Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Christian Pastors Arrested In Indian State For Conversionary Activity
In the Indian state of Rajasthan, two Christian pastors have been arrested on charges of insulting Hindu gods and forcing people to convert to Christianity. Today's Pakistan Christian Post reports that the two have been charged under section 295 of the Indian Penal Code that prohibits insulting the religion of any class of persons. In Rajasthan last year, the governor refused to sign an anti-conversion bill passed by the legislature. (See prior related posting.)
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Jefferson v. Wolfe, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18625 (WD PA, March 16, 2007), a federal Magistrate Judge rejected an Establishment Clause, a Free Exercise Clause, a retaliation and an Equal Protection Clause claim by a Muslim inmate, Leonard Jefferson. It found that Jefferson had not been coerced into participating in religious-based rehabilitation programs; that forcing him to participate in non-Islamic based programs did not violate his free exercise rights; that his removal from his job as Chapel clerk was justified based on his inflammatory and disruptive poetry; and that he was offered access to the same programs and benefits as other prisoners.
In Henderson v. Ayers, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18791 (CD CA, Feb. 23, 2007), a California federal Magistrate Judge permitted an inmate to move forward with a claim under RLUIPA that his rights were violated when he was denied time off work to attend Friday Islamic prayer services.
In Phillips v. Stanley, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19608 (WD VA, March 20, 2007), a Virginia federal district court dismissed a prisoner's claim that he was not able to go to church or get religious books because the prisoner failed to particularize the facts surrounding his claim.
In Goodrick v. Roane, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19360 (D ID, March 19, 2007) an Idaho federal court permitted a prisoner to move to trial with his claim that a correctional officer violated a settlement agreement in his prior free exercise claim that permitted him to keep a limited amount of religious prayer oil in his cell.
In Busick v. City of Madison, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19432 (SD MI, March 19, 2007), a Mississippi federal district judge dismissed a prisoner's challenge to a policy that permitted him to receive religious material by mail only from one approved source.
In Stanko v. Patton, (8th Cir., March 20, 2007), the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's finding that a prisoner's Free Exercise claim is frivolous. The inmate claimed that he is a member of the Church of the Creator, and that eating nuts and fruit is a genuine dietary requirement of the religion.
In Hightower v. Schwarzenegger, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20520 (ED CA, March 8, 2007), a California federal Magistrate Judge dismissed without prejudice a prisoner's claim that defendants refused boxes of religious books sent to him directly by the publisher on more than one occasion. The court said that plaintiff needed to amend his complaint to link the named defendants with the alleged conduct.
In Larry v. Goetz, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20619 (WD WI, March 20, 2007), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected a Muslim inmate's claim that a volunteer chaplain at the Dane County jail violated his free exercise rights by failing to arrange Jumah services. There was no evidence that the chaplain had the authority to determine whether such services would be offered.
In Coronel v. Paul, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 6928 (9th Cir., March 12, 2007), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an Arizona federal district court dismissal of a claim against a prison chaplain, the warden, and Corrections Corporation of America at a CCA-operated prison. It held that the lower court erred in finding these defendants uninvolved in alleged infringements of an Hawaiian inmate's rights under the First Amendment and RLUIPA. They had implemented an order of the Hawaii Department of Corrections that Hawaiian inmates be prohibited from participating in Pascua Yaqui Native American sweat lodge ceremonies because prison gangs were using these services to organize disruption.
Last week the Associated Press reported on the settlement of a lawsuit brought by by the ACLU on behalf of a Mormon prisoner against Louisiana State Penitentiary. The prison will now permit the inmate to buy books from several previously-unapproved Church of Jesus Christ vendors, including Brigham Young University's bookstore.
In Henderson v. Ayers, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18791 (CD CA, Feb. 23, 2007), a California federal Magistrate Judge permitted an inmate to move forward with a claim under RLUIPA that his rights were violated when he was denied time off work to attend Friday Islamic prayer services.
In Phillips v. Stanley, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19608 (WD VA, March 20, 2007), a Virginia federal district court dismissed a prisoner's claim that he was not able to go to church or get religious books because the prisoner failed to particularize the facts surrounding his claim.
