes a number of individuals connected with Notre Dame who support the invitation, pointing out that the University has a tradition of inviting newely-elected U.S. Presidents from both parties as commencement speakers. Inviting the first African-American U.S. President has special significance because of the long record of former Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh in the civil rights movement.

Meanwhile, at another Catholic college, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator Robert Casey has cancelled his commencement address scheduled for May 9. While Casey offered no explanation, LifeSite News reported last week that Casey was strongly criticized by Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton for his recent vote against an amendment to restore the Mexico City Policy-- a policy that denied foreign aid funds to family planning groups that engaged in abortion counselling. (See prior posting.)

Suit Challenges Cross In California City Park

Yesterday's Visalia (CA) Times-Delta reports on a lawsuit filed two weeks ago by a former resident of Porterville, California challenging the constitutionality of a 20-foot high redwood cross in a Porterville city park. The cross was placed in the park in 1965 by the local Rotary Club with the city's permission. A plaque below the cross reads: "Dedicated as a Spiritual Inspiration to All." Plaintiff Patrick Greene has a history of filing Establishment Clause challenges to governmentally sponsored religious displays and activities in various cities. Porterville residents express surprise that anyone would sue over the cross that a past-president of Rotary who helped install it describes as merely an unobtrusive symbol in a quiet grassy corner. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

Church Sues Over Fee Schedule For Use of Village Meeting Room

In Michigan, a church has filed suit in federal district court against the village of Fife Lake challenging the rental fee schedule imposed by the village for use of a meeting room in its Municipal Building. The complaint (full text) in Forest Area Bible Church v. Village of Fife Lake Council, (WD MI, filed 3/24/2009) alleges that the village allows community organizations and service groups to use the meeting room without charge, but charges a rental fee to private non-profit groups such as the church. The suit alleges that this discriminatory treatment violates plaintiff's 1st and 14th Amendment rights. An Alliance Defense Fund release on Friday announced the filing of the suit.

Subjective Chill On High Schooler's Expression Does Not Create Standing

Last week, an Illinois federal district court handed down another decision in the long running challenge to rules in a suburban Chicago high school that were invoked to prevent a student, Alexander Nuxoll, from wearing a T-shirt and button carrying the slogan "Be Happy, Not Gay." (See prior posting.) In Zamecnik v. Indian Prairie School District #204 Board of Education, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23548 (ND IL, March 24, 2009), the court held that Nuxoll has standing to continue to pursue this claim. However he lacks standing to assert added claims that he wishes to "bring his bible to school, distribute cards with bible verses during non-instructional time, and discuss his religious beliefs critical of homosexual behavior with classmates during non-instructional time." There was no showing that Nuxoll ever attempted to carry out such activities or that officials ever interfered with them. It is not enough to allege subjective chilling of expression based merely on the fact that existing rules could be interpreted to prohibit these activities.

Fish and Wildlife Service Is Investigating Illegal Eagle Feather Sales

Yesterday's Bismark (ND) Tribune reports on a number of indictments that have come out of a broad investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of individuals who are illegally buying, selling and receiving eagle feathers. The investigation covers 16 states and the U.S. Pacific Island Territories. The Oregonian reported on Friday that Reginald D. Akeen, one of the men arrested as a result of these investigations, has pleaded not guilty in an Oregon federal district court to charges of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Akeen, a member of the Kiowa tribe from Oklahoma, was arrested March 12 in Albuquerque, N.M., on charges that he illegally sold feathers as he traveled to various pow wow's in the West. Demand for eagle feathers for use in Native American religious ceremonies is high.

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases and Developments

In Smith v. Frank, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22848 (ED WI, March 20, 2009), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected a Native American inmate's claim that his rights under RLUIPA were violated when a eagle feather he possessed was confiscated and eventually inadvertently destroyed.

In Spence v. Frank, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23095 (ED WI, March 23, 2009), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected an inmate's RLUIPA claim, finding that he was not punished because he called his social worker by her spiritual name, Morning Dove, but rather was punished because he wrote her letters telling her that he loved her and calling her "Smurf".

In Colquitt v. Ellegood, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23305 (MD FL, March 20, 2009), a Florida federal magistrate judge rejected an inmate's claim that his free exercise rights were violated when the copy of a Quran furnished to him in jail had too small print and the jail rejected a larger print version purchased for the inmate by his wife and mailed from Amazon.com.

In Taylor v. Grannis, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23311 (ND CA, March 12, 2009), a California federal district court permitted an inmate to move ahead with claims under RLUIPA that he was improperly denied permission to have tobacco products for a religious ceremony.

The Maryland Daily Record reported last week that Maryland prisons plan to begin offering kosher meals to observant Jewish prisoners. The program will start in time for Passover next month. Two cases are currently in the courts claiming that Maryland officials had refused to accommodate prisoners' requests for kosher diets.

USCIRF Reveals Previously Secret State Department Action On Religious Liberty Violators

Rather odd developments in implementing the International Religious Freedom Act were reported yesterday in a press release from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Under the statute enacted in 1998, by May 1 each year USCIRF is to submit a report on religious freedom in various countries around the world to the State Department, the President and Congress. Then, taking into account USCIRF's recommendations, by September 1 each year the State Department is to submit an Annual Report on International Religious Freedom to Congress. The Act also requires the President to annually designate the worst violators of religious freedom to be "countries of Particular concern"(CPC) and to take any of a number of actions against those countries, unless he grants a waiver.

Despite the call for annual designations, the Bush administration, while submitting annual reports, had not updated its CPC list since 2006. Last September, USCIRF criticized the State Department for not having updated its designations. (See prior posting.) Now it turns out that just before leaving office, the Bush administration did take action to redesignate the same 8 countries as it had placed on its CPC list in 2006. On January 16, the administration named Burma, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan, but, as in the past, gave waivers to Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

The puzzling part of this, however, is that according to USCIRF, while the designation was made, "the list was not made available until this week, when the Obama State Department released the list in response to a U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) inquiry." Now the State Department’s website also reports the January redesignation on a page titled Frequently Asked Questions: IRF Report and Countries of Particular Concern.

