Justice Department Announces New Religious Freedom Initiatives

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice released its Report on Enforcement of Laws Protecting Religious Freedom: Fiscal Years 2001- 2006. (AP report.) It also issued a press release announcing the First Freedom Project-- a number of new initiatives to promote religious freedom. Attorney General Alberto J. Gonzales says the department will: (1) create a Department-wide Religious Freedom Task Force; (2) initiate a program of public education to make certain that people know their rights and that community leaders bring religious liberty concerns to the department's attention; (3) hold a series of regional training seminars for religious, civil rights and community leaders; (4) launch a new website with information on laws protecting religious freedom and how to file a complaint; and (5) distribute informational literature on how to file religious discrimination complaints.

The Attorney General also announced these initiatives in a speech before the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Full text.) In the speech he referred to the events of 9-11, saying that:"Nothing defines us more as a Nation – and differentiates us more from the extremists who are our enemies – than our respect for religious freedom."

He also praised the leadership of President George W. Bush, saying: "Most Americans believe in God. And so they naturally understand and accept the limitations and imperfections that are a part of being human. Perhaps because of our frailties, most of us yearn for heroes, we are attracted to and inspired by leaders who perform extraordinary deeds or at least inspire others in worthy causes. I believe this is why many Americans share a natural curiosity—a fascination—about the President of the United States.... [T]here are very few individuals as strong in their faith as George W. Bush."

Yesterday's Tennessean reported on the Attorney General's speech. It quoted Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the Tennessee branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, who wondered why the announcement of the new initiatives was made to a meeting of a single religious group rather than to an interfaith gathering.

Cert. Denied In Staten Island Billboard Case

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari (Order List) in Okwedy v. City of New York, (Case No. 06-676). The case involves a constitutional challenge to action taken by the president of the Borough of Staten Island who wrote a billboard company urging it to taken down an anti-gay billboard advertisement posted by Keyword Ministries church. (See prior posting.) SI Live reported on the denial of cert.

U.S. Religious Conservatives Oppose Ratification of Treaty On Gender Discrimination

Conservative leaders, including conservative religious groups, are initiating an effort to prevent U.S. ratification of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 28 years ago, and 185 countries are a party to it. The United States signed the treaty in 1980, but it has never been ratified by the Senate. BP News reported yesterday that supporters of the treaty have asked Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to schedule a vote on the treaty March 8, International Women's Day. Rep. Lynn Woolsey has circulated a letter to members of the House of Representatives seeking support for a non-binding resolution asking the Senate to ratify the Convention.

Now, however, Rep. Chris Smith along with pro-life organizations have circulated their own letters opposing the treaty, arguing that it "will be distorted and used against provisions like parental involvement laws, the ban on barbaric partial-birth abortions and conscience protection for people of faith -- not to mention promoting taxpayer funding for abortion." Opponents are particularly concerned with Article 12 of the Convention that provides: "States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning."

Prisoners' Inter-Religious Dialogue Is Not Religious Practice

A Wisconsin federal district court took a novel approach in denying a claim by an atheist prisoner that he should be permitted to form a study group for inmates who designate themselves as atheists, humanists, freethinkers and "other" and inmates who have no religious preference. In Kaufman v. Schneiter, (WD WI, Feb. 15, 2007), the court said:

petitioner is not challenging the prison’s decision to deny atheists the opportunity to meet together to discuss their commonly held religious beliefs. Instead, petitioner alleges that he asked prison officials to authorize a group for inmates of differing religious and philosophical persuasions, including inmates with no religious preference at all, to meet together to discuss their differing ideas. Such an activity is more akin to a debate society meeting than to a group religious practice. Although petitioner might wish to share his atheist beliefs with others (just as a Christian inmate might wish to evangelize his fellow prisoners), prison officials do not violate inmates' free exercise rights when they refuse to permit gathering of inmates of different religious or philosophical persuasions for the purpose of facilitating inter-religious dialogue.

