Malaysia: Muslim to Hindu Conversion Blocked by Islamic Court; Woman Detained

According to AP and Reuters, a Malay woman was released on July 6 from a 180-day detention in a "religious counselling center." Massosai Revathi had been detained by the Malacca Islamic Religion Council because she sought to convert from Islam to Hindu after marrying a Hindu man. In Malaysia, Islamic courts determine whether a Muslim may convert out of Islam and these courts routinely do not allow such conversion. Without permission, a person cannot marry a non-Muslim or emigrate.

Revathi claims she was subject to "intimidation and mental torture" while in the center. She claims she was placed in solitary confinement, forced to wear a headscarf, pray as a Muslim, and was served beef (which Hindus may not eat). AP reports that Islamic officials also seized the couple's 18-month-old daughter in March and placed her in Revathi's Muslim mother's care. According to the BBC, a lawyer representing the Malacca Islamic Religion Council rejected her allegations and said officials believe that she can still be persuaded to embrace Islam.

In a widely publicized case, in May a woman, Lina Joy, lost a battle in Malaysia's highest court to have the word "Islam" removed from her identity card. She had sought to convert from Islam to Christianity.

Previous posts relating to Lina Joy and Malaysia's treatment of converts can be found here.

Members of Congress Call on Bishops to Work to End War in Iraq

Earlier this week, fourteen Democratic Members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last Thursday, calling on the Bishops to increase their involvement in efforts to end the war in Iraq. A press release and a copy of the letter can be found here.

Guest editor's note: I couldn't find a Republican (or other) response or critique of the letter to the USCCB. If any reader knows of one, please post a link in the comments section.

American Baptist Churches and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Hold Historic Worship Service

The Washington Post carried a story today about an historic joint worship service held by American Baptist Churches USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. American Baptist Chruches Secretary Roy Medley said "[t]his is, in and of itself, an awesome God moment . . . American Baptists, Cooperative Baptists, Progressive Baptists coming together. . . . It gladdens our hearts." The Washington Post also carried this story about the American Baptist Churches' multicultural membership.

The American Baptist Churches' also presented its first Religious Freedom Award to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.



Lead from Blog From the Capital.

ADF Sues City of Zachary, LA Over Prohibited Preaching

The Alliance Defense Fund said in a press release that it has filed a lawsuit and a motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of a man whom a policeman prohibited from sharing a religious message on a public street outside of a bar in the city of Zachary, Louisiana. The officer cited a city ordinance prohibiting speech that is “annoying” or “offensive” to another person. The case is Netherland v. City of Zachary, No. 3:2007-cv-00409.

According to ADF, on the evening of Nov. 18, John Todd Netherland stood outside on public property to speak about his Christian faith about 75-100 feet from the entrance of a local bar. Even though he was allegedly standing on public property, a police officer told Netherland he could not preach there and instructed him to move closer to the street. The officer then allegedly warned Netherland that if he stepped back to the place he’d been standing, he’d be arrested and sent to jail. Despite agreeing to comply, the Plaintiff claims that the officer told him that if he continued to preach, even in the new location, he would arrest him for “disturbing the peace.” Netherland claims that he then ceased speaking because of the threat of arrest.

New Faith-Based Initiative in Granite State

The Nashua Telegraph (NH) reports that "New Hampshire – long known for a libertarian streak that eschews government overreach – has become the 33rd state to officially connect state and church for the purpose of helping those in need." The paper says that the effort will follow the model of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Additionally, according to the AP, "State officials and representatives of various churches or church organizations signed an agreement [July 2] formalizing faith-based cooperation."

Developments in Odessa, TX Bible Case

On Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reported some developments in the Odessa, Texas Bible-in-curriculum case, Moreno v. Ector County Independent School District. (See previous post here.) Defendants filed a Fed. R. Civ. P. 68 offer of judgment to plaintiffs, asking them to settle the suit for $500. A Rule 68 offer can change the financial stakes of the litigation: "[i]f the judgment finally obtained by the offeree is not more favorable than the offer, the offeree must pay the costs incurred after the making of the offer." At the same time, the Defendants also filed a motion for referral to mediation. Notably, Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for the Liberty Legal Institute, is one of the attorneys representing the defendants.

Times (UK) Attacks Regent University Law School/Justice Department Relationship

The TimesOnline (UK) has published an essay that is highly critical the Justice Department's hiring of Regent University School of Law graduates. The essayist believes that the hiring of 150 graduates of this faith-based law school raises questions about the influence of faith on the American political process. Another, less critical article on the relationship between the Justice Department and Regent was published in April by Slate. Religion Clause reported on another article, here.

Defendant's Religious Beliefs Fair Game in Employment Case

The New York Daily News reports that the New York Supreme Court (a trial court) has determined that an employer can be required to answer interrogatories about his religious beliefs when those beliefs are "relied upon to form a basis of discrimination against a person who is a member of a protected class." The opinion can be found here.

