Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
NM Football Coach Loses Summary Judgment Motion In Discrimination Case
In Ali v. Mumme II, (D NM, June 5, 2007), the court found that issues of fact remain in the free exercise and equal protection claims by players Mu'ammar Ali, Anthony Thompson and Vincent Thompson. They claim that they were discharged from the football team because of their Muslim faith, and that Mumme had engaged in actions having a coercive effect on their religious beliefs. Today's Las Cruces Sun-News reports on the decisions. (See prior related posting.)
German Court Upholds Ban On Muslim Teachers' Wearing Headscarves
Religion An Important Part of Yesterday's Republican Candidate Debates
The debate also gave several of the candidates an opportunity to explain their views on the evolution vs. creationism debate, and gave candidate Mitt Romney a chance to respond to those who are concerned about his Mormon religious beliefs. In response to a question from Wolf Blitzer, Romney said:
Meanwhile the website Media Matters accused CNN of incorrectly reporting that Democratic candidates had not talked about their faith and values until very recently. The website says that at least some of the Democratic candidates have talked about their faith and values for years.President Kennedy some time ago said he was not a Catholic running for president, he was an American running for president. And I'm happy to be a proud member of my faith.
You know, I think it's a fair question for people to ask, what do you believe? And I think if you want to understand what I believe, you could recognize that the values that I have are the same values you'll find in faiths across this country.
I believe in God, believe in the Bible, believe Jesus Christ is my savior. I believe that God created man in his image. I believe that the freedoms of man derive from inalienable rights that were given to us by God.
And I also believe that there are some pundits out there that are hoping that I'll distance myself from my church so that that'll help me politically. And that's not going to happen.
Opinion In Lethal Injection Autopsy Case Now Available
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Parents In Ontario To Sue Over Support For Disabled In Private Religious Schools
NY County Human Rights Commission Gets Expanded Powers
Virginia School District Encourages Intelligent Design In Classes
In response to proponents of intelligent design, Chesterfield School Board Chair Thomas J. Doland read a statement that he asked to be included along with the Memorandum regarding textbook adoptions. The statement in part says:
The School Board is cognizant that technology now allows easy access to an almost infinite number of resources facilitating learning. To suggest that we should limit our students' access to specifically approved textbooks and instructional materials would not only inhibit self-directed learning but would also ill-prepare our young people for the challenges that will face them in the competitive global market of the 21st century.
We have received much interest and concern from our citizens relating to the theory of evolution as taught in our science classes. It is the School Board's belief that this topic, along with all other topics that raise differences of thought and opinion, should receive the thorough and unrestricted study as we have just articulated. Accordingly, we direct our superintendent to charge those of our professionals who support curriculum development and implementation with the responsibility to investigate and develop processes that encompass a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of these topics.
Muslim Brotherhood On Politics and Religion
GP: What about the points he brings up in the book and in his comments about the MB?
Habib: Those ideas are talked about now among intellectuals in Egypt, which call for the separation of politics and religion. This came from ignorance of the nature of Islam. Islam is a whole system. It is a complete system that consists of politics, literature, economics, etc.... Therefore, you have to accept it as a whole. There is no such thing as political work separated from religion or else we become like those who are different.
South Dakota National Guard Short On Chaplains
Court Upholds Ban On Parent's Bible Reading To Kindergarteners
CNN Broadcast Features Discussion of Religion and Politics With Candidates
UPDATE: After the Sojourners broadcast, CNN's Paula Zahn interviewed candidates Christopher Dodd, Joseph Biden, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich on faith and politics. Here is the full transcript. [Thanks to Melissa Rogers for the lead.]
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Fisher v. Virginia Department of Corrections, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38487 (WD VA, May 25, 2007), a federal Magistrate Judge recommended denial of defendants' motion for summary judgment in an inmate's claims that his rights under the First and 14th Amendment and under RLUIPA were violated when he was refused permission to possess a "Thor's Hammer" pendant, which was central to his practice of Asatru. He alleged that inmates of other religions were permitted to possess religious medallions. (See prior related posting.)
In Blount v. Johnson, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39146 (WD VA, May 30, 2007), a Virginia federal district court found that an inmate who was a follower of the House of Yahweh religion should have been allowed access to the Common Fare diet several months earlier than he actually was, because of his sincere religious belief that he should eat only kosher food. However, the only relief granted by the court for the First Amendment and RLUIPA violations was nominal damages, with defendant paying court costs.
In Marshall v. Frank, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38839 (WD WI, May 24, 2007), a Wisconsin federal district court permitted an inmate to move ahead with his claim that his rights under the First Amendment and RLUIPA were violated when prison authorities prevented him from possessing religious materials other than the Bible while housed in the prison's segregation unit.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Civil Rights Commission Focuses on Blaine Amendments and School Choice
Opposing school vouchers and supporting policies behind Blaine Amendments were Ellen Johnson, president of the American Atheists and Hollyn Hollman, general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Hollman said that Blaine Amendments protect religious institutions from government interference.
Constitution Drafters In Thailand Reject Call For Official Religion
Kiev Mayor Trying To End Distribution of Antisemitic Literature
Kentucky Legislators Still Want Return of 10 Commandments To Capitol
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Column Complains About Religious Actions By Malta's Leaders
AU Complains To IRS About Religious Group's Online Opposition To Romney
UPDATE: On Thursday, the AP reported that Keller rejected AU's charges, saying: ""I have never told anybody who to vote for or who not to vote for - ever. I have every right to speak on matters of life and culture, including political issues, and to educate people on the spiritual implications of those issues."
Iowa Ends State Funding For Faith-Based Prison Program
Recent Articles Of Interest
Yossi Nehushtan, Conscientious Exemptions: How They Should Be Granted and By Whom, (April 2007).
Michael A. Helfand, When Religious Practices Become Legal Obligations: Extending the Foreign Compulsion Defense, (Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 23, 2008).
From SmartCILP:
Book review colloquy on Religious Freedom and the Constitution, by Christopher L. Eisgruber and Lawrence G. Sager. Articles by Thomas C. Berg, Kent Greenawalt, Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle; response by Christopher L. Eisgruber and Lawrence G. Sager, 85 Texas Law Review 1185-1287 (2007).