Court Upholds Texas Pledge Containing "Under God"

In Croft v. Perry, (ND TX, March 26, 2009), a Texas federal district court has rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to the Texas Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge, recited in public schools, reads: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." (The disputed language was added to the Pledge in 2007. See prior posting.) Texas laws permits students to opt out of reciting the pledge. In the suit brought by parents of school children, the court found a secular legislative purpose and concluded that the pledge did not amount to an endorsement of religion. The court added: "simply asserting that the Texas pledge contains a religious phrase does not transform the Texas pledge from a voluntary patriotic act into a compulsory religious prayer." A press release from Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott discusses the decision, as does a report in today's Dallas Morning news. (See prior related posting.) [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]

New Hampshire AG Releases More Clergy Abuse Files

In New Hampshire, Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte's office has released files on dozens of sexual abuse allegations against Catholic clergy. Most of the charges relate to incidents decades ago, but some claim abuse as recently as 2000. The files disclose the identities of 27 members of the clergy who had not previously been publicly named. Thursday's New York Times reports that the files contain significant information on the communications between the Diocese of Manchester and prosecutors after the clergy sex abuse scandal erupted in 2002. In a 2002 settlement, the Diocese agreed to annual audits by the state’s Attorney General.

Final Texas Science Curriculum Standards Are Adopted

There is a good deal of disagreement on the who won in the final version of the Texas science curriculum standards that were adopted by the State Board of Education on Friday by a vote of 13-2, after numerous amendments were approved. Today’s Dallas Morning News, New Scientist and Wall Street Journal all report on various aspects of the Board’s meeting. As expected, the Board affirmed a vote earlier this week not to go back to former language that would call on students to analyze the "strength and weaknesses" of scientific theories. (See prior posting.) In 8-7 votes, the Board deleted two sections that would have required high school biology classes to examine the "sufficiency or insufficiency" of common ancestry and natural selection of species.

However, the Board inserted other provisions that critics see as a wedge to introduce Creationism or Intelligent Design into the curriculum. Biology students are to “analyze and evaluate scientific explanations” on the complexity of cells as well as data on the “sudden appearance and stasis and the sequential groups in the fossil record." The Earth Science curriculum that was adopted calls for students to learn that there are "differing theories" on the "origin and history of the universe."

These changes will affect the review of textbooks by the Board in two years. Texas is such a large purchaser of books, that publishers often tailor the books they offer nationally to Texas standards.

Pastor's Suit Challenging Arrest For Gay Pride Protest Is Settled

According to Thursday's Wichita (KA) Eagle, a settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit that was filed last year by a pastor who was arrested for preaching and distributing literature on a sidewalk near a park where a Gay Pride event was being held. (See prior posting.) A consent decree handed down this week stipulates that the city violated Pastor Mark Holick’s 1st and 14th Amendment rights, and awards him $11,700 in damages and $2,500 in attorneys’ fees. Wichita’s city attorney says that the officers who arrested Holick mistakenly thought the sidewalk was part of the park where the event was being held.

Proposed Armenian Religion Law Passses First Reading

Forum 18 reported earlier this week on proposed amendments to Armenia’s Religion Law and a proposed new Armenian Criminal Code provision containing fairly broad restrictions on proselytizing. The proposed laws passed their first reading in Parliament March 19, but further action will be delayed while the laws are reviewed by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE. The new Religion Law will require 500 adult citizens as members to register a religious community. (This is down from 1000 that appeared in the first draft of the proposal, but is an increase over the 200 that is found in current law.) The proposed law also recognizes "the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as the National Church in the spiritual life of the Armenian people…" This is similar to language in 2005 amendments to the country’s Constitution. Religions that "exercise or try to exercise control over members' personal life, awareness, health, and ownership" are banned by another provision in the draft law.

NY Budget Cuts Will Delay Speedy Autopsies Needed By Muslims and Jews

New York City’s Chief Medical Examiner says planned state budget cuts will force extensive staff reductions which, in turn, will have a particular impact on observant Muslims and Jews. They may be unable to obtain the rapid autopsies that are necessary to meet their religious requirements for speedy burial. CBS 2 News reported Thursday that the Medical Examiner’s office faces cuts of $18 million.

Vietnam Court Rejects Appeal of Catholic Demonstrators

In Vietnam, a court has rejected an appeal by eight Roman Catholics who had been convicted and given suspended sentences, probation and, in one case, merely a warning, after engaging in demonstrations in Hanoi last year. AP reported Friday on the appeal of the convictions for disturbing public order and damaging property growing out of a prayer vigil seeking return of land once owned by Thai Ha Church in Hanoi. Defendants say their activities were protected speech. Government authorities contend that the land was turned over to the city, and have since turned it into a park. (See prior related posting.)

NY High Court Rejects Claim By Woman Against Priest With Whom She Had Affair

In Doe v Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, (NY Ct. App., March 26, 2009), New York's high court dismissed a lawsuit by a woman (identified only as Jane Doe) against Father Peter DeBellis, a Catholic priest who Doe consulted for counselling. The suit by Doe and her husband alleged that Doe began a sexual relationship with DeBellis that lasted for more than three years. The relationship and the counselling continued despite repeated complaints to the Diocese by Doe's husband, who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Plaintiffs brought a breach of fiduciary duty claim against Father DeBellis, and claims for negligent supervision and retention against the Diocese. Relying on a case it decided last year (see prior posting), the court held:

The complaint ... falls short of what is necessary to state a claim for breach of fiduciary duty. The bare allegation that Jane Doe was "a vulnerable congregant" is insufficient to establish that plaintiff was particularly susceptible to Father DeBellis's influence. Nor does the complaint provide any other allegations to show that the parties had a relationship characterized by control and dominance. Plaintiffs' claims for negligent supervision and retention against the Diocese likewise fail.

Newsday yesterday reported on the decision.

Sen. Grassley May Subpoena Records of One or Two Televangelists

BNA's Daily Report for Executives [subscription required] today reports that Sen. Charles Grassley says he may subpoena records from those televangelists who have failed to cooperate with him in his investigation of their financial dealings. In 2007, Grassley began an investigation of possible abuse of tax-exempt status by six high-profile "prosperity gospel" ministers. Grassley says that he has received complete information from two ministries and more limited cooperation from two others. Kenneth Copeland Ministries says it will cooperate only if an investigation is carried out by the IRS through a church tax inquiry. Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries have refused to provide any of the requested data. (See prior related posting.)

Award of Rabbinical Court Vacated For Non-Disclosure of Relationship To A Party

In Matter of Beth Jacob Teachers Seminary Inc. v Le'Bunos, (NY Kings Co. Sup. Ct., March 24, 2009), a New York trial court took the unusual step of vacating an arbitration award made by a Rabbinical Court (bet din) on the ground that the arbitrator failed to disclose facts that may support an inference of bias. Two religious organizations that were parties to a lease agreed to submit a dispute over the scope of the lease to the Rabbinical Court of Tzedek Umishpot. Unknown to the lessee, an employee of the lessor was married to Rabbi Yerachmiel Barash who served as secretary and clerk to the Rabbinical Court. This information surfaced when at a Rabbinical Court hearing, Rabbi Barash-- at the urging of one of the Rabbis on the arbitration panel-- telephoned his wife to obtain verification of certain rental date information. [Thanks to Y.Y. Landa for the lead.]