In Goodrick v. Roane, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19360 (D ID, March 19, 2007) an Idaho federal court permitted a prisoner to move to trial with his claim that a correctional officer violated a settlement agreement in his prior free exercise claim that permitted him to keep a limited amount of religious prayer oil in his cell.
In Busick v. City of Madison, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19432 (SD MI, March 19, 2007), a Mississippi federal district judge dismissed a prisoner's challenge to a policy that permitted him to receive religious material by mail only from one approved source.
In Stanko v. Patton, (8th Cir., March 20, 2007), the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's finding that a prisoner's Free Exercise claim is frivolous. The inmate claimed that he is a member of the Church of the Creator, and that eating nuts and fruit is a genuine dietary requirement of the religion.
In Hightower v. Schwarzenegger, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20520 (ED CA, March 8, 2007), a California federal Magistrate Judge dismissed without prejudice a prisoner's claim that defendants refused boxes of religious books sent to him directly by the publisher on more than one occasion. The court said that plaintiff needed to amend his complaint to link the named defendants with the alleged conduct.
In Larry v. Goetz, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20619 (WD WI, March 20, 2007), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected a Muslim inmate's claim that a volunteer chaplain at the Dane County jail violated his free exercise rights by failing to arrange Jumah services. There was no evidence that the chaplain had the authority to determine whether such services would be offered.
In Coronel v. Paul, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 6928 (9th Cir., March 12, 2007), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an Arizona federal district court dismissal of a claim against a prison chaplain, the warden, and Corrections Corporation of America at a CCA-operated prison. It held that the lower court erred in finding these defendants uninvolved in alleged infringements of an Hawaiian inmate's rights under the First Amendment and RLUIPA. They had implemented an order of the Hawaii Department of Corrections that Hawaiian inmates be prohibited from participating in Pascua Yaqui Native American sweat lodge ceremonies because prison gangs were using these services to organize disruption.
Last week the Associated Press reported on the settlement of a lawsuit brought by by the ACLU on behalf of a Mormon prisoner against Louisiana State Penitentiary. The prison will now permit the inmate to buy books from several previously-unapproved Church of Jesus Christ vendors, including Brigham Young University's bookstore.
Controversial Australian Mufti Retains His Position
In Australia, Muslim clerics meeting in Sydney have decided that the controversial Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali should remain as Mufti of Australia, a position he has held since 1988. Developments were reported yesterday by M&C. Controversial past remarks by the sheik led to calls for his removal by Prime Minister John Howard and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma. Last year the sheik raised widespread protest when he suggested that women who do not wear a head covering invite rape. This year he suggested that Muslim immigrants have greater entitlement to live in Australia than did the country's colonial settlers.
Pakistani Muslims Fail To Rally Opposition To Hindu Chief Justice
Ohmy News reports that religious parties in Pakistan have failed in their attempts to generate opposition to the appointment of an observant Hindu as the country's Chief Justice. A senior religious cleric, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq said that it is not permissible under Islamic law for a non-Muslim to become the chief justice of an Islamic state. Legal experts disagree. The appointment follows the controversial suspension of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who was charged by President Pervez Musharraf with misusing authority. (See prior posting.)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Rice- Mubarak Spar Over Egypt's Proposed Constitutional Changes
On route to her visit to Egypt, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice strongly criticized a proposed package of constitutional amendments that will be voted on in a referendum in Egypt on Monday. One of them, aimed at the Muslim Brotherhood, bans political parties based on religious denomination. (See prior posting.) The Associated Press reports that in a nationally televised speech on Saturday, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak defended the amendments. He said that history had taught him "the dangers of mixing religion with politics," and that the amendments would cut off those "attempting to strike at the unity of this nation's Muslims and Christians." AP reports on Sunday indicate that Secretary Rice raised her concerns directly in her opening talks with Mubarak.
UPDATE: On Tuesday Egypt announced that the voters had approved the 34 proposed constitutional amendments by a vote of 75.9% in favor. It said that turnout in Monday's referendum was 27%, but the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights says the turnout was much lower than that. (AP).
