Creationism Museum To Open; Generates Opposing Petition Campaign

A $27 million museum promoting creationism is set to open in Petersburg, Kentucky on May 28. The Campaign To Defend the Constitution is beginning a petition campaign on its website to oppose the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum. Def Con's petition argues that the museum attacks children’s basic understanding of fundamental scientific principles. Wednesday's Cincinnati Enquirer reports that museum defenders say that their critics should see the museum before they speak out against it.

More On Israel's Rabbinic Court Appointments Dispute

Religion Clause has followed the recent controversy in Israel over the appointment of 15 rabbinic court judges (see prior postings 1, 2, 3). These courts have jurisdiction over various status and family law matters. The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday that the Dayanim Election Committee has formally decided to annul the original appointments and to start the selection process over. Meanwhile, in another article, the JP reported that Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann defended his role in the matter before the Knesset Law Committee. However he also suggested that there should be changes in the law that would allow women to become religious court judges. This could only be done by changing the requirement that only rabbis can serve. Friedmann also said he would like to see litigants in the courts have an option of choosing a civil law alternative to Jewish religious law to govern their disputes if they wish.

Catholic House Members Criticize Pope's Statement

On Tuesday, The Hill reported that 18 Catholic Democratic members of the House of Representatives criticized remarks made last week by Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope, on his way to Brazil, suggested that he supports excommunication of legislators who support abortion rights. (See prior posting.) The Congressional members' May 10 statement (full text) said: "religious sanction in the political arena directly conflicts with our fundamental beliefs about the role and responsibility of democratic representatives in a pluralistic America – it also clashes with freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. Such notions offend the very nature of the American experiment and do a great disservice to the centuries of good work the church has done."

Texas School District Sued Over Bible Curriculum

A lawsuit filed yesterday in a Texas federal district court on behalf of 8 parents of high school students challenges the constitutionality of a course in The Bible in History and Literature offered by two Odessa, Texas schools. The courses use the King James version of the Bible as a text. They follow the curriculum developed by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, after the school superintendent rejected an alternative curriculum developed by the Bible Literacy Project that is generally seen as more inclusive. (See prior posting and and an article from yesterday's Wall Street Journal.)

The complaint in Moreno v. Ector County Independent School District, (WD TX, filed May 16, 2007) (full text) alleges that the curriculum that was adopted promotes a particular religious interpretation of the Bible-- ignoring or dismissing other viewpoints-- and does not reflect current and reputable Biblical scholarship. It teaches the Bible as literal, historical truth and presents a religious interpretation of American history that does not reflect objective scholarly standards.

The suit was filed on behalf of the parents by the American Civil Liberties Union (press release) and People for the American Way (press release). ACLU lawyer Daniel Mach charged that the course "is about proselytizing one set of religious beliefs to the exclusion of others. Students who don't share those beliefs should not be treated as outsiders by their own schools." Also, he said that the course "requires students to give 'true' or 'false' answers to questions that are a matter of religious faith."

Can Children Use Peyote In Native American Religious Ceremonies?

While the use of peyote in Native American religious rituals may be protected by statute at the federal level and in many states, a family court in Leelanau County, Michigan faces a more difficult question. May Native American parents give their minor children peyote in religious ceremonies? Wednesday's Leelanau Enterprise discusses the case. The Leelanau county prosecutor is asking the court to take jurisdiction over five children who were given the hallucinogen after the Tribal Court of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians failed to asset jurisdiction in the case. In a similar 2003 case, a Michigan family court judge ruled that a 4-year old could not ingest peyote, but that he could when he is fully aware of the implications, is physically and emotionally ready, and has the permission of both his parents.

Judge Lifts Temporary Ban; Lets Autopsy On Executed Prisoner Proceed

Lifting an earlier temporary injunction he had issued (see prior posting), a Tennessee federal district court judge has ruled that an autopsy can be performed on the body of executed prisoner Philip Workman. Workman, a Seventh Day Adventist, had requested on religious grounds that no autopsy be performed and that no chemicals or fluids be removed from his body. Judge Todd J. Campbell, however, ruled Tuesday that, while Workman's religious objections were sincere, the state has a "compelling interest in assessing the effects of the lethal injection protocol that has been the subject of widespread constitutional challenge in recent years." The Associated Press reporting on the ruling, says that the judge also ordered that no autopsy be performed until after May 24 in order to give Workman's family time to appeal the ruling.