Archbishop Talks About Obligations of Catholics In the Public Square

The Pew Forum last week published a long interview with Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput on the political obligations of Catholics. Chaput, author of the recent book Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life, says in the interview:

we Catholics serve Caesar best when we serve God first, and that means living our Catholic beliefs vigorously, faithfully and without apologies at home and in the public, at work and in the voting booth. We can’t ignore the sufferings of the poor or the homeless or undocumented immigrants and then claim to be good Catholics. We also can’t ignore the killing of unborn children without struggling to end that daily homicide – not just through supportive social policies, but by changing the law.

[Thanks to Brad Pardee via Religionlaw for the lead.]

Belarus Appeals Court Rejects Challenge To Religious Registration Law

Forum 18 yesterday reported on a March 2 decision by the Supreme Court of Belarus that rejected a constitutional attack on the country's religion law. The law requires registration of religious groups. (The Supreme Court is not the highest court in Belarus. The highest court for constitutional interpretations is the Constitutional Court.) In the appeal, brought by a Pentecostal pastor who had been fined the equivalent of $149 (US) for leading an unregistered congregation, the court's Vice-chairman Valeri Kalinkovich rejected arguments that the registration provisions violate the religious freedom protections found in Articles 23 and 31 of the Belarus Constitution and in Art. 18, Part 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

8th Circuit Says Missouri's Procedure For Approving Specialty Plates Is Invalid

In Roach v. Stouffer, (8th Cir., March 26, 2009), the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals held unconstitutional Missouri's statute that gives the legislative Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight broad authority to approve or reject applications for creating new specialty license plates. The statute permits a veto of proposed plates by small numbers of legislators. The Court found that the Joint Committee's unbridled discretion creates the potential for unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The suit was brought by an organization whose request for a "Choose Life" license plate had been denied after objections from two state senators. In upholding an injunction ordering the state to issue the plates, the court joined three other Circuits in holding that messages on specialty plates are private speech, not governmental speech. The court reasoned:

The primary purpose of Missouri's specialty plate program is to allow private organizations to promote their messages and raise money and to allow private individuals to support those organizations and their messages.... With more than 200 specialty plates available to Missouri vehicle owners, a reasonable observer could not think that the State of Missouri communicates all of those messages.

In a release on the decision from Alliance Defense Fund (which represented plaintiffs) indicates that Missouri has already begun to sell the plates since the Court of Appeals had refused to stay the injunction previously issued by the district court. The Kansas City Star also reports on the decision.

UN Human Rights Council Again Adopts Defamation of Religion Resolution

Yesterday the United Nations Human Rights Council again adopted a non-binding "defamation of religions" resolution by a vote of 23 yes, 11 no and 13 abstentions. (AP report). The resolution was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and was co-sponsored by Belarus and Venezuela. The lengthy document (full text):

Urges all States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general, and to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and beliefs;

A version of the resolution has been adopted in a U.N. body each year since 1999. The Becket Fund reports that this year 180 non-governmental organizations from 50 countries had signed a petition (full text) urging rejection of the resolution. Western countries have opposed the underlying premise of the resolution, arguing that it is individuals, not religions, that have rights. The United States is not a member of the Human Rights Council. (See prior related posting.)

Texas Board Largely Supports Teaching Of Evolution Without Adding Alternatives

Yesterday the Texas State Board of Education again more or less reaffirmed its earlier decision to mandate teaching of evolution in a manner consistent with mainstream science. After hearings in January, the Board preliminarily voted 8-7 to drop prior languge in the state's science curriculum standards that called for students to analyze the "strength and weaknesses" of scientific theories. (See prior posting.) New, more pro-science, language was adopted that says students should "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations using empirical evidence."

The final set of hearings on these standards began Wednesay. (AP). Yesterday, according to the New York Times, the the Board by a vote of 7-7 refused to adopt a proposal to go back to the old "strengths and weaknesses" language. However, social conservatives were able to add new requirements at various specific points in the curriculum that call on teachers to evaluate the sufficiency of current scientific explanations. For example, Biology standards will now call on teachers to "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency of natural selection to explain the complexity of the cell." A final Board vote is to be taken today. It is expected to reaffirm yesterday's result since one additional Board member will participate and she has already indicated that she opposes the changes pressed by social conservatives. (Dallas Morning News.)

Suit Challenges Middle School's Refusal To Recognize Religious Club

On Wednesday, the mother of a middle school student in Atlanta filed suit in a Georgia federal district court challenging the refusal by school officials to give formal recognition and free use of meeting facilities at Sutton Middle School to a Christian student group, the STS Club. In Shelton v. Atlanta Public Schools, (ND GA, filed 3/25/2009), the complaint (full text) alleges that school authorities violated the Equal Access Act, as well as the 1st and 14th Amendments in using various excuses to keep STS Club out of the school. Eventually the club was formed, but it is required to pay rent to use facilities before school, and it is denied other benefits given to recognized student organizations. Alliance Defense Fund announced the filing of the lawsuit.

Obama Administration Defends Visa Denial To Muslim Scholar

Reuters reports on arguments last Tuesday before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan who is appealing the denial of a visa by U.S. consular officials. Originally Ramadan sought admission to the U.S. to accept tenured position at the University of Notre Dame. After that became impossible, he continued his request, hoping to attend other academic events in the United States. The district court upheld the government's argument that it could exclude Ramadan because he had contributed funds to an organization which he knew, or should have known, provided funds to Hamas, a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. (See prior posting.) Civil liberties had hoped that the Obama administration would reverse what they say was a Bush administration policy to exclude foreign scholars from visiting the U.S. because of their political beliefs. However the government continued to defend the denial, arguing that "consular decisions are not subject to litigation." Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jones said that the decision to continue to deny Ramadan's visa was taken "upwards in the State Department."

Serbian Parliament Passes Anti-Discrimination Law

AP reports that Serbia's parliament today narrowly passed an anti-discrimination bill, despite objections from the Serbian Orthodox Church and others. The bill bans discrimination based on religion, race, gender, sexual orientation and various other grounds. The new law will align Serbia with directives of the European Union and further Serbia's efforts to become a member of the EU-- and its more immediate goal of obtaining rights for Serbian citizens to travel to EU countries without a visa. Church objections focused on a number of provisions, but particularly the ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation. The vote in Parliament was 127-59, with other members absent for the vote. At least 126 votes in the 250-member Parliament were required for passage.