However, the court did permit plaintiff to proceed with his claim that his rights under the First Amendment and RLUIPA were violated when prison officials refused to permit him to order literature about atheism.

New Jersey School Board Prohibits Religious Teaching In Wake of Class Recordings

In Kearny, New Jersey last night, the Kearny Board of Education held a heated meeting focusing on a teacher's religious proselytizing in class-- taped by a student. (See prior posting.) Civil rights groups have offered to represent the student, Matthew LaClair, in court. (New York Times.) WABC reported that the Board of Education yesterday adopted a policy that prohibits teaching of religion in schools. Teacher David Paszkiewicz, though, will keep his job. And the Board has already ruled that students can no longer tape classes unless they first ask for permission.

British Muslim Peer Speaks Out Against Niqab

In Britain, Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, the leading Muslim member of the House of Lords, reversed his prior position and spoke out against Muslim women in Britain wearing the niqab (full-face veil). This Is London reported yesterday that Ahmed, one of the Labour government's main Muslim supporters, said that "the veil is now a mark of separation, segregation and defiance against mainstream British culture." He said it is a "barrier to integration" that invites "harassment" from non-Muslims.

Cert. Denied In NY School Holiday Decorations Case

The U.S. Supreme Court today denied certiorari (order list) in Skoros v. New York (Case No. 06-171). In the case below, the 2nd Circuit last February in a 2-1 decision upheld a New York City Department of Education policy that allows the menorah to be displayed as a symbol of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and the star and crescent to be displayed as a symbol of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, but permits only secular symbols, and not a creche or nativity scene, to be displayed as a symbol of Christmas. (See prior postings 1, 2 ). The Supreme Court had the case on its calendar to consider at its conference seven previous times before it finally decided to deny cert. today. (See SCOTUS Blog). Today's AP reports on the case. [Thanks to Richard Watson for the information.]

San Diego Diocese Considering Bankruptcy Filing

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, California may become the fifth Catholic diocese in the United States to declare bankruptcy in the face of lawsuts over past priest sexual abuse of minors, according to yesterday's San Bernadino Press-Enterprise. In a letter to parishioners distributed Sunday by Bishop Robert Brom, the diocese said that attorneys had been unable to reach a settlement with lawyers for those who claim to have been molested by priests. The letter continued: "Good stewardship demands that settlements not cripple the ability of the church to accomplish its mission and ministries. If this cannot be done through settlement negotiations, the diocese may be forced to file Chapter 11 reorganization in bankruptcy court." A number of the pending suits name the San Bernadino diocese along with that of San Diego. John Manly, an attorney who represents plaintiffs suing both dioceses, says that San Diego's decision may pass more damages off to San Bernadino. He continued: "This is not about money. This is about disclosing information and giving people their day in court."

Ukraine Archives Takes Back Jewish Community's Torah Scrolls

In central Ukraine, the Jewish community of Zhitomir (run by Chabad) has been forced to return their remaining 10 Torah scrolls to the Zhitomir Regional State Archives. JTA yesterday reported that the scrolls originally belonged to synagogues and individuals in Zhitomir, but were confiscated by Nazis during their occupation of Ukraine in World War II or were seized by Communist authorities in anti-religious campaigns. The returned scrolls are among 290 held by the Archives which had loaned 17 of them to the Jewish community. However, in disputes about whether the scrolls had been damaged, the Archives has taken them back. The Jewish community hopes that Ukraine's legislature will enact a restitution law so the Torahs can be reclaimed.

Upcoming Conferences of Interest

On March 20, the Boston College Law & Religion Program will hold its inaugural conference titled Matters of Life and Death: Religion and Law at the Crossroads.

On April 12-13, the West Virgina University College of Law and the American Constitution Society will sponsor a conference titled The Religion Clauses in the 21st Century.