UPDATE: Nashville's News Channel 5 reported on Thursday that Workman's family has reached an agreement with the state medical examiner to permit him to perform an autopsy on Workman, but in a way that is minimally invasive.

North Carolina Village Bans Sectarian Invocations

On Monday night, the Clemmons, North Carolina Village Council, by a vote of 3-2, followed the advice of its Village Attorney and voted to ban sectarian invocations at Council meetings. The new policy requires that invocations "be nonsectarian in nature, without reference to any particular religion, denomination or sect, nor to any symbol or deity thereof." Yesterday's Winston-Salem Journal reports that letters will be sent to local religious leaders to explain the policy and give examples of inappropriate references. This vote took place at the same time that the county commission of Forsyth County-- where Clemmons is located-- took a different route and approved a policy permitting sectarian prayer. (See prior posting.)

Moldova Rushes New Religion Law Through Parliament

Forum18 reported yesterday that a new Religion Law has been rushed through Moldova's Parliament, and that officials say no one will be able to read it until it has been promulgated by the President and published in the Official Monitor. Stefan Secareanu, who chairs the Parliament's Committee for Human Rights and National Minorities, says that the bill is still being edited to reflect all the amendments that were adopted. He says that the bill retains a ban on abusive proselytism, but that using "disinformation" has been removed from the definition of banned practices. The final bill also requires 100 adults members before a religious group will be recognized. Minority religious groups object to this limit, while the Russian Orthodox Church in Moldova thinks the new bill is not restrictive enough.

NY Jail Chaplain Charged For Distributing Anti-Muslim Tracts

A Rockland County, New York jail chaplain, suspended with pay last month pending an investigation of complaints that she distributed anti-Muslim literature (see prior posting) has now been charged administratively with eight counts of misconduct. Rev. Teresa Darden Clapp's suspension was also changed to one without pay. Yesterday's Lower Hudson Valley Journal News says that after listening to concerns of the local Muslim community, jail officials said they would hire an imam as a Muslim chaplain, and would begin to serve Muslim prisoners Halal food.

Communion Wine Now Permitted In New Zealand Prisons

New Zealand's Corrections Department has changed its interpretation of New Zealand law and will now permit small amounts of Communion wine to be consumed in prisons by Chaplains and prisoners. Catholic News reported yesterday that the reversal of policy came after objections from the Catholic Church and politicians. Authorities will seek an amendment to the Corrections Act 2004 that now prohibits alcohol from being taken into prisons so that it clearly reflects the new exemption for sacramental wine.

Group Aims At Proselytizing State Legislators

Jews on First this morning carries a lengthy report on Capitol Ministries, a group that is focused on bringing a Christian message to state legislators and their staffs around the country. It has already formed Bible study groups in over a dozen state capitals. The group's leader, Ralph Drollinger, has a record of criticizing Catholics, gays and mothers of young children who serve in state Legislatures.

9th Circuit: LA County's Removal of Cross From Seal OK

Yesterday in Vasquez v. Los Angeles County, (9th Cir., May 15, 2007), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an Establishment Cause challenge to a 2004 change made to the seal of Los Angeles County. Ernesto Vasquez, a resident, taxpayer and county employee, argued that the change, which removed a cross from the seal and replaced it with a picture of a historic mission, amounted to a state-sponsored message of hostility toward Christians.

The court held that plaintiff had standing to bring the challenge, holding that "spiritual harm resulting from unwelcome direct contact with an allegedly offensive religious (or anti-religious) symbol is a legally cognizable injury and suffices to confer Article III standing." However it rejected Vasquez's claim on the merits. The County removed the cross to avoid a potential Establishment Clause problem. The court held that this is a secular purpose. As to effect, the court said "a 'reasonable observer' familiar with the history and controversy surrounding the use of crosses on municipal seals would not perceive the primary effect of Defendants' action as one of hostility towards religion." Reuters and AP both reported on the decision.