UPDATE: On Tuesday Egypt announced that the voters had approved the 34 proposed constitutional amendments by a vote of 75.9% in favor. It said that turnout in Monday's referendum was 27%, but the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights says the turnout was much lower than that. (AP).
Recent Scholarship On Law and Religion
From SSRN:
David E. Guinn, Erecting the Barrier: Creating the New Liberal Compact on Religion, Chap. 3, and The Terrors of Christendom, Chap. 2. in Constantine's Standard: Religion,Violence, Politics, Law & Faith to Die For.
Mostly from SmartCILP:
Richard M. Esenberg, You Cannot Lose If You Choose Not To Play: Toward a More Modest Establishment Clause, 12 Roger Williams University Law Review 1-69 (2006).
Larry O. Natt Gantt, II, Charles H. Oates & Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, Professional Responsibility and the Christian Attorney: Comparing the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Biblical Virtues, 19 Regent University Law Review 1-93 (2006-2007).
James L. Heft, S.M., Religion and Politics: the Catholic Contribution, 32 University of Dayton Law Review 29-46 (2006).
Erin E. Goodsell, Constitution, Custom, and Creed: Balancing Human Rights Concerns with Cultural and Religious Freedom in Today’s South Africa, 21 BYU Journal of Public Law 108 (2007).
Symposium Issue: God & War. Foreword by Linda Bevilacqua; articles by John D. Carlson, Liaquat Ali Khan, David A. Bosworth, Jeffrey F. Addicott and John D. Altenburg, Jr. 7 Barry Law Review 1-163 (2006).
David E. Guinn, Erecting the Barrier: Creating the New Liberal Compact on Religion, Chap. 3, and The Terrors of Christendom, Chap. 2. in Constantine's Standard: Religion,Violence, Politics, Law & Faith to Die For.
Mostly from SmartCILP:
Richard M. Esenberg, You Cannot Lose If You Choose Not To Play: Toward a More Modest Establishment Clause, 12 Roger Williams University Law Review 1-69 (2006).
Larry O. Natt Gantt, II, Charles H. Oates & Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, Professional Responsibility and the Christian Attorney: Comparing the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Biblical Virtues, 19 Regent University Law Review 1-93 (2006-2007).
James L. Heft, S.M., Religion and Politics: the Catholic Contribution, 32 University of Dayton Law Review 29-46 (2006).
Erin E. Goodsell, Constitution, Custom, and Creed: Balancing Human Rights Concerns with Cultural and Religious Freedom in Today’s South Africa, 21 BYU Journal of Public Law 108 (2007).
Symposium Issue: God & War. Foreword by Linda Bevilacqua; articles by John D. Carlson, Liaquat Ali Khan, David A. Bosworth, Jeffrey F. Addicott and John D. Altenburg, Jr. 7 Barry Law Review 1-163 (2006).
Pope Criticizes EU 50th Anniversary Statement
Pope Benedict XVI yesterday strongly criticized European Union leaders for excluding any mention of God in the declaration marking the EU's 50th anniversary. (See prior posting.) Reuters quotes the Pope who said: "If on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome the governments of the union want to get closer to their citizens, how can they exclude an element as essential to the identity of Europe as Christianity, in which the vast majority of its people continue to identify."
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Ohio's Anti-Funeral Picketing Law Largely Upheld
The Cleveland Plain Dealer today reports that an Ohio federal district court on Friday upheld key portions of Ohio's "Let Them Rest in Peace Act" (ORC 3767.30) that bans protests within 300 feet of a funeral from one hour before to one hour after the ceremony. The court held that the law protects people from unwanted communication, while allowing protesters to demonstrate elsewhere. The law is aimed at the Westboro Kansas Baptist Church whose members picket veterans' funerals around the country with signs claiming that God is killing American soldiers as punishment for "the sin of homosexuality." However the court struck down a provision of the law that creates a 300-foot floating buffer around a funeral procession. The AP reports that Westboro church members are still planning a funeral protest on Monday. Usually their protests are outside the 300-foot zone in order to get their message out near streets with heavy traffic.