Army Chaplain Discharged During Attempt To Move To Wicca

Today's Washington Post reports on an army chaplain who was ordered out of Iraq and removed from the chaplain corps -- on a technicality-- as he attempted to change his affiliation from a Pentecostal Christian church to a Wiccan Congregation. Donald M. Larsen entered the chaplain corps under the endorsement of the Full Gospel Churches. When that church learned of Larsen's application to change endorsements to the Wiccan Sacred Well Congregation, it quickly pulled his endorsement. The Sacred Well could not step in immediately because it was still awaiting certification as an official endorser. The gap led the Army to pull Larsen's chaplaincy appointment.

The Post reports: "Jim Ammerman, a retired Army colonel who is president and founder of the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, acknowledges that there is a longstanding agreement among endorsers not to summarily pull the papers of a chaplain who wants to make a valid switch. 'But if it's not a valid thing, all bets are off,' Ammerman says, adding that Wiccans 'run around naked in the woods' and 'draw blood with a dagger' in their ceremonies. 'You can't do that in the military. It's against good order and discipline.'" [Thanks to Prof. Steven Jamar via Religionlaw listserv for the lead.]

President's Day Brings Discussion of First President's Beliefs

Today is President's Day. The occasion has generated at least two interesting articles on the true nature of George Washington's religious beliefs. One by author Peter Lillback for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin last week argues that scholars have underplayed the extent of Washington's Christian faith. Another by Beliefnet Editor-In-Chief Steven Waldman concludes: "By the definition of Christianity offered by modern-day liberal Christians, Washington would pass muster. He believed in God, attended church, endorsed the golden rule, and valued the behavioral benefits of religion. But for those who define being a Christian as requiring the acceptance of Christ as personal savior and the Bible as God's revelation, Washington, based on what we know, probably was not 'Christian.'" Finally, here is an article from several years ago on Beliefnet discussing the "controversial" religious views of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln.

By the way, Presidents Day -- placed on the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 that became effective in 1971 (5 USC 6103) -- is still called "Washington's Birthday" in the federal statute. However, as explained by one U.S. Embassy's website: "President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring the holiday as "Presidents' Day" in 1971. President Nixon erroneously believed that a Presidential proclamation on the matter carried the same weight as an Executive Order. Since that change in 1971, the common term has been 'Presidents' Day'."

Here is a Proclamation issued last week by President Bush which, opting for historical accuracy, proclaims February 22 (not today) as the 275th anniversary of George Washington's birth. (It does not mention today's statutory holiday.) Steering away from controversy, the Proclamation-- in describing Washington's accomplishments-- says nothing about Washington's religious faith or beliefs.

State Reps Circulate Memo On Supposed Jewish Origins Of Evolutionary Theory

An AP article and one from the New York Times over the weekend discuss a memorandum from Georgia state Representative Ben Bridges. The memo says that evolution is a myth propagated by the ancient Jewish Pharisees, and that the Big-Bang theory derives from Kabbala (Jewish mysticism). The memo was apparently written by Marshall Hall, president of the Fair Education Foundation, who says that Bridges consented to his writing it and sending it out in Bridge's name. The memo was distributed to key legislators in California and Texas. In turn, Texas Rep. Warren Chisum, chairman of the state's House Appropriations Committee, sent the memo to all 149 other representatives in the Texas legislature. After a complaint from the Anti-Defamation League, Chisum has apologized

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Hyde v. Fisher, (ID Ct. App., Feb. 8, 2007), the Idaho Court of Appeals concluded that the trial court had erred in dismissing-- largely on procedural grounds-- a prisoner's federal RLUIPA claim and his state claim under the Free Exercise of Religion Protected Act. The prisoner claimed he had been denied the right to practice his Native American religion. The Court of Appeals temporarily remanded the case, which had gone through a full trial, for the court to enter findings of fact and conclusions of law on the statutory claims.

In Howard v. Epps, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9716 (ND MI, Feb. 9, 2007), a federal district judge accepted a federal magistrate judge's recommendations that a Rastafarian prisoner's free exercise and equal protection challenges to prison hair-length policies be dismissed.

