Transcript of Religion and Politics Discussion

The Washington Post's website carries the transcript of yesterday's online discussion with John Green, Senior Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, focusing on Religion and Politics.

Christian Student Has Partial Win In Suit Against North Carolina High School

Yesterday in Arthurs v. Sampson County Board of Education, (ED NC, Nov. 2, 2006), a North Carolina federal district court issued a temporary injunction preventing the Sampson, NC school board from enforcing two policies on the distribution of written materials by students in Midway High School. One prohibited distribution of materials expressing religious preferences or beliefs. The other gave complete discretion to the school principal to approve written material that was handed out in the school. The court, however, refused plaintiff's request for a temporary injunction to force rewriting of the school's dress code, finding that it does not ban the wearing of religious themed T-shirts. The lawsuit was filed by a student who was not permitted to hand out Day of Truth cards presenting a Christian view on homosexuality. (See prior posting.) An Alliance Defense Fund release discusses the court's ruling, as does an article in yesterday's Charlotte Observer.

New Jersey Mosque Wins Temporary Injunction

On Wednesday, a New Jersey federal district judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the Township of Wayne, NJ from exercising its eminent domain powers to seize for open space land on which a Muslim congregation had planned to build a mosque. A release by the Becket Fund yesterday details the history of the dispute between the Albanian Associated Fund and a community group opposing its planned construction of a place of worship. (See prior posting.)

Parliament Continues To Deal With Religion and School Issues

In Britain's Parliament, issues of religion and schools continue to occupy the agenda. Today, the House of Commons is debating an amendment to the Education and Inspections bill that would let students in public schools opt out of religious exercises on their own initiative, instead of needing a parent to request their withdrawal from religious activities. (Politics.co.uk). In a separate matter, on Monday the House of Lords rejected two proposals that would have given councils the power to require all new faith schools in their areas to admit 25% of their student bodies from other religious groups. (See prior posting). Instead, the Lords adopted a general provision that requires all schools in England to promote "community cohesion". (Christian Today.)

High Profile Chaplain Sues Navy

The Rutherford Institute yesterday announced that it has filed suit in federal district court in Washington, D.C. on behalf of high profile Navy chaplain Gordon J. Klingenschmitt. The chaplain, who was court martialed in September for disobeying orders not to wear his uniform to a press conference that criticized the Navy's policy on religious exercise, is now the subject of separation proceedings instituted by the Navy on different grounds. The Navy says he lost the endorsement of his religious group to act as a chaplain. Klingenschmitt resigned from the Evangelical Episcopal Church shortly after he was convicted in the court martial. Subsequently, however, he secured a nomination as a chaplain from another evangelical organization, the Full Gospel Church. The complaint (full text) in Klingenschmitt v. Winter seeks an injunction to stop the Navy from separating Klingenschmitt from the service by treating him as a new applicant because of his change in ecclesiastical endorsement. More broadly, the suit seeks a declaratory judgment finding that the Navy's policy of preventing chaplains from praying "in Jesus name" in settings with general audiences is unconstitutional. (See prior related posting.)

UPDATE: The Marine Corps Times reports that on Wednesday the court refused to grant Chaplain Klingenschmitt a temporary restraining order in his pending suit.

Romney Discusses Attitudes On Mormonism With Evangelical Leaders

The Boston Globe reports this morning that Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has been holding a series of meetings with evangelical Christian leaders to discuss how Romney should address his Mormon religious beliefs in any campaign for the Presidency that he may launch. The lengthy article reports that a number of steps are being taken by Romney supporters to educate the public about the Mormon faith and break down negative stereotypes of the Mormon Church.

Marine Father Scores Initial Victory In Suit Against Funeral Picketers

On Monday in Snyder v. Phelps, (D MD, Oct. 30, 2006), a Maryland federal district court handed down an initial decision in a suit against Westboro Baptist Church, its pastor Fred W. Phelps, Sr., and several other members of the church brought by Albert Snyder, the father of a U.S. Marine Lance Corporal who was killed in Iraq. In the suit, Snyder alleged that the defendants committed various torts when they protested at his son's funeral and made offensive Internet postings. Defendants, as they have done elsewhere around the country, intruded on Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder's funeral with signs protesting homosexuality, Catholicism and the military. They also posted on their website messages saying things such as Plaintiff and his wife had "raised [Matthew] for the devil".