EU Officials Meet With Religious Leaders

On Tuesday, European Union leaders held a meeting with twenty religious leaders of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. At the meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that there was no chance of reviving the proposal to include a mention of God or Europe's Christian roots in a redrafted European Union constitution. (International Herald Tribune). At the meeting which focused on increasing religious tolerance and improving interfaith relations, British Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks raised the issue of anti-Semitism in Europe-- a topic on which the EU will soon publish a report. (European Jewish Press.)

MD Governor Bars Discrimination In Executive Branch Employment Practices

On Tuesday, Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley signed Executive Order 01.01.2007.09 creating a Code of Fair Employment Practices. It bars any state administrative agency or executive branch department from discriminating on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, religious affiliation or belief or opinion, race, sex, or sexual orientation. Bizjournals reported on the executive order yesterday.

Proposed Israeli Law May Signal Major Shift On Religion-State Framework

An interesting op-ed in yesterday's Haaretz discusses a new draft law being considered by the Knesset, titled "The Sabbath - A Day of Culture and Rest". Columnist Yedidia Stern says that National Religious Party support for the bill signals a fundamental change in the relation of religion and state in Israel. Past insistence of religious-Zionist rabbis on making no changes to the status quo has, Stern said, made them increasingly irrelevant. Now, Stern claims, these rabbis are willing to opt for a socioeconomic, cultural, historic and national Jewish state, even if its laws do not impose rigid religious requirements.

En Banc Rehearing Sought In 9th Circuit Approval of SF Noise Ordinance

A petition for for an en banc rehearing by the full 9th Circuit (full text) was filed last week in Rosenbaum v. City and County of San Francisco. In April, a 3-judge panel deciding the case rejected constitutional challenges to San Francisco's enforcement of its noise and its permit ordinances against Christian evangelists seeking to use sound amplification equipment for their preaching in the streets and parks. An Alliance Defense Fund release reports on the filing.

Swiss Politicians Want To Ban Building of Minarets

In Switzerland, right-wing Swiss National Party and Federal Democratic Union party members are gathering signatures to call for a national vote to ban the construction of minarets in the country. They say minarets are a symbol of power and threaten law and order. (Minarets are towers attached to mosques from which the Islamic call for prayer traditionally is broadcast.) Swiss President and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey says the proposal threatens religious liberty that is guaranteed in the country and would endanger Swiss security. Today's Australia Daily Telegraph reports on the move.

Kuwaiti Education Minister Refuses To Wear Veil In Parliament

Kuwait's Education Minister Nouriya Al-Subeeh has created a controversy by refusing to wear a veil in Parliament. Asia News yesterday reported that Islamist MPs claim that the 2005 Election Law that gives women political rights, but mandates that they respect Islamic law, means that the veil is required. But others say that, except in a mosque, wearing a veil is a personal choice. A number of academics support Al-Subeeh and say her choice should be respected.

Moral Majority Founder Jerry Falwell Dies

Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, died today at age 73. The New York Times, eulogizing him, said:

Mr. Falwell went from being a Baptist preacher in Lynchburg to carving out a powerful role in national electoral politics. He was at home in both the millennial world of fundamentalist Christianity and the earthly blood sport of the political arena. As much as anyone, he helped create the religious right as a political force, defined the issues that would energize it for decades and cemented its ties to the Republican Party.

UPDATE: On Tuesday afternoon, the White House issued a statement saying that the President and Mrs. Bush are saddened by Falwell's death. It continues: "One of his lasting contributions was the establishment of Liberty University, where he taught young people to remain true to their convictions and rely upon God's word throughout each stage of their lives."

Discussion of God In the Presidential Election From Larry King Live

On CNN yesterday, Larry King Live featured a discussion with five leading figures on "What's God Got To Do With Electing America's Next President". Featured on the show were Reverend Albert Mohler, Jr. president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; David Kuo, the Washington editor of Beliefnet.com; Reverend Jim Wallis, editor-in-chief of "Sojourners" magazine; Reverend Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State; and David Gergen, who served as White House adviser to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. The full transcript of the show and five minutes of video clips from it are available online. [Thanks to Michael Lieberman for the lead.]