Israeli Court Says Tenant Can Build Sukkah In Apartment Building Courtyard Over Owners' Objections

Tonight begins the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.  In Israel, a Magistrate's Court in Tel Aviv on Monday issued an interim injunction permitting tenants in an apartment building to build a Sukkah-- the traditional temporary hut erected for the holiday-- in an apartment building's courtyard over the objections of the apartment building's owners. According to Haaretz, the owners objected arguing that the Sukkah disturbed other tenants and damages the apartment house's garden. The court said that Israeli precedents permit tenants to make "customary and appropriate" use of public spaces in apartment buildings." [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for the lead.]

Res Judicata Bars Free Exercise Challenge To Taking of Cemetery for O'Hare Expansion

In City of Chicago v. St. John's United Church of Christ, (IL App., Sept. 16, 2010), an Illinois appellate court held that res judicata bars the living relatives of individuals buried in Chicago's St. Johannes Cemetery from challenging the condemnation of the cemetery to expand O'Hare Airport.  The relatives claimed that their religious rights were infringed by disturbing the graves of their loved ones. The court held that rejection of virtually identical claims in a federal case brought by one of the relatives of those buried in the cemetery barred the claim because the initial plaintiff was an adequate representatives of all relatives. (See prior related posting.)

Libraries Ban 16-Year Old For Proselytizing Patrons

Yesterday's Columbus, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer reports that the Chattahoochee Valley (GA) library system has told a 16-year old boy that he is banned from all the system's libraries for six months because his proselytizing of library patrons is disruptive to conducting library business. Patrons complained about being approached by Caleb Hanson to repeatedly ask them about their religious faith and to offer biblical advice. Caleb ignored several warnings to stop.  A letter (full text) sent to the boy's parents from the North Columbus (GA) library says that if he returns sooner than that to the libraries, this will constitute criminal trespass. Caleb is home schooled. His mother said that last year he  "had a real encounter with the Lord" and now wants to witness for the Lord.

Prominent Georgia Pastor Charged In Lawsuit With Sexual Abuse of Young Male Church Members

CNN reported yesterday that a lawsuit has been filed in a Georgia state court against a prominent Atlanta pastor by two men alleging that the preacher used his spiritual authority to coerce young male members and employees of his church into sexual relationships.  The suit claims that pastor Eddie Long, considered one of the leading black preachers in the U.S., chose plaintiffs and other to be his "Spiritual Sons", presiding over a spiritual "covenant" ceremony between them. Plaintiffs say they were given cash and lavish gifts by Long and by the church. Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has more than 25,000 members and was the site of Coretta Scott King's funeral in 2006. Long is known for frequently denouncing homosexual behavior.

Today Is 10th Anniversary of RLUIPA

Today is the 10th anniversary of President Clinton's signing into law the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The Justice Department yesterday announced the release of a Report (full text) to mark the occasion.  The report outlines the Department's enforcement record under the statute which, as summarized by DOJ: "protects places of worship and other religious uses of property from discrimination and unreasonably burdensome regulation in zoning and landmarking law, and also protects the religious freedom of persons confined to institutions such as prisons, mental health facilities and state-run nursing homes." The Becket Fund's RLUIPA.com website has links to the full legislative history of RLUIPA.

EEOC Suit Claims Hiring Discrimination Against Rastafarian

The EEOC has filed a lawsuit in a Virginia federal district court against Lawrence Transportation System of Waynesboro, Virginia, on behalf of a Rastafarian job applicant who claims he was denied employment because he wears his hair in dreadlocks. Yesterday's News Virginian reports that the lawsuit seeks back pay and punitive damages for Christopher Woodson as well as a change in company policies. The the company rejected Woodson's offers to tie, wrap or cover his hair.

Vatican Bank Officials Targeted In Money Laundering Investigation

AP reported yesterday that top officials of the Vatican's Institute for the Works of Religion-- the Vatican Bank-- are under investigation by Italian financial police in an investigation of money laundering.  Authorities seized $30 million from a Vatican bank account at the Rome branch of Credito Artigiano Spa as the funds were awaiting transfer to accounts at JP Morgan and Banca del Fucino.  Apparently the Vatican bank had failed to inform authorities of the source of the funds. The Vatican Bank primarily manages funds destined for religious or charitable works, but also manages the pension system for the Vatican's employees. Generally only Vatican employees, religious orders and those who transfer funds to the Pope's charities can have accounts at the bank. The Vatican said it was perplexed and surprised by the money laundering investigation.

Did White House Medal of Honor Ceremony Conform To Air Force Guidelines On Chaplains' Prayers?

The White House ceremony yesterday (video and transcript of President's remarks) awarding the Medal of Honor posthumously to Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger began with an invocation by Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Brigadier General David H. Cyr.  Cyr ended his invocation with the words: "in Your holy and wonderous name we pray."  The President thanked Cyr for his "wonderful invocation."  Cyr's closing benediction at the ceremony did not end with similar references, but only with "Amen and Amen."  All of this is worthy of remarking only because of the widely publicized controversy in 2006 over whether Christian Air Force chaplains could invoke Jesus' name in public prayers at military ceremonies. (See prior posting). Presumably the phrase "in Your holy name" is equivalent to invoking Jesus' name.  Revised Interim Air Force Guidelines issued in 2006 (full text) provide: "non-denominational, inclusive prayer or a moment of silence may be appropriate for military ceremonies or event of special importance when its primary purpose is not the advancement of religious beliefs." 


A House-Senate Conference Report on the Defense Authorization Act in 2006 contained a statement by the conferees (but not as part of the law) directing the Secretary of the Air Force to rescind the 2006 Interim Guidelines. The conferees also directed the Air Force to reinstate Policy Directive 52-1, but that directive does not deal with the issue of sectarian prayer at public ceremonies. To further complicate the matter, as reported by God and Country blog, the Air Force reprinted a summary of the 2006 Guidelines in a 2007 edition of Airman's Roll Call-- suggesting that the Interim Guidelines are still in force. Presumably Chaplain Cyr's closing in his benediction during the White House ceremony is not "non-denominational." Interestingly, the coverage of the ceremony on the White House website includes a video of the entire ceremony including Chaplain Cyr's invocation and benediction, but the printed transcript that accompanies it includes only the President's remarks.

More Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In McCroy v. Douglas County Corrections Center, (8th Cir., Sept. 14, 2010), the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a Muslim prisoner's complaint that during a search for extra unauthorized linens, officers confiscated a towel he used as a prayer rug and a copy of the Koran, and that the items were not returned to him for two weeks.

In Anderson v. Craven, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96058 (D ID, Sept. 14, 2010), an Idaho federal district court rejected an inmate's challenge to the Therapeutic Community program as being religious in nature. 


In Colvin v. Martin, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96196 (WD MI, Sept. 15, 2010), a Michigan federal district court rejected defendants' claims of qualified immunity in a prisoner's suit complaining about authorities' refusal to reinstate him to the Kosher meal program. The magistrate's recommendation in the case is at 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96266, Aug. 16, 2010.


In Strope v. Cline, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96571 (D KA, Sept. 15, 2010), a Kansas federal district court rejected an inmate's claim that his rights under the free exercise clause and RLUIPA were violated when authorities removed beef, tomatoes and cucumbers from the "common fare" diet and frequently served peanut butter.


In LaPointe v. Walker, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96776 (SD IL, Sept. 15, 2010), a Christian inmate who kneels and prays once a day was using a rug to do so because of his arthritis. In 2006 his rug was confiscated during a compliance check because prayer rugs are required by the Muslim faith but are not a component of Christianity.  An Illinois federal magistrate judge rejected plaintiff's free exercise, equal protection and RLUIPA claims concluding that the lack of a prayer rug did not substantially burden plaintiff's free exercise of religion.


In Rosenberg v. Lappin, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96771 (CD CA, Sept. 14, 2010), a federal court adopted a magistrate's recommendation (2010 U.S. Dist LEXIS 96602, Sept. 10, 2010) and dismissed plaintiff's claim that his rights were infringed when he was temporarily suspended from his kosher diet after a report that he had not complied with the terms of the program. Plaintiff was given leave to amend to allege undue delay in restoring him to the program.


In Alster v. Goord, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96793 (SD NY, Sept. 10, 2010), a New York federal district judge rejected a Jewish inmate's free exercise and RLUIPA claims that an officer refused to transport him to one religious service and that his Kosher meals were repetitive, improperly handled, sometimes forgotten, and not provided in the clinic.


In Laird v. Sibbett, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97373 (D UT, Sept. 16, 2010), a Utah inmate convicted repeat sex offenses against children argued that the Parole Board had impermissibly considered his religious beliefs and his desire to become a minister, and argued that the Parole Board gives preference to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A Utah federal district court found no evidence that plaintiff's conflicts with Sex Offender Treatment Program personnel and the Parole Board were religious in nature.


In Taylor v. Ozmint, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97202 (D SC, Sept. 16, 2010), a South Carolina federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97278, Aug. 9, 2010) and rejected an inmate's complaint that his free exercise rights and his rights under RLUIPA were infringed by the Department of Corrections policy that prohibits inmates in the Special Management Unit from receiving newspapers, magazines or books through the mail.

Confession To Pastor Not Privileged After Warning That Authorities Would Be Told

In a Montana trail court decision handed down in May and just now becoming available on LEXIS, the court refused to suppress evidence of a confession by defendant made to a pastor of Faith Chapel. Defendant Jeffrey Hardman came to the pastor before going to police to turn himself in, telling the pastor that he was fearful whether God could forgive him for the mistakes he made including his responsibility for the death of Michael Blattie when defendant's gun discharged in a fight with Blattie. In State v. Hardman, 2010 Mont. Dist. LEXIS 209 (MT Dist. Ct., May 21, 2010), the court concluded that the pastor's report to police of the confession was admissible because the pastor told defendant before he began to confess that if he was disclosing anything illegal the pastor was obligated to notify authorities. The court concluded that the confession's confidentiality was not protected by the church's "course of discipline" and that in any event Hardman's making of the confession after being warned that the pastor would go to authorities amounted to a waiver of the privilege under Montana law for confessions made to clergy "in the individual's professional character in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to which the individual belongs."

Court Dismisses Complaint That Charter School Undercut Familial Religious Fasting Practice

In Meadows v. Lesh, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97631 (WD NY,Sept. 17, 2010), a parent sued a charter school for religious discrimination alleging that the school principal undercut the request by the mother of a  school child that the school respect their "familial religious practice" of fasting from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. by excusing the child from the cafeteria during lunch. Apparently the fasting was in observance of Lent. The pro se complaint claims that the school prevented the mother from picking the child up during lunch and that the principal isolated the child and presented her with food.  A New York federal magistrate judge dismissed the complaint with leave to refile, holding that it failed to allege that defendants were acting under color of state law and questioned whether charter schools are state actors. The court also concluded that "plaintiff's general reference to a 'familial religious practice', without an explanation of the role and importance of fasting to this religion, is insufficient to allege a sincerely held religious belief."

9th Circuit: Christian Student Lacks Standing To Challenge College's Sexual Harassment Policy

In Lopez v. Candaele, (9th Cir., Sept. 17, 2010), the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that a Christian student at Los Angeles City College lacks standing to challenge the school's sexual harassment policy.  A speech professor interrupted and verbally attacked the student during a speech in which the student expressed religious opposition to same-sex marriage. The court concluded that there was never any credible threat to apply the sexual harassment policy to discipline the student for expressing his views. Courthouse News Service reports on the decision. (See prior related posting.)

Suit Challenges Lord's Prayer At Borough Council Meetings

The ACLU of New Jersey announced yesterday that it had filed a lawsuit in state court against the Borough Council of  Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey challenging its practice of opening Council meetings with the recitation of the Lord's Prayer.  The complaint (full text) in Cadalzo v. Borough of Point Pleasant Beach, (NJ Super. Ct., filed 9/20/2010), alleges that at each council meeting the city clerk invites the audience to stand for the flag salute and Lord's Prayer, followed by the clerk making the sign of the cross. (Recording of prayer at council meeting.) A Catholic priest led the prayer during the first Council meeting of the year.  The lawsuit  asks the court to determine that Council's prayer practices violate the Establishment Clause of New Jersey's Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 4. Plaintiff also filed a brief (full text) in support of her motion for a preliminary injunction.

Condition of Suspended Sentence Does Not Violate Free Exercise Rights

In State of New Hampshire v. Perfetto,(NH Sup. Ct., Sept. 17, 2010), the New Hampshire Supreme Court held that the conditions imposed on the suspended sentence of defendant who was convicted of child pornography did not violate his right to the free exercise of religion.  Defendant was required to have no contact with minors under the age of 17. He sought to have the court modify the condition so that he could attend meetings at a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation. The court refused, observing that the condition was a neutral one that applies elsewhere as well.  Defendant is still free to practice his religion in many other ways.