Defendant argued that his individual associational privacy rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments and his individual beliefs and freedom of exercise of religion under the religion clauses of the US and NY Constitutions are absolute, and that no compelling state interest exists so as to compel him to divulge those beliefs. Disagreeing, the judge concluded:

It is the duty of every Court to guard jealously the great right and privilege of free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference, with all the power that the Court possesses, but no person should be permitted to use that right as a cloak for acts of discrimination or as a justification of practices inconsistent with the protections against invidious discrimination proscribed in New York State law.

Without ruling whether any answer given would be admissible at trial, the judge has required the defendant to answer the following questions:

“State whether defendant [] believes that ‘homosexuality is a sin against God.'"
“State whether defendant [] believes that ‘gays and lesbians are doomed to eternal damnation."
“State whether defendant [] regards homosexuals as ‘repulsive.'”

The case is Fairchild v. Riva Jewelry Mfg., Inc., No. 101169/2006, 2007 NY Slip Op 31857 (June 28, 2007).

Leonard Link also has an analysis of this case.

Elections at U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has announced that it elected Michael Cromartie to serve as its chairman for a one-year term, starting July 1. Michael Cromartie is Vice President at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and he directs both the Evangelicals in Civic Life and Religion & the Media programs.

The Reverend Richard Land, who heads the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and Preeta Bansal , a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, were elected to serve as vice-chairs.

According to the Commission, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

Student Dress Code Falls in Napa

The Nappa Valley Register reports that the ACLU has won a preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of a dress code at a Nappa Valley middle school. The policy (which is attached to the judge's order) permits students to wear only solid-color clothes in certain specified colors, with no pictures, logos, words, or patterns of any kind. The case is Scott et al v Napa Valley Unified School District, et al., Case No. 26-37082 (July 3, 2007).

The suit was brought by six students who were punished for violating the attire policy, including one who wore a t-shirt that said "Jesus Freak," another who wore a D.A.R.E. pin, and a third who wore a breast cancer awareness ribbon. The district also punished a student wearing a pair of socks bearing the image of the Winnie the Pooh character Tigger. The district defended the policy, saying that it furthers the important governmental interests of providing a safe school environment and of preventing gang activity on campus.

This case is an early post-Morse v. Frederick (551 U.S. __ (June 25, 2007)) decision. In its reaching his decision, Napa Superior Court Judge Raymond Guadagni cited Morse as upholding the well-settled principle from Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist that student expression is protected as long as it does not “materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school.” 393 U.S. 503, 513 (1969).

Maryland State Bd. of Ed. Approves Sex-Ed Curriculum Over Religious Objections

According to the Washington Post, here, the Maryland State Board of Education has ruled in favor of a sex-education curriculum adopted last month for use in Montgomery, Maryland middle and high schools. Because of the curriculum's views relating to homosexuality, opponents to it had claimed Free Exercise and Establishment Clause violations. They also claimed that the curriculum violated student free-speech rights by expressing a favorable view of homosexuality and that it restricts religious expression by suppressing the view that homosexuality is a sin. Notably, use of an earlier version of the curriculum (which the Post reports has since been wholly re-written) was stopped by a federal court's preliminary injunction. In that granting injunction, the judge ruled that the earlier version had criticized religious perspectives on homosexuality and thus raised Establishment Clause issues.

In the June 27 ruling, the State Board of Education's opinion, found here, dismissed the opponents' claims, concluding that the Free Exercise challenge does not succeed because "a curriculum need not espouse every viewpoint to pass constitutional muster" and that the curriculum in question does not "preclude the Appellants from espousing their religious beliefs..." The Board rejected the opponents' Establishment Clause claims, saying the the curriculum has a secular purpose, which is fostering tolerance and diversity. In rejecting the Free Speech claim, the Board concluded that the Constitution does not require the district to be viewpoint neutral or include all points of view.

The Post says that the opposition group has not yet determined whether it will seek relief in federal court.

Gordon Brown Gives Up Right to Appoint Senior Ecclesiastical Positions

Today's Times (UK) reports here that new UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given up his right to appoint key ecclesiastical officials. In a constitutional Green Paper (found here), the Government has said that the Prime Minister should no longer use the royal prerogative “to exercise choice in recommending appointments of senior ecclesiastical posts, including diocesan bishops, to the Queen." In the absence of the Archbishop of Cantenbury (who is on a "study leave"), the Archbishop of York welcomed the decision.