Preacher Challenging NC City's Permit Requirement
In Hendersonville, North Carolina, a street preacher-- Billy Ball-- is challenging the city's ordinance that requires a permit from the police before delivering any speech or sermon, or demonstrating, on any city street, sidewalk or public grounds. The ordinance provides that a permit maybe revoked where "the good morals, safety and public order of the city so demand." Yesterday's Hendersonville News says that Ball claims his First Amendment rights are violated by having to obtain a permit from the police chief. The preacher has been cited twice for violating the ordinance. His most recent citation was for his carrying a sign reading: "Three gays rights: AIDS, hell, salvation." Ball plans to return with 20 demonstrators to again challenge the legality of the city's rule. Police Chief Donnie Parks' response is to quote back to Ball a Biblical verse (Romans 13:1) saying that everyone should submit to the governing authorities.
Ohio Ends Contract With Group Administering Faith Based Funds
As reported previously, Ohio's new Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, has ordered the state's Inspector General to investigate the operation of the Ohio Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Apparently the group that was under contract to manage $22 million in grants that faith-based organizations could access has refused to answer investigators' questions. ABP reports that this has led state officials to terminate the state's contract with the group, We Care America. The Dayton Daily News Dayton has published an investigative series that discloses ties between the White House and leaders of We Care America. Gov. Strickland, himself an ordained Methodist minister, said: "It just really seems as if this is an example of where money that should've legitimately gone to serve the needs of the poor and vulnerable people in Ohio was in my judgment misused, and it was done in the name of God. It's just reprehensible what happened here." Melissa Rogers' blog has more on the story.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Russian Museum Sued Over Anti-Christian Art
In Russia, a Russian Orthodox Church group, the People's Council, has filed suit in Moscow against the Andrei Sakharov Museum and Public Center over a display titled "Forbidden Art -- 2006". Today's Baltimore Sun reports that the suit charges the Museum with inciting religious and ethnic hatred. The display contains two dozen works that were kept out of Russian art galleries by self-censorship last year. Among them is a portrait of Jesus with a Mickey Mouse face and an icon of the Virgin Mary made to look like caviar. The coordinator of the People's Council said: "It's considered blasphemous to mock Christian feelings. It's like insulting the American flag."
Demolition Permit Denial Violates Free Exercise Clause
In Mount St. Scholastica, Inc. v. City Of Atchison, 2007 WL 782196 (D KA, March 12, 2007), a Kansas federal district court held that application of the Kansas Historic Preservation Act to deny a demolition permit to a religious monastic community violates the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment. Applying 10th Circuit precedent, the court held that because the law provides for individualized determinations, a strict scrutiny test is to be applied to the government's decisions. In cases of religious hardship the government must have a compelling reason to refuse to grant an exemption from the historic preservation law's requirements. Historic preservation is not a compelling governmental interest. [Thanks to Eugene Volokh via Religionlaw for the lead.]
Clergy Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Dismissed Under Establishment Clause
In Lowery v. Cook, (UT Ct. App., March 15, 2007), a Utah Court of Appeals held that the Establishment Clause bars a claim for breach of fiduciary duty by a clergyman in connection with an ecclesiastical counseling session. Adjudicating the claim would create excessive entanglement between government and religion.
Tennessee AG Says Creationism Resolution Does Not Violate Establishment Clause
Last month (see prior posting) a Tennessee legislator introduced a resolution in the state Senate that would ask the state commissioner of education a series of questions about why schools are not teaching creationism. Last week, Tennessee's attorney general issued Opinion 07-29 which concludes that: "Senate Resolution 17 violates neither the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, nor Article I, Section 4 of the Tennessee Constitution." In reaching that conclusion, the Opinion says:
Despite the resolution, its sponsor Sen. Raymond Finney says that he may reword the resolution. (NCSE release.)
Senate Resolution 17 compels no action regarding religion, and imposes no sanction for disobedience. This resolution is therefore not the type of "law" that may infringe upon the terms of the Establishment Clause.
Furthermore, insofar as Senate Resolution 17 merely asks three questions concerning religion and the teaching of creationism in Tennessee schools, it is difficult to interpret the resolution as a measure "establishing" religion in contravention of the Establishment Clause....
We further do not consider that any reasonable interpretation of Senate Resolution 17 runs afoul of this provision of the Tennessee Constitution. The resolution is completely devoid of any provision suggesting that the Commissioner of Education must satisfy any religious "test" in order to qualify for her office.
