RLDS Church Wins Preliminary Injunction Protecting Its Trademarked Name

In Community of Christ Copyright Corp. v. Miller, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90531 (WD MO, Dec. 7, 2007), a Missouri federal district court granted a preliminary injunction barring a Raytown, Missouri church from using the federally registered trademarks "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and "RLDS". Defendant church is one of the breakaway "Restoration Branches" of the RLDS church. The court rejected defendant's claim that the marks are generic and also rejected its fair use defense. The court ordered defendant to change its signage and to cancel ads using the protected trademarks. [Thanks to Brian D. Wassom for the lead.]

Green Bay's Holiday Display Attempts Create Problems

Things seem to have gotten a bit out of hand with holiday displays in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As previously reported (1, 2), City Council President Chad Fradette put up a nativity scene, and city council invited other religions to place their own displays up as well. Quickly a Wiccan pentacle joined the creche. Today's Green Bay Press Gazette reports that overnight, someone stole and damaged the Wiccan display. Meanwhile, yesterday Mayor Jim Schmitt announced a moratorium on new displays until City Council has a chance tonight to consider proposed guidelines. That angered two people who had brought displays-- a Unitarian Universalist who wanted to put up a peace sign and another individual who wanted to display a decorated cross wrapped in American flag cloth to symbolize the improper merging of church and state. Other proposed displays included ones for Festivus and a "Flying Spaghetti Monster" display. The mayor's proposed guidelines limit the size of displays, provide they cannot contain written words, lights or electronic devices, and require the symbol to be one of a religious holiday celebrated between Dec. 8 and 31.

UPDATE: On Tuesday evening, Green Bay City Council voted to leave Fradette's nativity display up until Dec. 26, to impose a moratorium for now on any other religious displays, and to eventually draw up a set of guidelines for future displays. The Council vote was 6-6 with Mayor Schmitt breaking the tie. Schmitt on Wednesday ordered city maintenance workers to move a Christmas tree and wire reindeer next to the nativity display to secularize the display. He said Liberty Counsel advised him that his Santa Claus-and-reindeer display on City Hall's other main entrance was already sufficient to do that. Meanwhile the Freedom from Religion Foundation is talking with possible plaintiffs in order to file a lawsuit. (Green Bay Gazette, Dec. 20).

Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim Sentenced For Meeting With Man

Today's New York Times reports that Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has pardoned a rape victim who, in a high profile case, was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail for meeting her boyfriend in a car, unaccompanied by a male relative. The woman was partially dressed in the car when she was attacked by seven men who raped her. Her sentence, imposed under Islamic law administered by Saudi courts, had been widely criticized. (See prior posting.) The woman, who has now married, was not jailed while she appealed her conviction. There have been reports that the woman's brother tried to kill her to vindicate the family's honor. Saudi Minister of Social Affairs, Abdul Mohsin al-Akkas, said that if the woman needs housing to protect her after her pardon, the government will offer it to her.

CLS At University of Montana Sues Over School's Refusal To Grant Recognition

The Christian Legal Society chapter at the University of Montana law school has filed suit in federal district court challenging the Student Bar Association's refusal to recognize the organization and provide it with funds for its activities. The complaint (full text) in Christian Legal Society v. Eck, (D MT, Dec. 14, 2007), alleges that the SBA Executive Board originally recognized the CLS group, but revoked that recognition after a student body vote rejected an SBA budget that included funding for CLS. The law school's dean upheld the SBA decision. In derecognizing the CLS chapter, the SBA Executive Board said that the Chapter's requirement that voting members and officers agree with its Statement of Faith, including sexual abstinence outside of heterosexual marriage, violates the SBA's non-discrimination rule. The suit alleges that CLS's First Amendment rights of expressive association, free speech and free exercise of religion have been infringed. Alliance Defense Fund issued a release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.

As UN Votes On Death Penalty, Islamic Countries Seen As Block To Abolition

Earth Times reports that today the United Nations General Assembly will vote on a resolution (full text) calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. The resolution also calls on nations that still maintain the death penalty to respect international standards protecting the rights of defendants in capital cases. In Rome, AKI interviewed former French justice minister Robert Badinter, author of a new book, Against the Death Penalty. Badinter told AKI that the major obstacles to abolishing the death penalty world-wide are regimes run by Islamic fundamentalists. He says that reform within Islam is a prerequisite to success: "If for example, the Moroccan sovereign, who is said to be a direct descendant of the [Islamic] prophet, and who shares the roles of head of state and religious leader, decides to abolish the death penalty, then we find ourselves with an instrument in our hand which can be used to start a dialogue with other Islamic countries."

10th Circuit Hears Arguments In Eagle Feather Protection Challenge

Yesterday the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument in United States v. Friday, a criminal prosecution of a member of the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribe for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA). The district court below dismissed charges against Winslow Friday, finding that the government's implementation of the BGEPA violated his free exercise rights. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's Casper (WY) Star-Tribune reported that in the appellate court, the government argued that Friday lacked standing to challenge the BGPEA's permit process because he never applied for a permit. Federal public defender John T. Carlson, representing defendant, argued that the Fish and Wildlife Service hid the existence of the permit process. Attacking the BGEPA, he said: "No other religion has a permit system denying it access to its sacred objects."