Tajikistan's President Signs Controversial New Religion Law

Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon today signed a controversial new religion law, according to a report from Reuters. Last week the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom criticized the law, saying:

If signed, the law will legalize harsh policies already adopted by the Tajik government against its majority Muslim population, including the closure of hundreds of mosques and limiting the religious education of children. Moreover, the law will impose state censorship on religious literature, restrict the conduct of religious rites to officially-approved places of worship and allow the state to control the activities of religious associations....

The new religion law places onerous restrictions on the Muslim community, such as limiting the number of mosques based on the number of local residents and imposing state interference in the appointment of imams. The preface to the law singles out the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam for its "special role" in the development of Tajikistan's "culture and moral life," downplaying the significance of the Shi'a Ismaili minority, which lives in Tajikistan's Mountainous Badakhshan Region.

The law will also cause difficulties for Tajikistan's other religious minorities by dramatically increasing the numerical threshold for registration requirements, as well as requiring the founders of a religious group seeking registration to certify that they have lived in their territory for at least five years and adhered to the religion. The law also requires that a religious community obtain consent of the Religious Affairs Committee to invite foreigners or attend religious conferences outside the country.

The new law will come into force once it is officially published by the government.

Arizona Supreme Court Invalidates Two School Voucher Programs

In Cain v. Horne, (AZ Sup. Ct., March 25, 2009), the Arizona Supreme Court held that two school voucher programs-- one for children with disabilities and the other for children in foster care-- violate the state constitutional prohibition on appropriating public money in aid of any private or sectarian school. (AZ Const., Art. 9, Sec. 10). The court concluded that this "Aid Clause" is neither a mirror image of the provision in Art. 2, Sec. 12 of the state constitution that bars the appropriation of public money for religious instruction, nor is it identical in scope to the federal Establishment Clause. Focusing on the Aid Clause, the court stated:

For all intents and purposes, the voucher programs do precisely what the Aid Clause prohibits. These programs transfer state funds directly from the state treasury to private schools. That the checks or warrants first pass through the hands of parents is immaterial; once a pupil has been accepted into a qualified school under either program, the parents or guardians have no choice; they must endorse the check or warrant to the qualified school.

Arizona Capitol Times reported on the decision yesterday.

RNC Chairman Says Future Presidential Run Depends On God's Will

CNN reported yesterday on its interview with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Asked by reporter Don Lemon whether he might consider running for President some day, Steele replied:

God has a way of revealing stuff to you, and making it real for you, through others. And if that's part of the plan, it'll be the plan….[If I run] it'll be because that's where God wants me to be at that time.

British Equality Commission Publishes List of Most Powerful Muslim Women In UK

Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission this week, in cooperation with The Times and Emel magazine, has published Muslim Women Power List 2009. The list honors Muslim women who are leaders in business, civil service, arts, media or the public sector. (Background). Ranked as the most powerful Muslim woman in Britain was Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action. The full list is on a website devoted to the award. However, writing in the Telegraph, columnist Damian Thompson asks "why is public money being spent" or this project that seems more appropriate for funding by the Muslim community.

NY Court Says Contract To Sell Church Land Was Valid Without Court Approval

In Hermandad Y Asociados, Inc. v Movimiento Misionero Mundial, Inc., (NY Sup. Ct., March 6, 2009), a New York state trial court interpreted Sec. 12 of the New York Religious Corporations Law. The section requires court approval for the sale, mortgage or long-term lease of church property. The court concluded, however, that the section does not prohibit a church from contracting to sell its property, so long as judicial approval is obtained before the property is actually conveyed. Ultimately, however, the church was excused from performance under the contract because the other party to it, a developer, had committed material breaches.

Court Invalidates Rule On Green Card Applications By Foreign Religious Workers [Revised]

In Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, (WD WA, March 23, 2009), a Washington federal district court invalidated a federal regulation (8 CFR 245.2) that makes it more difficult for foreign religious workers to obtain permanent residency status than various other foreign workers. The court concluded that the rule is "an unreasonable and impermissible construction of the governing statute." The rule was apparently adopted because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service believes that there is a higher incidence of fraudulent applications among religious workers. An AP report explains:

Under the Department of Homeland Security's policy, religious workers who came to the U.S. on a typical five-year temporary visa were not allowed to file for permanent residency — their green card — until a separate visa petition by their employer had been approved. The problem was that it frequently took a long time for the government to approve those visa petitions — and by the time it did, the religious workers had left the country because their temporary visas had expired....

Workers in other categories, such as aerospace and technology, are allowed to file for permanent residency before, not after, their employer's visa petition is approved, and can remain in the country while their application is pending....

(See prior related posting.)

Court Says Property of Break-Away Parish Remains With Colorado Episcopal Diocese

In Grace Church and St. Stephen's v. Bishop and Diocese of Colorado, (CO Dist. Ct., March 24, 2009), a Colorado state trial court held that all the property of a break-away Colorado Springs parish belongs to the Episcopal Church of the United States and the Diocese of the State of Colorado. The parish, now aligned with the more conservative Convocation of Anglicans in North America, was ordered to cease using the parish property immediately and to turn over financial records and other documents within 30 days. In reaching its decision, the court concluded that:

the founding documents, various bylaws, relevant canons of the general church and consistent parish loyalty to the Diocese over most of its 135 year existence ... reflects the intent that all property held by the parish would be dedicated to an utilized for the advancement of the work of ECUSA.

Virtue Online says that the building at issue is a majestic Gothic style church that is an historic landmark valued at $17 million. It reports on the reaction of Father Donald Armstrong, rector of Grace Church & St. Stephen's. Episcopal Life reports on the reaction of Diocese of Colorado Bishop Robert J. O'Neill and other officials of the continuing congregation. It also says that "Armstrong, who became rector of the congregation in 1987, is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations he misappropriated parish funds." Today's Washington Times also reports on Tuesday's court decision. (See prior related posting.)

Israel's Chief Rabbinate Charges Wedding Ad By Masorti Movement Is Fraudulent

In Israel, an attorney for the Chief Rabbinate has written the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) complaining about a radio ad it is broadcasting on behalf of the Masorti Movement. Yesterday's YNet News reported on the ad which encourages couples to consider marrying in a wedding ceremony performed by a Conservative rabbi instead of in an Orthodox ceremony performed by the Chief Rabbinate. The Rabbinate's chief attorney, Shimon Ullman, told IBA that the ad is fraudulent and deceitful because it does not inform listeners that Conservative weddings performed in Israel are not recognized by governmental authorities in the country. Ullman's letter called the Masorti Movement "an organization that undermines official state institutions." A spokesman for the Masorti Movement says that it advises all marriage applicants that its ceremonies are not recognized by the state, and it recommends that couples also hold a civil ceremony outside the country so that their marriage can be registered with the Interior Ministry.