NY State Takes Over Religious Discrimination Complaint Against Clinic
The New York state Division of Human rights has taken over administration of a religious discrimination complaint filed in Spring Valley, NY with the Rockland County Commission on Human Rights by the NAACP. (See prior posting.) The complaint claimed that the Ben Gilman Medical and Dental clinic -- which had received federal funding -- unlawfully imposed the its owners beliefs on others by closing on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. The clinic in turn argued that forcing it to open on Saturdays would constitute illegal religious discrimination. The New York Journal News today reports that the state takeover places in question a tentative settlement that the parties had negotiated. It provided for opening on the clinic on Saturdays for an eight-week trial period; maintaining a diverse, multilingual staff and providing diversity training to the staff.
French Paper Acquitted On Charges of Publishing Caricatures of Muhammad
A French court yesterday acquitted the satirical newspaper Charlie-Hebdo and its director, Philippe Val, of charges of "publicly abusing a group of people because of their religion" by publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Several of the cartoons had first appeared in a Danish newspaper. The court ruled that Charlie-Hebdo had no intention of insulting the Muslim community with the caricatures. The Associated Press reported on the decision. (See prior related posting.)
Portland Archdiocese Bankruptcy Reorganization Moves Ahead
Portland, Oregon's Catholic Sentinel reports that parishioners in western Oregon will receive notice this week of a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit over whether parishes, schools and certain funds are available to pay claims of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland. The Notice (full text) says that in the settlement no property of schools or parishes will be used to pay debts of the Archdiocese. Parishes and schools will receive a discharge from all liabilities of the Archdiocese. Then the Archdiocese will restructure itself, Parishes and Schools into various charitable trusts or nonprofit religious corporations, separate from the reorganized Archdiocese. Property will be transferred among the new entities in a way that does not diminish the Archdiocese's ability to make payments under the plan of reorganization.
Vietnam Recognizes Baha'i and 3 Other Groups
Vietnam News Service yesterday reported that the Baha'i Community of Vietnam is celebrating its receipt last month of a certificate of operation from the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs. Three additional groups have also recently received certificates: "Four Debts of Gratitude"; "The Pure Land Buddhist Home-Practice Association"; and "The Vietnam Christian Religion Missionary Alliance". Previously six other religions had been recognized by the government: Buddhism; Catholicism; Protestantism; Cao Dai; Hoa Hao Buddhism; and Islam. Buddhism is the largest of these, with 10 million followers in the country.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Final Attempt To Overturn Britain's Sexual Orientation Regulations Loses
Yesterday, a final attempt to prevent Britain's Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations from going into effect was defeated in the House of Lords by a vote of 168 to 122. Christianity Today reports that the defeated motion put forward by Baroness O’Cathain, as 1000 Christians in support of the motion gathered outside Parliament in a prayer vigil. Following the vote, the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship issued a statement saying in part: "The result of the vote will mean that rather than balancing rights, the right to live a homosexual lifestyle will trump the right to live a Christian lifestyle." (See prior related posting.)
Taxpayer Challenge To Funding Faith-Based Marriage Counseling Group Dismissed
A federal district court in Washington state has dismissed a lawsuit brought by 13 Washington taxpayers alleging that federal grants made to the Northwest Marriage Institute were used to finance religious activities in violation of the Establishment Clause. In Christianson v. Leavitt, (WD WA), March 20, 2007) [available in PACER], the court found that capacity-building grants, and a grant to support a secular marriage workshop, met the requirements of the Lemon test-- and so there were no Establishment Clause violations present. Americans United for Separation of Church and State that represented plaintiffs issued a statement saying it was disappointed in the ruling, but that the court reaffirmed key principles of church-state separation. (See prior related posting.)
UPDATE: The full opinion is now available online, as is defendant's motion to dismiss, thanks to the Christian Newswire (CLS press release). [Thanks to Blog from the Capitol for the lead to this update.]
UPDATE: The full opinion is now available online, as is defendant's motion to dismiss, thanks to the Christian Newswire (CLS press release). [Thanks to Blog from the Capitol for the lead to this update.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)