Erskine College Lawsuit Over Presbyterian Church's Right To Replace Trustees Is Settled

AP reported last week that the lawsuit against General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church brought by the Alumni Association and three trustees of Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina (see prior posting) has now been settled. The suit was filed to challenge the attempt by the Church to replace the College's board of trustees. The suit is being withdrawn following a compromise worked out in June at a meeting of the General Synod.

Texas State Board of Education Will Consider Resolution on Anti-Christian Focus In Textbooks

The Agenda for this week's meeting of the Texas State Board of Education includes a resolution on "Balanced Treatment of Religious Groups in Textbooks."  According to the Dallas Morning News last week, the resolution warns textbook publishers not to include "pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions, in social study texts." The resolution cites world history texts no longer used in Texas schools, that devoted far more space to Muslim beliefs and practices than Christian ones, and other books that focused on Christian Crusaders' killing of Muslims in 1099, but not Muslim killings of Christians in the 13th century. A spokesperson for the Texas Freedom Network says the resolution's charges are superficial and misleading. Sponsors of the resolution warn that "Middle Easterners" are investing in U.S. textbook companies.

Kuwait Bans Sectarian Demonstrations As Sunni-Shiite Tensions Increase

Zawaya reports today that in Kuwait, the Ministry of Interior has placed a total ban on "sectarian" gatherings as tensions between Shiites and Sunnis in the country increase. The move comes after Shiite activist Yasser Al-Habeeb, who in 2004 fled Kuwait to London to avoid re-imprisonment, disparaged the Prophet Muhammed's wife Aisha by holding a ceremony in London to celebrate her death anniversary. Al-Habeeb's original arrest in 2003 grew out of an audiotape recording of a lecture in which he advanced the Shiite belief that Muhammad's wife along with several others were involved in the assassination of the Prophet. (Wikipedia). Several Sunni groups in Kuwait had planned to hold demonstrations in support of Aisha. However the demonstrations were called off to give the government time to take legal action against Habeeb, including revoking of his Kuwaiti citizenship.

New Poll Surveys Attitudes on Church-State Issues

The First Amendment Center last week released its 2010 Poll on The State of the First Amendment. (Full poll results.) Among the results--

• 75% strongly or mildly agreed that student speakers should be allowed to speak about their religious faith at public school events.
• 80% strongly or mildly agreed that student speakers should be allowed to offer a prayer at public school events.
• 28% do not think that the First Amendment requires a clear separation of church and state.
• 53% agree that the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation.
• 76% strongly or mildly support Congress or the President declaring a national day of prayer.
• 48% say a candidate's religion is very or somewhat important in deciding how to vote.
• 28% believe that freedom of worship was not intended to apply to extremist or fringe groups.

Recent Articles of Interest

From SSRN:

• Dermot Groome, The Church Abuse Scandal: Were Crimes Against Humanity Committed?, (Chicago Journal of International Law, Forthcoming).
• Jeff Redding, Queer/Religious Friendship in the Obama Era, (Washington University Journal of Law & Policy, Vol. 33, p. 211, 2010).
• Jeremy A. Blumenthal & Terry L. Turnipseed, Is Voting in Churches (or Anywhere Else) Unconstitutional?: The Polling Place Priming (PPP) Effect, (Boston University Law Review, Forthcoming).
• Helen M. Alvare, Communion or Suspicion: Which Way for Woman and Man?, (Ave Maria Law Review, Vol. 8, No. 1, Fall 2009).
• Marci A. Hamilton, The 'Licentiousness' in Religious Organizations and Why it is Not Protected Under Religious Liberty Constitutional Provisions, (William & Mary Bill of Rights, Vol. 18, No. 953, 2010).

From SmartCILP:

• Haider Ala Hamoudi, The Death of Islamic Law, 38 Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law 293-337 (2010).
• Sacred: Religion, Sexuality, and the Law. [Symposium transcript.] 16 Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender 637-699 (2010). 

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Musto v. Trinity Food Services, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94063 (MD FL, Sept. 9, 2010), a Florida federal district court rejected claims by an inmate that his rights under the 1st Amendment and RLUIPA were violated by his being denied certain supplemental food items with his kosher meals. It also rejected plaintiff's claim that he was denied sufficient visits by a rabbi, was denied access to religious materials and that he was denied fasting privileges.


In Muwwakkil v. Johnson, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95143 (WD VA, Sept. 13, 2010), a Virginia federal district court rejected a number of claims by  Muslim inmate that his free exercise rights were being infringed.  His complaints included change of prayer service time, property limitations during prayer services, allowing in-pod religious services only on Wednesdays, denial of request to hold a large Arabic study group for all Sunni inmates, and unsuitable facilities furnished for religious services.


In Vigil v. Jones, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95175 (D CO, Sept. 13, 2010), a Colorado federal district court dismissed an inmate's 1st Amendment, RLUIPA and equal protection claims that his rights were infringed when prison authorities refused to recognize his religion of "Judeo-Christianity." The claims for injunctive relief were dismissed without prejudice, with leave to file an amended complaint. The magistrate's recommendation in the case is at 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95104, Aug. 9, 2010.


In Jabbar v. Burnett, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94557 (ED VA, Sept. 9, 2010), a Virginia federal district court dismissed a Muslim inmate's objection to prison policy that prevents high security prisoners from attending religious services with the general prison population.


In Bebout v. Johns, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95075 (ND FL, Aug. 24, 2010), a Florida federal district court dismissed, with leave to amend, a jail inmate's complaint that he was denied kosher food after he was seen eating non-kosher food.


In Alamiin v. Miller, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94691 (WD OK, Sept. 10, 2010), an Oklahoma federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94791, June 28, 2010), and allowed plaintiff to move ahead with a portion of his claims alleging denial of a Halal diet, dismissed other of the claims and dismissed a complaint about cancellation of certain religious services but permitted plaintiff to proceed with a claim regarding halal foods during the 'Eid-adha feast and his request to carry prayer oil on his person.


In Hudson v. Caruso, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95475 (WD MI, Sept. 14, 2010), a Michigan federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations, 2010 U.S. Dist LEXIS 95626, Aug. 17, 2010) and denied a preliminary injunction requiring a prison to furnish plaintiff Halal food during the month of Ramadan.