The court rejected several jurisdictional objections raised by Phelps and the other defendants. It held that Snyder adequately state a claim for defamation, intrusion on seclusion, publicity of private life, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. The court held that it did not have enough information before it at this stage of the proceedings to determine whether or not defendants' actions were constitutionally protected by the First Amendment's free exercise clause.

Turkish Archeologist Acquitted Of Insulting Islam

The Associated Press reports that in Turkey yesterday, a trial court ruled that a 92-year old archeologist was not guilty of insulting people based on their religion. Muazzez Ilmiye Cig, an expert on the ancient Sumerian civilization, had written a book arguing that Islamic-style head scarves date back over 5,000 years and were worn by priestesses who initiated young men into sex. The charges against her were initiated by an Islamic-oriented lawyer who was offended by her book. In her trial that lasted less than one hour, a prosecutor urged that the charges against Cig be dropped, saying that her actions had not endangered public safety in any way. The court ruled that Cig's actions did not constitute a crime, and acquitted her publisher as well.

South Carolina School Superintendent Candidates Views On Intelligent Design

Today's Charleston (SC) Post and Courier discusses the views on intelligent design held by the six competing candidates for South Carolina Superintendent of Education. Only Republican Karen Floyd thinks that it is appropriate to teach alternatives to evolution in public school science classes. Most of the other candidates, including Democrat Jim Rex, favor teaching the topic, but in social studies or courses dealing with the history of religion.

Survey of Muslim Voters Released

Last week in Washington, D.C., the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a survey on the demographics, political views and social integration of Muslim voters in the U.S. The poll indicates that they are young, well-educated and religiously diverse, and feel that Muslims should emphasize the values they share with U.S. Christians and Jews. The full text of the survey is available online.

Mayor Says City's Promo For Christian Halloween Alternative Was Improper

In Toledo, Ohio, the mayor's office has decided that a city official acted improperly this week in publicizing three events offering a Christian alternative to Halloween. Today's Toledo Blade reports that the city's Board of Community Relations executive director, Juanita Greene, used a city computer and the city's e-mail account to distribute a news release publicizing "Holyween", a Christian alternative to "trick or treating" sponsored by G.O.D.S. Ministries. The alternative events were held at two churches and at a YMCA branch and had the support of 8 Christian organizations in the city.

India Candidate's Appeal To Catholic Voters Voids His Election Win

In India this week, the Kerala High Court set aside the election of a winning candidate to the lower house of India's Parliament (the Lok Sabha) on grounds that would astound U.S. politicians. The Indian Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct provides that "there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes". After National Democratic Alliance candidate P.C. Thomas defeated his next-closest rival, P.M. Ismail, by less than 1,000 votes for the seat representing the Muvattupuzha constituency, Ismail petitioned the court arguing that Thomas violated the election code of conduct. The petition claimed that by printing his picture along side that of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa on a calendar used as campaign literature, Thomas raised religious passions. The court agreed and declared Ismail, candidate of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, to be the winner of the parliamentary seat. The court, however, stayed its judgment for a month to permit an appeal to the Indian Supreme Court. The Indo-Asian News Service and Thir Uvananthapuram reported on the court's decision.

Suit Over Auto Sticker's Religious Design Settled

In Burbank, Illinois, a dispute over the city's requiring residents to display a vehicle sticker with an arguably religious drawing on it has been settled. The Chicago Tribune today reports that Nichole Schultz will no longer be required to display the sticker that includes a drawing of a soldier kneeling before a gravesite marked by a cross. A filing asks the court to dismiss the suit challenging the sticker, saying that officials have agreed that if Schultz is ticketed for not displaying it, they will not pursue a fine against her. (See prior related posting.)

Suit Says Missouri University Violated Rights Of Social Work Student

The Alliance Defense Fund Monday filed a federal lawsuit (text of complaint) against Missouri State University on behalf of a former social work student who alleges that her First Amendment rights were violated when one of her professors insisted that she participate in a project that violated her Christian religious beliefs. The ADF's release says that Prof. Frank G. Kauffman assigned his social work students a project promoting homosexual foster homes and adoption. For it, he required the entire class to write and individually sign a letter to the Missouri Legislature in support of homosexual adoption. Student Emily Brooker refused to sign the letter because it violated her religious beliefs. This led to a complaint being filed against her for violation of the School of Social Work’s "Standards of Essential Functioning in Social Work Education" and to a hearing in which she was asked invasive questions about her views on homosexuality.