9th Circuit Finds Chinese Christian Refugee Has Fear of Political Persecution

In Li v. Holder, (9th Cir., March 23, 2009), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Board of Immigration Appeals wrongly rejected an application for asylum by Xun Li, a former member of a Christian house church in China who had come to the U.S. after Chinese police questioned him, beat him and sent him to a labor camp. The action was taken against Li because he had given shelter to two North Korean Christians who had fled to China. The court concluded that this created a presumption that Li had a well-founded fear he would suffer persecution on account of his political opinion if he returned to China. It disagreed with the Immigration Judge's conclusion that Li merely faced legitimate prosecution in China since no Chinese law banned giving assistance to illegal aliens. In a 31-page opinion, the court explained:

Li refused to obey the nebulous, unwritten policy that undocumented North Korean refugees should receive no aid from Chinese citizens, rather than leaving the refugees to starve, abject and unsheltered, or reporting them to the government to face repatriation and possible execution. Li was motivated by a moral obligation to protect and ease the suffering of the refugees... Though Li did not explicitly state his political disagreement with the policy until he was detained and interrogated, his actions clearly indicated his opposition before that point. One who is persecuted for protesting with lawful deeds is just as worthy of asylum under our laws as one who protested with words.... Thus, Li's defiance of his government's unofficial policy gives rise to an inference that the ensuing attacks and beatings were on account of his political opinion, particularly when no other logical explanation for the attacks exists....

Concluding that Li had been subjected to political persecution, the court did not need to reach his claim of religious persecution, even though Chinese police had also questioned Li about his church affiliation. The court remanded the case for a determination of whether changed country conditions rebut the presumption of fear of future persecution. National Law Journal reports on the decision. [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]

Episcopal Priest Designated Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Federal Claims

On Monday, the White House announced that President Obama has designated U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Emily C. Hewitt to serve as Chief Judge of the court. The promotion took effect on March 11. Episcopal Life reports that Hewitt is an Episcopal priest. She was one of the eleven women ordained to the priesthood in 1974 in contravention of then-prevailing Church doctrine that only permitted men to be ordained. In 1977, the General Convention and the House of Bishops opened the priesthood to women and provided for Hewitt and others to be recognized. Hewitt is a graduate of Cornell University, Union Theological Seminary and Harvard Law School.

White House Announces This Year's Easter Egg Roll

The White House on Monday announced details of this year's White House Easter Egg Roll. For the first time, tickets will be distributed online instead of in advance so that more families and children from around the country can gain admittance. This year's theme will encourage youth to lead healthy and active lives. The event, on Monday April 13, will be open to children age 10 and under and will offer a day of sports, cooking classes, musical performances, and storytelling as well as the traditional Easter egg roll.

Court Tells FDA To Reconsider "Plan B" Restrictions

In Tummino v. Torti, (ED NY, March 29, 2009), a New York federal district court ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider the restrictions it previously placed on distribution of "Plan B", an emergency contraceptive. Under FDA rules adopted in 2006 (FDA's Q&A), women 18 and over may obtain the drug without a prescription, but only upon showing identification to a pharmacist. It is available only by prescription to women 17 and under. The court concluded that the FDA's decision-making on the drug had departed from normal procedures, was motivated by political considerations, and was not the result of reasoned and good-faith agency decision making. (See 2005 GAO Report.) The court also ordered that within 30 days the FDA modify its rules to make Plan B available to 17-year olds on the same non-prescription basis that it is now available to those 18 and over. Reuters reports on the decision.

A press release from Pharmacists for Life International in reaction to the ruling said: "Hundreds of women have had serious side effects from Plan B as it has killed millions of preborn babies." The Family Research Council complained that: "This ruling jeopardizes girls' health and the ability of parents to care for their daughters' physical and emotional well-being." However Advocates for Youth applauded the decision, saying that it gives the FDA a chance to "ensure that science, not ideology, dictates all future decisions."

British Court To Hear Challenge to Ban On Hindu Funeral Pyres

In Britain, a high court today begins a 3-day hearing in a challenge by an elderly Hindu man to Newcastle's ban on open-air cremations. Both the Guardian and the Telegraph report on the test case brought by the founder of the Anglo-Asian Friendship Society. Davender Ghai asserts that if Britain's 1902 Cremation Act is read to ban outdoor cremations, it violates the European Convention on Human Rights. Ghai claims that Newcastle's City Council discriminated against him on the basis of race and religion when it denied his request that, upon his death, he be cremated on a funeral pyre as required by Hindu tradition. Justice secretary Jack Straw supports the city, arguing that the restrictions are justified by public health and safety. (See prior related posting.)

Obama Will Speak At Notre Dame; Some Catholics Protest

On Friday, the White House announced that President Barack Obama will be the commencement speaker at three universities this spring. One of those is Notre Dame. A press release from Notre Dame indicated that the President will also be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. LifeSite News reported yesterday that since the announcement, Notre Dame has been deluged with criticism from those who believe the invitation should be withdrawn because of Obama's pro-abortion positions. Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins says that the honorary degree "is not intended to condone or endorse his position on specific issues regarding life." Jenkins also commented: "You cannot change the world if you shun the people you want to persuade, and if you cannot persuade them show respect for them and listen to them."

The Cardinal Newman Society, however, is circulating an online petition that calls it "an outrage and a scandal that ... one of the premier Catholic universities in the United States, would bestow such an honor on President Obama given his clear support for policies and laws that directly contradict fundamental Catholic teachings on life and marriage." As of Monday evening, the CNS website said that there were over 46,000 signers on the petition. [Thanks to PewSitter for the lead.]

UPDATE: Bishop John D'Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (where Notre Dame is located) says he will refuse to attend Notre Dame's commencement in protest of President Obama's policies on stem cell research and abortion. (Munice (IN) Star Press.) [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

Christian Baptism Center Dedicated In Jordan

In the largely Muslim nation of Jordan last week, Baptist leaders and other dignitaries attended a dedication of a new evangelical Christian baptism center located by the Jordan River near the site it is believed Jesus was baptized. The site, which is operated as a national park, was promised to the Baptist World Alliance by Jordan's King Abdullah II during a 2007 meeting. Associated Baptist Press reported yesterday that among those speaking at the dedication was former British prime minister Tony Blair, who is now a special envoy to the Middle East for the UN, EU, US and Russia.