Pope In Britain Speaks On Religion In the Public Square

Among the numerous addresses given by Pope Benedict XVI on his current visit to Great Britain was an address to representatives of civil society, academic, cultural and entrepreneurial world, diplomatic corps and religious leaders at Westminster Hall (full text). Here are is an excerpt relating to the role of religion in the public square:

Religion ... is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation. In this light, I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalization of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.

There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere. There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none. And there are those who argue – paradoxically with the intention of eliminating discrimination – that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience. These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square. I would invite all of you, therefore, within your respective spheres of influence, to seek ways of promoting and encouraging dialogue between faith and reason at every level of national life.

Delaware Congressional Candidate Says Church-State Separation Phrase Came From Hitler

In Delaware, Tea Party candidate Glen Urquhart won this month's primary to become the Republican's candidate for the state's only seat in the House of Representatives.  He appears to have some some unusual church-state views.  Raw Story on Friday posted a video from an Urquhart campaign event in April in which Urquhart says:

Do you know, where does this phrase 'separation of church and state' come from? It was not in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. ... The exact phrase 'separation of Church and State' came out of Adolph Hitler’s mouth, that's where it comes from. So the next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of Church and State ask them why they’re Nazis.

Urquhart says his statement was taken out of context and that he did not mean to suggest that liberals are Nazis.

Lawsuit Challenges Approval of Controversial Tennessee Islamic Center Plans

The Tennessean reports that a lawsuit was filed Thursday in Rutherford County (TN) Chancery Court seeking a temporary restraining order to halt construction of a controversial Islamic center being build in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The suit claims that the county failed to give adequate advance notice under its Open Meetings Act of a May 24 Regional Planning Commission meeting at which the site plan for the Islamic center was approved unanimously. The complaint also claims that the county's zoning law denied plaintiffs due process by failing "to provide a hearing to examine the multiple uses of the ICM site and the risk of actions promoting Jihad and terrorism." (See prior related posting.) Murfreesboro's mayor says he believes the suit has no merit.

Court OKs Prevailing Wage Requirement Applied To Religious Group's State Assisted Project

In McKinley Foundation at the University of Illinois v. Illinois Department of Labor, (IL App., Sept. 10, 2010), an Illinois appellate court held that applying the state's Prevailing Wage Act to construction of student housing by a foundation functioning as as Presbyterian ministry for college students does not violate the Establishment Clause. The housing was supported in part by tax exempt bonds issued by the Illinois Finance Authority. Classifying it as a "public body" for purposes of that Act does not create Establishment Clause problems.

City Removes Christian Flag From Veterans Memorial

On the advice of its city attorney, King City, North Carolina's city council voted 3-1 on Monday to remove a Christian flag that had flown at the city's veterans' memorial along with the U.S., state, city and other flags. According to today's Winston-Salem Journal, the decision reverses an August city council vote to keep the flag, which carried a Latin cross inside a blue canton on a white field. Council member Wesley Canton who was the one negative vote on Monday complained: "We cannot let the threat of a lawsuit stand in the way of our religious freedom."

Pope Meets Queen Elizabeth; Recalls Britain's Deep Christian Roots

VIS reports on the start of Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic trip to the United Kingdom. The Pope was greeted yesterday at his first stop, in Birmingham, by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. They met at Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. After a private meeting with the Queen, the Pope addressed some 400 guests, including representatives of the Catholic and Anglican Churches and members of the Scottish Parliament.  In his remarks (full text), the Pope said in part:

The name of Holyroodhouse ... recalls the “Holy Cross” and points to the deep Christian roots that are still present in every layer of British life. The monarchs of England and Scotland have been Christians from very early times and include outstanding saints like Edward the Confessor and Margaret of Scotland. As you know, many of them consciously exercised their sovereign duty in the light of the Gospel, and in this way shaped the nation for good at the deepest level. As a result, the Christian message has been an integral part of the language, thought and culture of the peoples of these islands for more than a thousand years. ....

Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate. Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its freedoms; and may that patrimony, which has always served the nation well, constantly inform the example your Government and people set.... 

Bullying and Discrimination Against Students On Religious and Other Grounds Banned By New NY Law

On Monday, New York Governor David Patterson singed into law the Dignity for All Students Act.  The new law prohibits bullying of students by other students or school employees, as well as discrimination against students, taking place on school property or at a school function when the bullying or discrimination is based on the victim's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex. Yesterday's Queens Chronicle reports on the new law that takes effect July 1, 2012. (See prior related posting.)

Restaurant Chain Sues Church For Trademark Infringement

CNN reported yesterday that the pancake restaurant chain IHOP has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in a California federal district court against a Kansas City, Missouri based church group known as International House of Prayer. The church uses the "IHOP" acronym widely. The lawsuit charges that "IHOP-KC intended to misappropriate the fame and notoriety of the household name IHOP to help promote and make recognizable their religious organization," [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]


UPDATE: The Kansas City Star reported on Dec. 30 that IHOP has voluntarily dropped its lawsuit while mediation discussions take place. However the dismissal which was without prejudice leaves open the possibility that the suit could be refiled. [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]

Native American Church Sues To Prevent Peyote Arrests

The Oklevueha Native American Church on Monday filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Utah seeking to enjoin state and federal officials from arresting or bringing criminal charges against church members for their use of Peyote.  Yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune reports that members of the federally recognized Native American Oklevueha Church have been harassed, arrested and prosecuted in Utah.  Native American religious practices have spread beyond those with tribal ancestry, but U.S. law grants a religious exemption for the use of Peyote only to those who are members of federally recognized Indian tribes.

New Jersey Transit Fires Employee For Burning Pages From Qur'an

During a protest on Sept. 11 in New York City at the site of a proposed mosque and Islamic center near Ground Zero, Derek Fenton who has worked for New Jersey Transit for 11 years burned pages from a Qur'an. Police took Fenton away from the protest, but did not arrest him. The New York Daily News reported Tuesday that Fenton has now been fired from his job for violating New Jersey Transit's Code of Ethics. An ACLU spokesman says that if Fenton was off duty, his 1st Amendment rights were likely violated by the firing. [Thanks to Eugene Volokh via Religionlaw for the lead].