Guest Blogger Steve Sheinberg To Host Religion Clause For The Next Week

For approximately the next week, Religion Clause will be edited by guest blogger Steven Sheinberg, instead of by me. Steve Sheinberg is Associate Director, Legal Affairs at the Anti-Defamation League (http://www.adl.org/). Steve works on the full range of ADL's religious freedom advocacy. Please join me in welcoming Steve. --- HMF

2nd Circuit Vacates Injunction Permitting Renting Of School Buildings For Church Services

In a fragmented decision in Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education of the City of New York, a 3-judge panel of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a district judge's permanent injunction barring enforcement of a school policy on rental of space in public school buildings to outside groups on evenings and weekends. (See prior posting.) The New York City schools, concerned about having schools identified with any particular religious group, had prohibited rental of school space to religious groups for worship services. In 2002, the 2nd Circuit had affirmed a preliminary injunction invalidating that policy. (See prior posting.) But now, on appeal of the grant of a permanent injunction in the case, a different 3-judge panel of the court reached a different result. Here is how the court described its fragmented holding:

Judge Calabresi would hold that this dispute is ripe for adjudication and would vacate the injunction because he concludes that Revised SOP §5.11, while a restriction on the content of speech permitted on school property, is viewpoint-neutral. Judge Walker agrees that the dispute is ripe for adjudication but would affirm the injunction because he concludes that Revised SOP § 5.11 is viewpoint-discriminatory. Judge Leval expresses no opinion on the merits, but votes to vacate the injunction because he concludes that the dispute is not ripe for adjudication.
Our disparate views of this case leave us without a rationale to which a majority of the court agrees. While two judges who disagree on the merits believe the dispute is ripe for adjudication, the court cannot decide the merits of the case without the vote of the third judge, who disagrees as to ripeness. Judge Leval agrees that the dispute over Revised SOP §5.11 would indisputably become ripe if the City were to deny Bronx Household permission to use school facilities in reliance on the terms of that rule.
... The City is free to adopt Revised SOP § 5.11 (if it has not already done so), and then require that Bronx Household apply to use school buildings pursuant to that rule. In the event Bronx Household does so, and the City denies the application, Bronx Household may seek review of that denial in the district court on an expedited basis.

Today's New York Sun reports on the case. [Thanks to How Appealing for the lead.]

Itinerant Preacher Loses Bid To Preach On Murray State Campus

In Gilles v. Miller, (WD KY, June 27, 2007), a Kentucky federal district court ruled against traveling evangelist James G. Gilles who was challenging the policy of Murray State University that required him to have sponsorship from a University organization or department in order to proselytize on campus. The court held that the University's policy did not violate Gilles' speech rights because it is a viewpoint-neutral and reasonable policy applicable to a designated public forum. The court also rejected vagueness and equal protection challenges to the policy. Yesterday's Louisville Courier-Journal reported on the decision.

Australia May Pay Racecourse To Host Mass By Pope

In Sydney, Australia, Pope Benedict XVI will conduct a Mass on World Youth Day, July 20, that is expected to draw up to 600,000 worshippers. Today's Herald Sun reports that some question has been raised about proposals to compensate the Australian Jockey Club for up to $50 million in losses that it would suffer if its Randwick racecourse is used for the Mass instead of for racing events. Part of the payment would come from taxpayer funds.

Egyptian High Court Will Review Converts' Right To Change ID Card Designation

Yesterday's International Herald Tribune reports that Egypt's Supreme Administrative court has accepted jurisdiction in an appeal by 45 Coptic Christians who converted to Islam (some as children) and now want to return to Christianity. A lower administrative court ruled against the request to change their national identity card designations back to indicate that they are Christians. Sharia law treats conversion out of Islam as apostasy. However, Egypt generally permits Copts to convert into Islam-- and many do in order to obtain a divorce that is not available from Coptic authorities.

Fargo Reverses Decision-- Will Keep 10 Commandments On City Mall

Reversing an earlier decision, the Fargo, North Dakota City Council yesterday agreed that a 10 Commandments monument would remain on City Hall mall. Today's Fargo Forum reports that Commissioner Tim Mahoney reversed his earlier vote in favor of moving the monument. This all happened as members accepted a petition with over 5,000 signatures seeking to place an initiated ordinance on the ballot that would prohibit the city from moving any monument or marker that has been on city property for over 40 years. Council then received and filed a request by the Red River Free Thinkers who want to erect a companion monument that would contain a quote saying that America is not founded on the Christian religion. That proposal had previously been rejected, but one member of council said she voted against it only because she thought that the 10 Commandments would be moved off the mall. (See prior related posting.)

Tajikistan's Religion Law Draft Raises Concerns

According to a report yesterday by Forum 18, religious minorities in Tajikistan are deeply concerned about the latest draft of a proposed Religion Law. They say that the law will limit the number of mosques, and will make it nearly impossible for non-Muslim religious communities to obtain legal recognition. Recently a letter objecting to the high threshold numbers for recognition, signed by representatives of 22 religious minorities, was sent to the President and Parliament

"Day of Truth" Lawsuit Settled As School Enacts New Speech Policy

Yesterday, the Alliance Defense fund announced the settlement of a suit it had filed against a New Jersey High School in order to assure that the head of the school's Christian Club could hand out fliers and cards, and have an ad about the Day of Truth read over the school's loudspeaker. The event is a Christian response to "Days of Silence", an event designed to combat harassment of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. (See prior posting.) The Notice of Voluntary Dismissal in Aufiero v. Northern Highlands Regional High School Board of Education was filed after the school permitted the Day of Truth activities to proceed and also enacted a new student speech policy protecting student rights to speak on issues of current interest.