Cert. Denied In "Understanding Evolution" Website Case

Today the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Caldwell v. Caldwell, (Docket No. 08-858). (Order List.) In the case, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed for lack of standing plaintiff's Establishment Clause challenge to certain content on an "Understanding Evolution" website created and maintained by the University of California Museum of Paleontology and funded in part by the National Science Foundation. Plaintiff objected to statements on the website declaring that evolution and religion are not incompatible. (See prior posting.)

On-Campus Released Time Program Enjoined

In H.S. v. Huntington County Community School Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22488 (ND IN, March 19, 2009), an Indiana federal district court accepted a magistrate's recommendation and issued a preliminary injunction barring released-time religious classes on school property during school instructional time. At issue was the released time program at Horace Mann Elementary School in Huntington County (IN). Religious classes there were offered in a trailer owned by a church organization. The trailer was driven to the school and parked in its parking lot. School officials claimed that there is no reasonable way to park the trailer off premises and conduct the released time program in its current time allotment.

After concluding that plaintiff, a parent of a Horace Mann student, has standing, the court went on to find that plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits of her Establishment Clause claim. In reaching that conclusion, the court relied largely on Supreme court decisions in McCollum v. Board of Education and Lemon v. Kurtzman. The school argued that for safety purposes, the trailer needed to be located on campus. The court agreed that while this was an appropriate secular motivation, nevertheless the arrangement would be seen by a reasonable observer as an unconstitutional endorsement of religious doctrine.

In Jews for Jesus Challenge, Revised Oyster Bay Permit Rules Held Invalid

In People v. Mendelson, (NY Nassau Co. Dist. Ct., March 19, 2009), a New York state trial court dismissed criminal charges brought against a "Jews for Jesus" missionary for distributing literature at a concert in an Oyster Bay (NY) park without obtaining a permit. She refused to accept a permit that would limit her to a fixed table, and insisted on circulating among concertgoers to speak with them. The court held that the town's revised permit requirements (see prior posting), drafted in response to the invalidation of the town's earlier rules (see prior posting), are unconstitutional. The court found the regulations overly broad because, on their face, they are not limited to demonstrations and activities during special events, "but apply to any person, at any time, anywhere in a Town Park or recreational facility." The court said that if the regulations are amended to apply only to special event and demonstration days, they would be upheld. It refused however to accept as sufficient representations by the town's Parks Commissioner that the broadly drafted regulations would in fact be applied only in those circumstances. A release by Alliance Defense Fund discusses the decision.

Recent Articles and Books of Interest

From SSRN:

• Robert Eli Rosen, Samson the Judge: Religion and Violence in Milton's SAMSON AGONISTES, University of Miami Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2009-09, March 6, 2009).

From SmartCILP:

• Celine Abramschmitt, The Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition: Religious Morality, Social Science, and the Establishment Clause, 3 Florida International University Law Review 113-186 (2007).
• Mark W. Cordes, Religion as Speech: The Growing Role of Free Speech Jurisprudence in Protecting Religious Liberty, 38 Southwestern Law Review 235-286 (2008).
• Jay Michaelson, Chaos, Law, and God: The Religious Meanings of Homosexuality, 15 Michigan Journal of Gender & Law 41-119 (2008).
• Yuval Sinai, The Doctrine of Affirmative Defense in Civil Cases--Between Common Law and Jewish Law, 34 North Carolina Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation 111-178 (2008).

Recent Books:

• Thomas F. Farr, World of Faith and Freedom: Why International Religious Liberty is Vital to American National Security, (Oxford Univ. Press, 2008).
• David Novak, In Defense of Religious Liberty, (ISI Books, 2009).
• Stephen Spector, Evangelicals and Israel: The Story of American Christian Zionism, (Oxford Univ. Press, Nov. 2008).

Suit Challenges Religious Lyrics Planned For School Assembly

Today's St. Augustine (FL) Record reports on a lawsuit filed last week in federal district court in Florida complaining about an attempt by teachers to include the Diamond Rio band's song "In God We Still Trust" in a public school's third-grade end-of-year assembly. Initially teachers told students that if they objected to practicing the song, they could be excused, but they would be excluded from the entire performance. However after a complaint from a parent, the district quickly removed the song completely from the program. The song (full lyrics reprinted in article) includes the following:

And when we pledge allegiance; There's no doubt where we stand;
There's no separation; We're one nation under him....
Now there are those among us; Who want to push him out
And erase his name from everything; This country's all about....
Now it's time for all believers; To make our voices heard...

In a statement responding to the lawsuit, the district said: "It is never our intention to offend anyone, and, like any other complaint, we responded quickly and appropriately.... This is obviously someone again using the school system (as well as taxpayers' money to defend the lawsuit) for their own personal agenda. Unfortunately, this is not unusual and distracts us from our mission." Meanwhile, in a court filing opposing plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, the district argued that "unlike school sponsored or endorsed prayer, school sponsored religious songs are not de facto violations of the First Amendment." [Thanks to Larry Mundinger for the lead.]

Religious Divide Growing In Israel's Army

Today's New York Times carries an article titled A Religious War In Israel's Army. It focuses on the growing influence of religious nationalists, many from the settler movement, in an Army that has traditionally been dominated by secular kibbutzniks. Many officers in the elite Golani Brigade are graduates of right-wing military preparatory academies. One soldier says that during the Gaza operation, the rabbinate distributed literature suggesting that the Army was engaged in a religious war against non-Jews for the holy land. Presently the military's chief rabbi, Brig. Gen. Avichai Rontzki, is a West Bank settler. Philosophy professor Moshe Halbertal, a member of the religious left and co-author of the military code of ethics, says that the debate in Israel is not just between religious and secular Jews, but also among religious Jews. It centers on the sanctity of land versus life; the relationship between messianism and Zionism; and the place of non-Jews in a sovereign Jewish state. (See prior related posting.)

Free Exercise Challenge To Marijuana Control Rejected

In Gover v. United States, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22331 (WD AK, March 19, 2009), a pro se plaintiff sued then-President, George W. Bush, as well as the United States, making broad allegations of unjust policies and directives. In particular plaintiff sought to have marijuana removed from coverage under the Controlled Substances Act. The court found plaintiff lacks standing to assert most of his claims. The only claim of particularized injury was a freedom of religion assertion. Here, however, plaintiff failed to allege a substantial burden on his religious exercise. Plaintiff's complaint asserted merely that he is prevented from experiencing the "inadvertent" spiritual side effects of medicinal use of marijuana.