The Springfield (MO) News Leader today reports that university officials are investigating the allegations made in the lawsuit. It issued a statement saying: "Missouri State University has been and is committed to protecting the rights of its students, as well as its faculty and staff, including free speech and expression, and freedom of religion."

Michigan Pastor's Political Endorsement Questioned

The Interfaith Alliance has criticized Republican Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos for accepting an endorsement from a church's podium by its pastor. The endorsement could jeopardize the church's non-profit tax status. The Associated Press reports that a DeVos campaign blog posting Sunday said that DeVos had been endorsed by Rev. Marvin Winans of Detroit's Perfecting Church. The DeVos campaign, however, now says that the statement was a personal endorsement by the pastor, and not political activity by the church.

For Halloween: Salem Witch Presses For Civil Rights

Today is Halloween. For Wiccans, that means the celebration of the New Year of Samhain. And in Salem, Massachusetts, 73-year old Laurie Cabot is in the midst of a campaign to get city leaders across Massachusetts to respect the civil rights of witches. She has a 4-page legal memo on the topic. Reuters yesterday reported that Salem, the location of historic 17th century witch trials, has now become a center for the pagan community. Some 500 to 1,000 practicing witches live there, and the city abounds with shops that sell Tarot cards and magic supplies-- all attracting tourists at this time of year. Laurie Cabot, the city's first modern openly practicing witch runs one of those shops. She was proclaimed the city's "official" witch in 1975 by Massachusetts' then-governor Michael Dukakis.

Anti-Gay Church Files Open Records Request In Topeka

The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas has gained notoriety for its picketing of veterans' funerals with signs claiming that military deaths stem from U.S. tolerance of homosexuality. (See prior posting.) Today's Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the church has now filed an open records request with the city of Topeka. It seeks information on letters that the city has sent to other communities alerting them of Westsboro's plans to picket there. The request asks for all communications sent by Topeka government officials regarding Westboro Baptist Church, and information on the time spent and funds expended in sending out warnings. Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten says he sent out the letters to deflect anger at Topeka felt by other communities. Westboro's spokesperson, Shirley Phelps-Roper, however, argues that the Constitution bars the mayor from using government funds or facilities to take aim in this way at a religious group.

Queen Elizabeth Reaches Out To Catholic Church

Yesterday AHN reported the Britain's Queen Elizabeth has moved to lessen centuries of tensions between the British Royal Family and the Catholic Church. Last month the queen granted permission for her cousin, Lord Nicholas Windsor, who is a convert to Catholicism, to marry at the Vatican in Rome. The wedding will be performed by a former Anglican vicar who converted to Catholicism in protest of ordination of women. Lord Nicholas is the first member of the British Royal Family in 400 years to marry in Rome. Queen Elizabeth also agreed to attend a reception for the newly-married Catholic couple to be held in Britain in January.

RLUIPA Suit Over Rural Maryland Christian School Project

Anne Arundel County, Maryland's Riverdale Baptist Church has filed suit in federal court invoking RLUIPA to force the county to permit it to move ahead with its building of Arundel Bay Academy, a Christian school that would enroll 220 students in grades K-8. Today's Annapolis Capital reports that the church has been involved in litigation over the project in state courts since 2003, as neighbors object to the traffic the school would bring to the rural county's narrow roads. The church's new lawsuit alleges that changes in county development regulations have been aimed specifically at the church's building project.

Vatican Envoy Addresses UN On Religious Freedom

Last Friday, the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations delivered an address to a committee of the General Assembly on religious freedom concerns around the world. He said: "we have come to a turning point in history which demands more of us, including a commitment to interreligious dialogue. At the same time, my delegation is increasingly convinced of the indispensable importance of reciprocity, which, by its very nature, is apt to ensure the free exercise of religion in all societies." Archbishop Celestino Migliore's statement (full text) marked the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. The address was covered by Catholic Online.