In Ashanti v. California Department of Corrections, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10612 (ED CA, Feb. 15, 2007), a federal magistrate judge, in a long opinion, recommended granting summary judgment for defendants. The effect of this is to reject claims under the 1st, 8th and 14th Amendments by a prisoner that he is entitled to have his African-Muslim name appear as his only name on California Department of Correction records in connection with his current sentence.

Meanwhile the Associated Press today has coverage of a suit filed by a South Dakota prisoner who is seeking various religious items and privileges in order to be able to practice Asatru.

New Zealand Reaffirms Religious Diversity

New Zealand's Human Rights Commission yesterday released a statement on tolerance at an inter-faith forum. NZPA today reported that Destiny Church and Vision Network of evangelical churches expressed outrage that the statement says New Zealand has no state religion. Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "We are very diverse peoples these days we simply couldn't agree on a state religion."

UPDATE: Here is the full text of the Draft National Statement on Religious Diversity.

Recent Articles On Church-State, Law & Religion

From SSRN:
Juan Ferreiro Galguera , Cartoons Crisis, Religious Feelings and European Court of Human Rights (Las Caricaturas Sobre Mahoma Y La Jurisprudencia Del Tribunal Europeo De Los Derechos Humanos), (Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales, Vol. 12, pp. 1-40, 2006).

Dawinder S. Sidhu & Neha Singh Gohil, The Sikh Turban: Post-9/11 Challenges to this Article of Faith, (February 12, 2007).

Timothy D. Lytton, Clergy Sexual Abuse Litigation: The Policymaking Role of Tort Law, (Connecticut Law Review, Vol. 39, No. 3, p. 809, 2007).

From SmartCILP:
Irina D. Manta, Missed Opportunities: How the Courts Struck Down the Florida School Voucher Program, 51 St. Louis University Law Journal 185-202 (2006).

Washington State's Religious Discrimination Complaints Grow

The Associated Press yesterday reported that religious employment discrimination complaints in Washington state have risen twice as fast as the national average. From 2002 to 2006, complaints in the state rose 60%, compared to a 30% rise nationwide. The increase is blamed on rising workplace tensions from the war in Iraq and increasing diversity in the population. While many of the complaints have come from Muslims, there are a growing number from Christians as well.

Religion Continues As An Issue For 2008 Presidential Race

Today's New York Times reprints this cartoon from the Tulsa World commenting on religion in the 2008 presidential race. In addition today's New York Times Magazine carries a piece by Gary Rosen titled Narrowing the Religion Gap?. He says that when one compares the presidential front runners-- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani-- we may have "a matchup between churchgoing Democrats and secular-minded Republicans."

Governmental Bodies In Israel Feud Over Conversion Standards

This week's Forward carries an article on the tensions between two different governmental bodies in Israel over permitting conversions to Judaism. The state-funded Institute for Jewish Studies that was formed in 1998 to break a deadlock between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish concerns about conversions has stopped referring candidates to Israel's rabbinical courts for conversion until the chief rabbinate appoints new members to the Conversion Authority who will not impose such strict conditions for conversion. Rabbi Andrew Sacks of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement criticized current rabbinical court members, saying that they are imposing a new "Khomeinization of the process of conversion in Israel".

Appointment of new members of to conversion courts has been held up for months. Civil Service Commissioner Shmuel Hollander says this is because he has been under pressure to approve rabbinical court judges who do not meet statutory standards for appointment.

South Korea Debates Religion In Schools

In South Korea, where students are required to attend the school in the district where they live, regardless of whether it is public or private, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development is proposing that schools be required to offer more than one alternative to classes in religion. Faith-based private schools receive government funding. Yesterday, The Hankyoreh reported that the Ministry's proposal-- which is scaled down from an earlier draft-- is still controversial. Some say that students could still be forced to participate in religious ceremonies that are inconsistent with their beliefs, while religious schools oppose any regulation of religious education. Meanwhile, in a related case, a challenge to mandatory chapel attendance at religious universities is being considered by Korea's Constitutional Court.