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Grimes v. Tilton, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20183 (SD CA, March 12, 2009), a prisoner alleged that the denial of his religiously-motivated request for vegetarian diet violated his rights under RLUIPA and the equal protection clause. A California federal district court, while dismissing certain of plaintiff's claims, allowed him to move ahead on his claims for damages against various of the defendants.

In Blake v. Rubenstein, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22073 (SD WV, March 17, 2009), a West Virginia federal district court accepted a magistrate's recommendations and refused to issue a preliminary injunction requiring plaintiffs' meals to be prepared in prison by fellow members of the Hare Krishna faith. The court said: "any ongoing burden on their religious freedom is not pressing, especially in light of the multitude of significant modifications that would be necessitated by the grant of an injunction, such as changes in the manner by which the kitchen is staffed and meals are prepared."

5th Circuit Upholds Christian School's Exclusion From Public School League

In Cornerstone Christian Schools v. University Interscholasitc League, (5th Cir., March 20, 2009), the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit by a high schooler and his parents who claim that their free exercise, equal protection, and due process rights were infringed when UIL denied Cornerstone Christian Schools an opportunity to apply for league membership. (The court held that the school itself lacks standing to pursue the claims.) UIL is an association of Texas public and charter schools that organizes interscholastic athletic and academic competitions.

The court said: "Although clothed in free exercise and due process claims, this lawsuit is fundamentally about J.F.'s right to participate in interscholastic competition." Quoting an earlier decision, it said that courts are "not super referees over high school athletic programs." It found that the rule at issue does not unduly burden free exercise rights or the parents' due process right to control the education of their children. Finally the court held that UIL's rule "does not violate equal protection of the laws based either on its distinction between public and nonpublic schools or its purported distinction between nonpublic schools of differing sizes." Yesterday's El Paso Times reported on the decision. (See prior related posting.) [Thanks to Eugene Volokh via Religionlaw for the lead.]

Settlement Terms Disclosed In "Universal Love and Music" RLUIPA Suit

The terms of a previously confidential settlement agreement in a RLUIPA lawsuit have now become public with the filing of the 12-page settlement in a Pennsylvania federal court. The suit also raised 1st Amendment claims. The Church of Universal Love and Music sued Fayette County, Pennsylvania which had denied it zoning permission to continue to use property in an agricultural area for religious concerts. The county zoning board claimed that Church founder William Pritts was operating a music business, not a church. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that under the settlement, the Church will host no more than 6 weekend events and 6 Saturday-only events each year, with a maximum crowd size of 1,500 at each event. Programs may not start before noon and must end by 11 p.m. Pritts also agreed to various requirements for security, parking, camping and bathroom facilities, and a ban on any public nudity. The county will also pay Pritts $75,000 in damages.

County Creates Unusual Policy On Opening Prayers

The Accomack County (VA) Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 on Wednesday to change its policy on the type of prayer that would open their meetings. The Salisbury (MD) Times explained the unusual arrangement that the Supervisors agreed upon as a way to hopefully insulate themselves from a costly lawsuit. Up until 2006, the Board's parliamentarian Rev. Donald Broad was its informal chaplain, opening each meeting with a prayer. Once he retired, the Board began to open meetings with a prayer said by one or another of its members. Apparently many of these were sectarian in nature, and this led some members to ask attorney Mark Taylor for advice. Taylor suggested several options, including having a prayer by a Board of Supervisors chaplain. Adapting that advice, the Supervisors voted that from now on, sessions would be opened by reading one of the prayers that had been offered previously by parliamentarian-chaplain Broad. One citizen attending the meeting complained about the decision, saying that the way to pray is from the heart, not off of a piece of paper.

Malaysian Bar Group Threatened With Suit Over Use of Word "Allah"

The Malaysian Bar, the organization that represents some 12,000 lawyers in Malaysia, recently posted a poll on its website asking lawyers to vote on whether the use of the word "Allah" is restricted to a particular group in Malaysia and whether non-Muslim religious publications should be allowed to use the term to refer to God. The poll came in the wake of a dispute between the government and a newspaper, the Catholic Herald, that used the term in its Malay language edition. (See prior posting.) Channel News Asia reported yesterday that the Islamic religious council in the state of Selangor has now threatened to sue the bar association for misuse of the word "Allah" on its website. Religious council head Mohamad Adzib Mohamad Isa said: "The issue raised in the polls can threaten the sensitivity of Muslims."

Texas Bill Would Exempt Creation Institue Among Others From State Licensing

Fox News reported earlier this week that a Texas state legislator has introduced HB 2800 that would exempt private, non-profit educational institutions that do not accept state funding from the authority of the Texas' Higher Education Coordinating Board. Currently Texas Education Code, Sec. 61.304, requires all private post-secondary educational institutions to obtain a certificate of authority form the Board before they can award degrees. The proposed bill was introduced by State Rep. Leo Berman after The Institute for Creation Research (ICR )was denied a certificate of authority to grant Master of Science degrees. ICR focuses on Biblical creationism. Berman says that creationism is as scientific as evolution and should be given equal treatment in the educational community. A spokesman for the Higher Education Coordinating Board said that the proposal would "open the doors of Texas to predatory institutions." [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

9th Circuit: School May Cut Off Proselytizing Graduation Speech

In McComb v. Crehan, (9th Cir., March 20, 2009), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the action of Clark County, Nevada school officials in cutting off the microphone at high school graduation ceremonies when the class valedictorian departed from her approved speech and began reading from a version that contained religious and Biblical references. The incident took place in 2006. (See prior posting.) In yesterday's decision, Judge Kozinski's brief opinion for the court said in part:

Defendants did not violate McComb’s free speech and free exercise rights by preventing her from making a proselytizing graduation speech. Cole v. Oroville Union High School District, 228 F.3d 1092, 1101 (9th Cir. 2000); Lassonde v. Pleasanton Unified School District, 320 F.3d 979, 983 (9th Cir. 2003). Nor did they violate McComb’s right to equal protection; they did not allow other graduation speakers to proselytize.

[Thanks to Rob Luther for the lead.]

Australian Officials Deny Major Retailers Permission To Open On Easter

In the Australian state of New South Wales, the Shop Trading Act 2008 requires retail stores to be closed on Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Boxing Day and until 1:00 p.m. on Anzac Day. The Act exempts small shops, shops offering various sorts of food and entertainment as well as hotels. It also provides that the Department of commerce can grant exemptions to other stores. NineMSN reported yesterday that a number of major retailers have been refused an exemption that would allow them to be open on Easter Sunday this year.