Court Says Limitation Period Has Expired On Child Sex Abuse Case From 1940's

According to yesterday's Newark (NJ) Star Ledger, a New Jersey state trial judge has dismissed on statute of limitations grounds a lawsuit filed by two men claiming physical and sexual abuse by nuns at an orphanage over 65 years ago. New Jersey's statute of limitations allows child sex abuse claims to be filed up to two years after reasonable discovery that an injury was caused by abuse.  The plaintiffs, now in their 80's, say the abuse occurred at Sacred Heart Orphanage when they were between 10 and 14 years old.  One plaintiff argued he remembered physical beatings, but repressed memories of the sexual abuse until 2004 when he saw a CNN report on payouts to other abuse victims.  The other plaintiff says for decades he believed he had enjoyed the sexual abuse. The court concluded that the men should have filed in the mid-1990's, or at least by 2001, when media reports of similar cases should have triggered their memories.

Many In Britain Have Negative Attitudes Toward Pope's State Visit

Several stories yesterday outlined the negative feelings among many in Britain about the Pope's visit that begins today.  Aol News reports that a large percentage oppose the government's plans to pay for part of the Pope's security and hotels, as it does when any other head of state visits. Also advocates for clergy sex abuse victims plan demonstrations in London this week end. A piece by John Laughland, studies director at the Institute of Democracy and Cooperation in Paris, published by Newsmax is titled "Vatican Shocked At Britain's Hostile Reaction To Pope." Laughland argues that "Britain has become one of the most virulently anti-Christian countries in the world."

Parents Complain That High Schoolers Were Disciplines For Leaving Donuts and Religious Messages In Teachers' Lounge

In Roswell, New Mexico, 200 members of Church on the Move showed up at Tuesday's Roswell Independent School Board meeting to protest suspensions and detentions handed out to 25 students for leaving donuts with religious messages in the teachers' lounges of their high schools.  AP reported yesterday that the students are part of the church's ministry group known as Relentless in Roswell. The group has already filed an unrelated lawsuit against the school district after students were disciplined for handing out dolls in the form of fetuses, with a Bible verse and an ad for a pregnancy resource center attached. School rules bar advertising on high school campuses.

California Deputy Sheriff Sues County For Religious Discrimination Growing Out of Mel Gibson Arrest

Last week, Los Angeles sheriff deputy James Mee filed suit in California state court charging the Sheriff's Department with religious discrimination, retaliation and harassment growing out of Mee's arrest in 2006 of actor Mel Gibson on drunk driving charges. According to the complaint (full text) in Mee v. County of Los Angeles, (L.A. Super. Ct., filed 9/7/2010), When Gibson was arrested he launched into an anti-Semitic tirade against Mee, who is Jewish. Mee was ordered by his superiors to delete reference to Gibson's anti-Semitic statements in his report, and to file them as a confidential supplemental report. However 4 pages of the original report containing the anti-Semitic statements were leaked to the celebrity website TMZ.  Mee alleges that despite the fact that a number of non-Jewish deputies had access to the original report, only he was investigated for leaking it. Mee's complaint lists a string of negative employment actions taken against him, allegedly motivated by religious discrimination. Gibson had close ties with the sheriff and the Department, and went to the same church as one of Mee's supervisors. People and Malibu Surfside News both report on Mee's filing of his lawsuit last week.

Ugly Battle Between Bank and Synagogue Plays Out In Bankruptcy Court

Yesterday's Palm Beach (FL) Post reports on a rather ugly battle between a Chabad synagogue in Boynton Beach, Florida and Stonegate Bank that made the synagogue a $3.8 million loan in 2007 that was supposed to have been used to expand Chabad's campus. Chabad sued the bank in 2009 alleging that it failed to follow through with additional promised financing. In October, Stonegate Bank responded by filing suit to foreclose on the synagogue's assets (including its Torah scrolls and its members' pledges) to obtain repayment of the loan. In June 2010 the synagogue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which normally suspends lawsuits. However now the Bank has asked the bankruptcy court to allow it to proceed with the foreclosure action, arguing that the synagogue's bankruptcy petition was filed in bad faith.  The bank's motion to allow it to proceed was filed on Rosh Hashanah. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Sept. 24, which is the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.  The synagogue's lawyer says the Rosh Hashanah filing was particularly disrespectful, and threatens to have a chilling effect on pledges that members usually make during this week's Yom Kippur holiday because those pledges are at risk of being diverted from Chabad to the Bank.

Indiana Church Sues Over Landmarking of Its Building

A Cumberland, Indiana church last week filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the decision by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission to designate the church's property and building as an historic area infringes the Church's free exercise rights under the U.S. and Indiana constitutions and under RLUIPA, violates its free speech rights, denies the Church equal protection of the laws and amounts to an unconstitutional bill of attainder.  The complaint (full text) in St. John United Church of Christ v. Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, (SD IN, Filed Sept. 10, 2010), alleges that the church has a shrinking and aging congregation, that its building needs extensive repairs and  is costly to maintain, and that the church needs a new building to attract younger members. The church had negotiated a sale of its building to developers who would use the site for new construction. The proceeds of the sale were to be used to build on another site already owned by the church. However the county prevented the sale of the building by designating it a historic landmark. A press release from the Storzer & Greene law firm announced the filing of the lawsuit.

County Officials Again Wary of Sanitation Code Violations In Kaparot Ceremonies

As the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur approaches (it begins Friday evening), authorities in Rockland County, New York are again expecting sanitation code violations to arise from the practice of many strictly Orthodox Jews to use live chickens in the traditional ceremony of kaparot. The ritual involves symbolic passing off of one's sins to the chicken which is then slaughtered. The bird is eaten or the meat is donated to the needy. According to an RNS article carried by the Oklahoman last week, in the ceremony in Rockland County each year, more than 10,000 chickens are slaughtered.  Health officials are trying to work with organizers of the ceremony, but as of last week had been unsuccessful in doing so.  Many observant Jews urge substituting money equal to the cost of a live chicken in the ceremony, and then donating those funds to charity. Rockland County health officials say that the ultra-Orthodox community has accumulated over $15,000 in fines since 2007 for code violations relating to the ceremony. (See prior related posting.)  Only about half the fines have been collected.

