Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
High Priestess' Grave Robbing Conviction Reversed On Evidentiary Grounds
Audio of Sekulow-Weinstein Debate At AF Academy Available
NC County Commission Adopts Group's Model Policy To Permit Opening Prayer
Finally, the resolution provides that it "shall not be ... construed ... to affiliate the Board with, nor express the Board’s preference for, any faith or religious denomination. Rather, this policy is intended to ... express the Board’s respect for the diversity of religious denominations and faiths represented and practiced among the citizens of the County..."
Via Rail Will Allow Sikhs To Carry Kirpans; Sikh Wins Suit Against Bally
Meanwhile, in Fresno, California, a consent decree approved last week orders Bally Total Fitness to pay "Devin" Singh Dhaliwal, a Sikh, $24,000 in damages. The health club must also provide its Fresno managers with training in equal opportunity hiring practices. According to the Associated Press, in a job interview Dhaliwal was asked where his parents were born, what his religion is, and whether he is a Muslim.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Irish Labour Court Rules Against Employees' Push For Catholic Holidays Off
NYU Report Charges US Is Illegally Delaying Naturalization of Muslims
The full report, titled Americans on Hold: Profiling, Citizenship, and the "War on Terror" , as well as a 12-page summary briefing paper, and a one-page summary in Arabic are available online. Podcasts of interviews relating to the reports are also available (Segment 1; 2; 4; 5; 6.)
Things Get Complicated In Nashville's Attempt to Reschedule Election Runoff
En Banc 5th Circuit Finds TX Bible Monument Case Moot; But Injunction Retained
Three of the 16 judges on the en banc panel dissented arguing that the case should be remanded for fact finding on whether it could reasonably be expected that the county would reinstall the monument in the future.
Americans United, the group that had filed the lawsuit originally, issued a release applauding the court's decision to leave the injunction in place. Reporting on the decision, today's Houston Chronicle says that Harris County will likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Postal Unit Violates Establishment Clause By Displaying Religious Material
British Agency Issues Guides For Wearing Niqab In Court
The guidelines go on to discuss the varying considerations when a woman seeking to wear the niqab is a judge, a juror, a victim or complainant, a witness or defendant, or an advocate. Articles in The Lawyer.com and the Associated Press yesterday discussed the Board's new guidelines.[F]or Muslim women who do choose to wear the niqab, it is an important element of their religious and cultural identity. To force a choice between that identity (or cultural acceptability), and the woman’s involvement in the criminal, civil justice, or tribunal system (as a witness, party, member of court staff or legal office-holder) may well have a significant impact on that woman’s sense of dignity and would likely serve to exclude and marginalise further women with limited visibility in courts and tribunals....
The primary question that needs to be asked by any judicial office holder before coming to a decision is: What is the significance of seeing this woman’s face to the judicial task that I have to fulfil?
Pressure Continues In Thailand For Buddhism As State Religion
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Russia's Yeltsin Remembered For Mixed Legacy On Religious Freedom
Suit Challenges Pricing Of Indiana's "In God We Trust" Plates
UPDATE: April 29th's Indy Star carries an interview with BMV Commissioner Ron Stiver on Inidana's controversial license plates. He says that BMV is not promoting one plate over any of the other 75 available designs.
Preacher Loses Challenge To Miami University's Speech Policy
Cert. Denied In Case Interpreting "Ministerial Exception" To Title VII
Jail Permits On-Site Baptisms After Threat of Suit
Gideons In Court In Florida As Defendants and Plaintiffs
Meanwhile, the Alliance Defense Fund has filed a civil suit on behalf of another Key Largo member of the Gideons challenging the constitutionality of applying the school safety zone statute to prevent Bibles from being distributed. (Press release.) The suit (full text of complaint) claims speech, due process, equal protection and free exercise violations, as well as a violation of Florida's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Another NYPD Police Officer Loses Case Challenging His Placement In AA Program
Monday, April 23, 2007
Settlement Says Wiccan Pentacle Can Now Be On Markers In National Cemeteries
UPDATE: Here is a link to the full text of the settlement agreement. The Washington Post on Tuesday quotes AU executive director Barry Lynn as suggesting that the VA's resistance on this issue was due in part to its interpretation of remarks made in 1999 by then-Texas Governor George W Bush critical of Wicca. [Thanks to Melissa Rogers for the leads.]