Court Says AA Meetings Are Not "Exercise of Religion" Under RLUIPA

In Glenside Center, Inc. v. Abington Township Zoning Hearing Board, (PA Commn. Ct., March 17, 2009), a Pennsylvania appellate court held that use of a building for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (and for meetings by other 12-step groups) is not an "exercise of religion" as that term is used in the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. In rejecting plaintiff's argument that Abington Township must meet the burden imposed by RLUIPA to deny its request for a zoning variance, the court said:

Glenside failed to prove that any of the meetings are administered by a religious leader, i.e., a minister, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader. Glenside does not hold any religious services or have any religious affiliations. Its Articles of Incorporation state nothing about being incorporated for a religious purpose, but only to assist people in recovering from addiction. Similarly, Glenside’s printed materials state that Glenside is not a religious organization and do not require that members possess any religious belief to participate. While Glenside argues that members have found a connection with God at its meetings, clearly, the primary purpose of the group meetings, whether they be for AA, NA or DA, is to support individuals who are recovering from alcohol, drug, gambling and debtor addictions, not to advance religion.

USCIRF Holds Hearing On Religious Extremism In Pakistan

Last Tuesday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom held a public hearaing on the threat that religious extremism in Pakistan poses to religious freedom and human rights. (Event Advisory.) A transcript of the event and copies of prepared testimony are all available from the USCIRF website. This was the third in a series of hearings on the relation of religious extremism to security and human rights. Last year, USCIRF held similar hearings on Sudan (transcript) and Bangladesh (transcript).

Civil Marriage Is Issue In Constructing Israel's Coalition Government

In Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu continues in complex negotiations to build a coalition government. One piece of the complexity comes from competing demands from the Yisrael Beiteinu party and religious parties on the issue of civil marriage. Many immigrants from the former Soviet Union who considered themselves Jewish there, do not meet the halachic (Jewish religious law) requirements to be classified as Jewish in Israel. To be considered Jewish by Israel's Chief Rabbinate, the individual must either have been born of a Jewish mother, or have converted under strict Orthodox standards. If both parties to a marriage do not belong to the same recognized religious community-- Jewish, Christian, Muslim or Druze-- they cannot be married by religious authorities within the country who have a monopoly on dealing with family status issues. (Background.) Instead they have to travel abroad to marry, and then the marriage is recognized in Israel.

Yisrael Beiteinu has strong support from Russian immigrants, and its platform has called for the addition of civil marriage-- as an alternative to marriage through the Chief Rabbinate-- within Israel. Traditionally religious parties have opposed civil marriage. Yesterday, Arutz Sheva and the Jerusalem Post however both reported that leading Orthodox rabbis have agreed to a compromise that may permit Netanyahu's coalition to include both Yisrael Beiteinu and smaller religious parties such as United Torah Judaism. Civil marriage would be permitted, but only if husband and wife both affirm their status as non-Jews before a rabbinical court. This solution, though, will not solve the problem for the large number of affected couples, where one is halachically Jewish and the other is a Russian immigrant whose mother was not Jewish.

City of Modesto Settles Suit By Evangelist

Last November, a California federal district court issued a preliminary injunction requiring the city of Modesto to give evangelist Kevin Borden equal access to the city's pedestrian Tenth Street Plaza to preach and proselytize. (See prior posting.) On Wednesday, the court issued a Consent Order in Borden v. Modesto, (ED CA, March 18, 2009), under which the parties agree that they will permanently comply with the terms of the Preliminary Injunction. The city was also required to pay $35,000 in attorneys' fees and costs to Borden's lawyers, and $1 nominal damages to Borden. Alliance Defense Fund announced the settlement.

Belgian Teacher of Islam Charged With Holocaust Denial

Belgium's law against Holocaust denial has led to a complaint being filed against a Muslim religious teacher in one of Brussels' schools, according to an AFP report on Tuesday. After a Nazi concentration camp survivor made a presentation at the school, the teacher told him that his account was greatly exaggerated. Belgian education minister in the French Community Government, Christian Dupont, expressing shock at the "totally unacceptable" comments, filed a legal complaint against the teacher.

Egypt's Al-Azhar University Defies Court Order Requiring Admissin of Transsexual

The International Herald Tribune reported earlier this week on the continuing refusal by Egypt's prestigious Islamic Al-Azhar University to obey a civil court order to readmit Sally Mursi to its medical school. In 1985, Mursi was a third-year medical student at the University-- at that time Mursi was a man. Mursi then went through a sex-change operation and the government issued Mursi new identification documents listing Mursi as female. The University, however, refused to allow Mursi to re-enroll, and its top religious official issued a decree banning her. Medical school classes are segregated by sex. The University says Mursi cannot attend men's classes because she is impersonating a woman, and cannot attend women's classes because she is actually a man.

All of this led to nine years of civil litigation that culminated in 2007 with an order to admit Mursi. The University has appealed the order, and a hearing is set for May 6. University attorneys say it follows Islamic law, not civil law. Islam does not recognize transsexuality as a medical condition. Instead it considers it an expression of homosexuality.

U.S. Backs UN Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

In a statement issued yesterday reversing a policy of the Bush administration, the State Department said that the United States now supports the United Nations Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity. The Washington Post and CBN report that the French-sponsored statement, endorsed last December by 66 nations, urges countries to make certain that "sexual orientation or gender identity" can "not be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention." Homosexuality is a criminal offense in some 70 countries, many of them Muslim. It is punishable by death in Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen. The U.S. was the only Western country not to endorse the U.N. statement last year. However 57 countries, including members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, opposed it.

According to Voice of America, the Bush administration in refusing support argued that the statement might commit the U.S. federal government to override state laws on issues such as discrimination by landlords or employers. Acting State Department Spokesman Robert Wood now says that an interagency review by the Obama administration concluded that the U.N. declaration will not impose legal obligations on the U.S. federal government.

Court Upholds Religious Exemption For Importation and Use of Daime Tea

In Church of the Holy Light of the Queen v. Mukasey, (D OR, March 18, 2009), an Oregon federal district court held that Religious Freedom Restoration Act entitles plaintifffs, who are followers of the Brazilian Santo Daime religion, to an exemption from the federal Controlled Substances Act for their importation and sacramental consumption of Daime tea. The court relied on the U.S. Supreme Court's 2006 O'Centro decision. Reality Based Community reports on the decision. [Thanks to Daily Kos for the lead.]