Pope's State Visit To Britain Begins Thursday

Pope Benedict XVI begins a four-day state visit to Great Britain tomorrow. The full schedule for the visit, which begins in Edinburgh with a visit to the Queen in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is posted on the Vatican's website.Yesterday's Financial Times reports on some of the logistical issues faced by those planning the trip.  The Pope's trip will culminate in a ceremony in Birmingham on Sunday beatifying Cardinal John Henry Newman, a 19th century British theologian. Zenit yesterday published an interview with Francis Campbell, U.K. ambassador to the Holy See, who said that the U.K. attaches great importance to its relationship with the Holy See.

Israel's Interior Ministry Will No Longer Accept Online Payments On the Sabbath

Israel's Interior Ministry accepts online payments for various services, such as renewing a passport, replacing a lost identity card or obtaining a permit to hire a foreign worker.  Haaretz reported yesterday that Interior Minister Eli Yishai, of the religious Shas Party, has ordered that the Ministry's computers be reprogrammed so they will not accept payments on the Jewish Sabbath or Jewish holidays. Critics say the change is uncalled for since receipt of online payments does not require Ministry personnel to work on the Sabbath or holidays.

Justice Breyer Says 1st Amendment Protection of Qur'an Burning Is Unclear

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, in an interview broadcast on ABC News Good Morning America yesterday, said that whether burning the Qur'an is protected by the First Amendment is still an open question.  He told interviewer George Stephanopoulos: "[Justice] Holmes said [the First Amendment] doesn’t mean you can shout 'fire' in a crowded theater. Well, what is it?  Why?  Because people will be trampled to death.  And what is the crowded theater today?  What is the being trampled to death?'

France's Senate Passes Ban on Burqa and Niqab

France's Senate today, by a vote of 246-1, approved a bill banning wearing anywhere in public of garments such as the niqab or burqa that include a full-face veil.  The National Assembly, the lower house of France's Parliament has already approved the bill. (See prior posting.) According to BBC, the bill now goes to France's Constitutional Council which has one month to confirm the law's constitutionality. If it passes this hurdle, it will go into effect in six months, though it could also be challenged before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Hours after the Senate's action, French police, in response to a bomb threat, evacuated the Eiffel Tower and the park around it. (CNN). It is not clear whether the threat was connected to the Senate's action.

UPDATE: To clarify the voting numbers, the French Senate has 346 members. (Wikipedia.) Most of the opposition Socialist senators abstained. They do not favor full-body veils, but oppose banning them through legislation. (Wall Street Journal).

Suit Seeks Religious Exemption From Catholic School For Immunization Requirement

Fox News yesterday reported on a lawsuit filed in a Nassau County, New York state court against a Catholic high school by parents of a 14-year old seeking to require the school to accept their religious objections to vaccination requirements and enroll their son.  The parents, Andrea and Paul Polydor, say they believe that immunizations defile bodies as created by God and show a lack of faith in God and his divinely created immune system. Kellenberg Memorial High School says state law requires a Certificate of Immunization before students can begin to attend classes. New York law does provide for religious exemptions if the school determines the objections are legitimate.

Australian University Suspends Lawyer Over Smoking of Bible And Qur'an Pages On YouTube

In Australia, the Queensland University of Technology has placed research lawyer Alex Stewart on leave after he posted a 12-minute video on YouTube showing him smoking what he says were grass clippings wrapped in pages of the Bible and the Qur'an. The video was titled "Bible of Koran--which burns best?" Today's London Telegraph describes the video on which Stewart, an organizer with the Brisbane Atheists, calls the Bible and Qur'an "just books."  Stewart now fears he will be fired over the video.  University vice chancellor Peter Coaldrake said: "There is no need for this kind of thing, just to create disunity and disharmony among people living in Australia."

Street Preacher's Lawsuit Challenges DeWitt, NY Noise Ordinance

Yesterday's Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard reports that a lawsuit has been filed in a New York federal district by a Christian preacher seeking to have the DeWitt, New York noise ordinance declared unconstitutional.  Traveling Catholic Christian evangelist Nicholas Auricchio was taken to a police station and cited last year for preaching in a loud voice on a public sidewalk. The charges were dropped within a month. The lawsuit claims that the ordinance's ban on any annoying sound that causes "public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm or disturbs the public’s peace, comfort or tranquility" violates Auricchio's free speech and free exercise rights.

9th Circuit Grants En Banc Review In Court Holding Cell Headscarf Case [corrected]

CBS 5 reported yesterday that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted en banc review in Khatib v. County of Orange. In the case, the 9th Circuit 3-judge panel, by a 2-1 vote concluded that a court house holding cell is not covered by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. It therefore upheld the dismissal of a RLUIPA lawsuit filed by a Muslim woman who, on two occasions in a single day when the court was dealing with her probation violation, was required to remove her hijab (headscarf) for security reasons.(See prior posting.) [Note- an earlier version of this posting referred to the wrong circuit.]

Raelians Sue Pope Benedict XVI In British Court

In Great Britain, the European Raelian Movement has filed a lawsuit in Britain's High Court against Pope Benedict XVI charging him with violating international human rights law and committing genocide in Africa by continuing to claim that condoms do not prevent the spread of AIDS. According to a press release from the Raelian Movement, the complaint also alleges that the Vatican organized a disinformation campaign against Raelians in retaliation for the Raellians' attempt to call attention to the Catholic Church's child sex abuse scandal. Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) was in charge of dealing with the sex abuse scandal in the 1990's. The Raelian Movement believes that all life on earth was created thousands of years ago by extraterrestrial scientists  who were mistaken by our ancestors for gods.

Justice Department Sues California City Under RLUIPA Over Buddhist Temple Use Permit

A press release by the U.S. Department of Justice yesterday reports that the federal government has filed a lawsuit against the city of Walnut, California, charging that it violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when it refused to issue a conditional use permit to the Chung Tai Zen Center for it to operate a Buddhist house of worship on land it owned. The complaint charges that the Center's application was treated differently from that of other religious and non-religious groups. Until its denial in 2008 of the Center's application, the city had not refused to issue a conditional use permit to build, expand or operate a house of worship since 1980.

11th Circuit Rejects Free Exercise Challenge To City's Business Regulation

In Manseau v. City of Miramar, (11th Cir., Sept. 10, 2010), the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a free exercise claim brought against the city of Miramar, Florida by a couple who were fined for a number of code violations for operating a commercial roofing business out of their residence.  Plaintiffs claimed that the citations and fines made them unable to practice their religion which was funded by their roofing business. The court, however, held that the code provisions regulating businesses were valid neutral laws of general application whose effect on religion was merely incidental.

