Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
China Asserts More Control Over Tibet's Buddhists
Court OK's Michigan Agency's Deletion of Bible Verses From Advocates' Profiles
Kentucky Churches Press Courts For Tough Drug Sentences
Friday, August 03, 2007
DoD Inspector General Finds Fault In Military Support of Christian Embassy
[Thanks to Michael Lieberman for the information. ]The seven officers participated in interviews with Christian Embassy, excerpts of which were also included in the promotional video. The officers were filmed during the duty day, in uniform with rank clearly displayed, in official and often identifiable Pentagon locations. Their remarks conferred approval of and support to Christian Embassy, and the remarks of some officers implied they spoke for a group of senior military leaders rather than just for themselves. None of the officers sought or received approval to participate in the interview in an official capacity or in uniform....
Chaplain Benson requested and obtained limited approval for Christian Embassy to film in the Pentagon by mischaracterizing the purpose and proponent of the video. His request implied that the video was being produced to document the Pentagon chaplain's ministry rather than to promote a non-Federal entity....
UPDATE: Saturday's Washington Post covers the Inspector General's report. Truthout.org also has the story and the video.
Plans For Jewish Charter School Continues To Generate Debate
Sigel said, "I didn't get hired for this job because I'm a rabbi. Plenty of Orthodox Jews work as stock brokers and lawyers without converting people. If you're a math teacher, you focus on the math. It's not my job to chase people and make them Jewish." Meanwhile Reform Rabbi Allan Tuffs, a critic of the school and a strong supporter of church-state separation, says that the school is being marketed through Chabad Lubavitch congregations as providing the equivalent of a Jewish day school education.
3rd Circuit Defines "Substantial Burden" Under RLUIPA
Inmate Henry Washington's religion requires him to read four Afro-centric books each day. The court found that prison authorities substantially burdened Washington's religious exercise by limiting him to having 10 books at any time in his cell. Further, the state failed to show how its policy furthers its interest in safety and health of prisoners and staff.
Alabama School Sued On Behalf of Good News Clubs
Distant Heir To British Throne Will Be Disqualified After Marrying Catholic
Florida County Changes Rules On Distributing Literature In Parks
UPDATE: On Aug. 28, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a settlement that includes payment of damages to Snyder in addition to its previous change in its park rules. Liberty Counsel says it will now drop the lawsuit.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Columnist Says Faith-Based Initiative Has Been Counter-Productive
[T]he [faith-based] campaign, ignored by Congress and challenged in court, has dropped off the White House talking points. After a brief mention in the 2006 State of the Union address, it was left out entirely this year.
The initiative did leave another legacy: It gave spirituality a bad name in social-service circles. Sad, since spiritual or religious beliefs and practices help millions of people recover from addiction, mental illness and criminality. Unlike other social services that provide a generic good, such as housing, rehab programs often invoke spirituality as the very means of recovery. But after six years of faith-based talk and funding by federal agencies, mental-health and addictions-treatment professionals are wary of spiritual interventions, which they associate with one religious brand: the conservative Christianity of Bush partisans. In reality, the spirituality of treatment and recovery ranges much more widely, from the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to meditation, group confession, or yoga.
Court Permits Pharmacist To Sue Employer For Religious Discrimination
The court also held that that Illinois Right of Conscience Act that prohibits discrimination "against any person in any manner . . . because of such person's conscientious refusal to . . . perform, assist, . . . or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience" applies to pharmacists.
Government Dismisses Its Appeal Of Order Allowing Religious Postings In Workplace
Indian Court Grants Bail To Nuns Charged With Forcible Conversion
Church's Suit Over Times Square Billboards Settled
Canadian Special Prosecutor Urges Court Test of Polygamy Laws
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Labor Department Seeks Comments On Discrimination Complaint Form
European Court Finds Russian Town Violated Church's Rights
Florida Court Upholds Use of Catholic Church As Polling Place
House Votes To Expand Limitations Period In Pay Discrimination Cases
Indian State Governor Refuses To Sign Religion Law Amendments
UPDATE: Faced with the Governor's rejection, Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the government would implement the 2003 Act that had been approved by the governor but never put into effect. (Times of India, Aug. 2.)