Senegalese Court Convicts Muslim Holy Men of Violating Ban on Use of Children For Begging

Under pressure from human rights groups and U.S. foreign aid agencies, authorities in Senegal last month reversed a long-enrenched custom and banned marabouts-- Muslim holy men-- from enlisting children to beg for them.  Then, according to yesterday's New York Times, last week for the first time seven marabouts were convicted by a court in Dakar of violating the ban. They were given a rather light sentence of six months probation and a fine, but many see the move as revolutionary.  Human Rights Watch has estimated that there are as many as 50,000 children (called talibes), some as young as 4, on the streets of Senegal weaving in and out of traffic to beg for coins that they must then turn over to marabouts where they live. Supposedly the children are enrolled in schools teaching the Qur'an, but often they learn little. Observers are not sure whether last week's convictions are the beginning of a real enforcement effort or merely a symbolic gesture. The Koranic Teachers Association in the town of Louga called for Sengalese President Abdoulaye Wade to resign if the government insists on enforcing the ban on talibes.

Texas Gubernatorial Candidates Give Views On Teaching of Creationism/ Intelligent Design

The San Angelo (TX) Standard Times yesterday published responses of of Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his opponent in the November election, Houston Mayor Bill White, to questions on K-12 Education.  Both were asked: "Explain where you stand on evolution-creationism being taught in the schools."  Perry replied:

I am a firm believer in intelligent design as a matter of faith and intellect, and I believe it should be presented in schools alongside the theories of evolution. The State Board of Education has been charged with the task of adopting curriculum requirements for Texas public schools and recently adopted guidelines that call for the examination of all sides of a scientific theory, which will encourage critical thinking in our students, an essential learning skill.

His challenger, Bill White responded:

Educators and local school officials, not the governor, should determine science curriculum.

[Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.] 

Turkish Voters Approve Constitutional Changes That Will Pack Court To Approve More Religious Accommodation

In Turkey yesterday, a 58% vote of the electorate approved a package of constitutional changes. Among them were ones that increase the number of judges on the country's Constitutional Court and give Parliament a greater say in appointing judges.  Yesterday's Toronto Globe & Mail reports that these changes pave the way for appointment of judges who will not strike down legislation accommodating religious practices, such as giving women the right to wear head scarves in universities.

Ministerial Exception Applies Regardless of Employees Subjective Intent

In Green v. Concordia University, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94168 (D OR, Sept. 8, 2010), adopting a federal magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94176, June 23, 2010), an Oregon federal district court held that the ministerial exception requires dismissal of a of plaintiff's claim that she was improperly denied admission on the basis of her age and other factors to the Director of Christian Education program of Concordia University, a Christian liberal arts university.  The court held that the university's decision was based on criteria that are largely religious.  It rejected plaintiff's argument that the ministerial exception did not apply to her Age Discrimination in Employment Claim because she intended to use her DCE certification to teach in public schools. Subjective intent of the employee is not the test. Instead the focus is on the characteristics of the position.

Recent Articles of Interest

From SSRN:

• Kevin J. Worthen, The NCAA and Religion: Insights About Non-State Governance from Sunday Play and End Zone Celebrations, (Utah Law Review, Vol. 2010, pp. 123-140).
• Michael W. McConnell, Schism, Plague, and Late Rites in the French Quarter: The Strange Story Behind the Supreme Court’s First Free Exercise Case, (September 10, 2010).

From Bepress:

• Elimelech Westreich, Family Law and the Challenge of Modernity: Debate about Levirate Marriage among Moroccan Sages, (Tel Aviv University Legal Working Paper Series. Tel Aviv University Law Faculty Papers. Working Paper 121, Aug. 2010).

From SmartCILP:

• Onder Bakircioglu, A Socio-legal Analysis of the Concept of Jihad [Abstract], 59 International & Comparative Law Quarterly 413-440 (2010).
• Debbie N. Kaminer, Religious Conduct and the Immutability Requirement: Title VII's Failure to Protect Religious Employees in the Workplace, 17 Virginia Journal of Social Policy & Law 453-485 (2010).
• Christian Realism and Public Life: Catholic and Protestant Perspectives. Articles by Victor C. Romero, Susan J. Stabile and Richard M. Esenberg. 7 University of St. Thomas Law Journal 310-401 (2010).
• Journal of Law and Religion, Vol 25, No. 3 (2009-10) has recently been published.

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Beebe v. Birkett, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91690 (ED MI, Sept. 3, 2010), a Michigan federal district court, adopting a magistrate's recommendations, dismissed several claims by a Jewish prisoner, but allowed him to move ahead with a portion of his as-applied challenge to the prison's kosher meal policy. UPDATE: The magistrate's recommendation is at 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98186, Feb. 22 2010.


In Maier v. Wilson, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92732 (D MT, Sept. 7, 2010), a Montana federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92848, Aug. 5, 2010) and held that plaintiff suffered no injury from the prison's failure to post a list of disallowed religious books; that neither having to choose between going to his prison job or weekly Wicca services nor the prison's restrictions on tarot cards imposed a substantial burden on plaintiff's free exercise; that plaintiff was given adequate opportunity to practice his Wicca religion; and that treatment of Native Americans did not create an Establishment Clause or equal protection violation.


In Roberts v. Shearin, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92512 (D MD, Sept. 7, 2010), a Maryland federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that his free exercise rights were violated by a temporary ban on inmates receiving hard bound books, including religious books. It dismissed his complaint that he was not permitted to practice his religion of Kinteic Science because he had not taken any steps to have his religion and his requested accommodation recognized.


Mintun v. Peterson, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92489 (D ID, Sept. 3, 2010), involved a complaint by a Christian inmate who was gay about the anti-gay environment in the non-denominational fellowship service. He was barred by officials from attending that service while his complaints were investigated and was refused the right to create a separate service for gay Christians. The court dismissed the complaint, holding narrowly that plaintiff had not shown that other eight available Christian religious services were inadequate or that other inmates would attend a service for gay Christians.


In Verducci v. Marsh, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92712 (ED CA, Aug. 17, 2010), a California federal magistrate judge dismissed, with leave to file a more specific amended complaint, a county jail detainee's complaint that he was denied access to Jewish religious services, Jewish reading material and a kosher diet.


In Hankins v. Pennsylvania, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92743 (WD PA, Sept. 7, 2010), a Pennsylvania federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (Hankins v. Beard, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 92864, July 29, 2010) and refused to dismiss an inmate's complaint that while confined in county jail he was not provided a religious representative and could not keep religious materials in his cell.


In Crump v. Prelesnik, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93178 (WD MI, Sept. 8, 2010), plaintiff alleged that prison authorities infringed his religious rights in a number of ways through retaliatory actions. These included a cell search that left his Qur'an and prayer rug face down on a muddy floor; requiring him to roll down and drag his pants in violation of a religioius prohibition; and delaying plaintiff's request for hygiene items that caused him to be unclean for his daily prayers. These retaliation claims are apparently among those that a Michigan federal district court permitted plaintiff to continue to pursue.


In Adkins v. Cabell, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93290 (SD WV, Sept. 7, 2010), a West Virginia federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations and dismissed a complaint by a Native American prisoner claiming verbal abuse and harassment over the practice of his religion, as well as a claim of physical abuse as retaliation for suing.


In Waff v. Reisch, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93012 (D SD, Sept. 7, 2010), a South Dakota federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendations (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93101, July 30, 2010), and dismissed an inmate's complaint that his religious rights were infringed when he was temporarily taken off the kosher diet plan for taking non-kosher food from another inmate's tray and buying non-kosher food from the commissary. Any claim for injunctive relief is now moot because the sanction policy has been changed. Claims for damages against the state are barred by the 11th Amendment. And plaintiff failed to show how the requirement that he again fill our the "request for religious diet" form violates his rights.


In Holliman v. Paquin, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93747 (WD WI, Sept. 7, 2010), a Wisconsin federal district court required an inmate to separate his religious infringement claims into a separate lawsuit from unrelated retaliation claims.  Plaintiff alleged establishment clause claims relating to religious symbols in the prison and use of a state employee to lead Christian Bible study.  Plaintiff's free exercise claims challenged forcing Muslims to pray in a room with religious symbols and staff walking through Jumu'ah services.

Potential Witnesses In Canadian Polygamy Challenge Seek Anonymity

In Canada last year, British Columbia's Attorney General asked the province's Supreme Court to rule on whether its anti-polygamy law is consistent with Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedom.  The move came after unsuccessful attempts to prosecute two FLDS Church leaders. (See prior posting.) Now, according to the Winnipeg Free Press, a bishop of the FLDS Church has filed a motion with the Supreme Court seeking protection from prosecution for FLDS members in polygamous relationships that testify in the case. Lawyer Robert Wickett who represents the bishop says that testimony by people who have led meaningful lives in a polygamous community is essential to counter affidavits by former FLDS members detailing the harm that flows from polygamy. But the FLDS members want to use pseudonyms and sit behind screens when they testify, or testify by teleconference, to protect them from identification for future prosecution. The government says this would make it more difficult to cross examine the witnesses.

South African Court Bars Bible Burning Counterprotest

Spero News reports that on Friday, a South African judge barred a South African businessman and law student,  Mohammed Vawda, from organizing a Bible burning day to protest the then-planned Quran burning by Rev. Terry Jones in Florida. The South African lawsuit was filed by an Islamic intellectual organization know as The Scholars of Truth. Plaintiffs convinced South Gautneg High Court, Judge Sita Kolbethat the planned Bible burning would be insulting to all religions. Defendant Vawda said that now he had been "enlightened by the judge who said that by burning the Bible, I am also burning the Qur’an because we share the same prophets."

High Schooler Says Nose Stud Is Religious Expression

In Johnston County, North Carolina, Clayton High School freshman Ariana Iacono is in a fight with school officials over the school's dress code. The student, who along with her mother is a member of the Church of Body Modification says her wearing a nose stud is an expression of her religious beliefs. WTVD News reported Friday that that a minister of the church, Richard Ivey, explains: "We believe that the mind body soul are all one entity and that by modifying the body, you can bring the mind and soul into harmony." Student Iacono says the nose stud helps her self esteem after years of abuse. However apparently the school district's lawyer has concluded that the nose stud is not a necessary part of Iacono's religion.

Today Is 60th Anniversary of JFK's Speech Dispelling Concern Over Catholic As President

Today is the 60th anniversary of the historic speech (full text and audio) by then presidential candidate John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association aimed at dispelling concerns about a Catholic becoming President. Here are a few excerpts:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishoners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him....

Whatever issue may come before me as President--on birth control, divorce, censorship, gambling or any other subject--I will make my decision in accordance with these views, in accordance with what my conscience tells me to be the national interest, and without regard to outside religious pressures or dictates. And no power or threat of punishment could cause me to decide otherwise.

But if the time should ever come--and I do not concede any conflict to be even remotely possible--when my office would require me to either violate my conscience or violate the national interest, then I would resign the office; and I hope any conscientious public servant would do the same.

But I do not intend to apologize for these views to my critics of either Catholic or Protestant faith--nor do I intend to disavow either my views or my church in order to win this election.

If I should lose on the real issues, I shall return to my seat in the Senate, satisfied that I had tried my best and was fairly judged. But if this election is decided on the basis that 40 million Americans lost their chance of being President on the day they were baptized, then it is the whole nation that will be the loser, in the eyes of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world, in the eyes of history, and in the eyes of our own people.

Fred Schwartz writes in yesterday's National Review on the background and impact of the speech. Meanwhile, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, speaking last Thursday at the University of St. Thomas in Houston (full text of remarks), delivered a rare criticism of Kennedy's historic speech, arguing that "Kennedy chose not just to dispel fear, he chose to expel faith."

Appellate Court Grants Temporary Stay of Injunction Against Stem Cell Guidelines

On Thursday, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a temporary stay (full text of order) of a district court order that had enjoined the Department of Health and Human Services from applying the Obama administration's guidelines expanding the availability of grants for embryonic stem cell research. (See prior posting.)  The court called for completion of briefing by the parties on the merits of a motion to stay the district court's injunction by Sept. 20.  Meanwhile, according to Science Insider, the NIH is expediting grant applications hoping to be able to disburse funds for 24 ongoing grants up for renewal in September and for 20 grant proposals that had passed the first stage of peer review, all before the Sept. 20 deadline that could bring reinstatement of the injunction. Meanwhile on Thursday, plaintiffs challenging the guidelines filed a motion for summary judgment with the district court, accompanied by a 64-page memorandum in support of their position. (Full text of motion and supporting memorandum.)