Report Claims Kenya Presidential Candidate Promises To Institute Shariah

In a report published yesterday, International Christian Concern claims that in Kenya, leading presidential candidate Raila Odinga has promised Muslims that if he is elected, he will bring Sharia law to Muslim parts of the country. The report says that a secret Memorandum of Understanding between Odinga and Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi, chairman of the National Leaders Forum, provides that if he is elected, Odinga will "within 6 months, re-write the Constitution of Kenya to recognize Shariah as the only true law sanctioned by the Holy Quran for Muslim declared regions." This provision is not in a public version of the Memorandum of Understanding that was released last month.

White House Holiday Card Sparks Differing Comments

The White House has mailed out its 2007 Holiday Card, designed by Hallmark (release). The blogosphere is filled with competing characterizations of it. The Huffington Post on Thursday reproduced the card and quoted Barbara Walters who said the card was the most religious one in recent memory. On the other hand, Wall of Separation on Friday pointed out that, as in past years, the card does not contain the word "Christmas" nor does it contain religious Christian symbolism. The painting on the card of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House does show a lighted Christmas tree inside the White House. The card features a verse from the Prophet Nehemiah, and adds "May the joy of all creation fill your heart this blessed season 2007." The White House website features reproductions of White House holiday cards sent out by a dozen past presidents.

Pakistan's Ahmadis Will Boycott Election Claiming Discrimination

In Pakistan, the Ahmadi community says it will boycott the upcoming elections because of discriminatory action taken by the country's Election Commission. According to yesterday's Daily Times , the Commission has issued a separate list of Ahmadi voters. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims. However, other Muslims do not, and Pakistan's Constitution defines them as non-Muslims. (Background from USCIRF and Wikipedia.) The Ahmadis see the Election Commission's move as an attempt to force them to acknowledge that they are not Muslims. (Release from Ahmadiyya Movement.) Friday's Daily Times has background on the Pakistan's move to a single electoral roll for all religious groups except the Ahmadis.

Hajj Begins; Freedom To Attend Measured In Several Countries

AFP reports that in Saudi Arabia nearly 2 million pilgrims began the Hajj today. The press is assessing religious freedom in several countries by examining the extent to which Muslims were allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia to participate. Today's New York Times reports that Russia (reversing restrictive Soviet policies) has permitted 26,000 pilgrims-- the full quota allotted to it by the Saudis-- to go. A government liaison office assists pilgrims with visas and transportation. The Russian press says that a number of government security service personnel are among the pilgrims to keep an eye on them. Russian government officials deny the report. The London Telegraph reports that Israel is allowing over 900 Palestinians to leave the Gaza strip to go on hajj. It also says that China has allowed 10,700 of its Muslim citizens to attend. However, in Turkmenistan, according to Forum 18, the government has permitted only 188 Muslims to go on Hajj, even though Saudi Arabia allotted the country around 5000 places. (See prior related posting.)

Florida Seeks Alternative Route To Get Voucher Amendments [Corrected]

After Florida's Supreme Court struck down the state's school voucher program in 2006, then-Governor Jeb Bush pressed to get a state constitutional amendment that would clearly allow vouchers that could be used by parents who send their children to religious schools. However the state Senate rejected Bush's proposal. (NSBA release, May 2006). Today's Palm Beach Post reports that now supporters are trying another route. The state's Tax and Budget Reform Commission, a body empaneled every 20 years, can propose state constitutional amendments to the voters. Commission member Patricia Levesque (executive director of Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future) is urging the Commission to propose two constitutional amendments-- one that would allow state funds to go to religious institutions and a second that would provide a parallel system of aid for private schools outside the public school system. (See prior related posting.)

German State Official Wants To Ban Burkas In Schools

Roland Koch, prime minister of the German state of Hesse, said in an interview on Sunday that he wants to ban female Muslim students from wearing burkas in schools. M&C reported yesterday, however, that Koch has no plans to ban students from wearing Muslim head scarves. Critics say that Koch is using religion to garner votes in next months election. They say they know of no school students in Hesse who wear burkas.

Recent Articles and Book of Interest

From SSRN:

• Larry Cata Backer, God(s) Over Constitutions: International Law, Religious Law and Transnational Constitutionalism in the 21st Century, (Mississippi Law Review, Vol. 26, 2007).

From SmartCILP:

• Monte Kuligowski, Does the Declaration of Independence Pass the Lemon Test?, 2 Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy 287-338 (2007).

Recent Book:

• Eve LaPlante, Salem Witch Judge-- The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall, (Harper Collins, Oct. 2, 2007), reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

ID Requirement Interfering With Clergy's Attempt To Encourage Marriage

Alabama's Child Support Reform Act, Code Ala. Sec. 30-3-194(c), requires marriage licenses to contain the Social Security numbers of both husband and wife. Today's Tuscaloosa News reports that most Alabama counties do not enforce the requirement, but Tuscaloosa County is one of the few that does. Now Catholic clergy in Tuscaloosa say that the requirement is interfering with their efforts to encourage couples to marry. Immigrants in the U.S. illegally, or those here legally but without a green card permitting them to work, are unable to obtain Social Security cards. Clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham have taken an interest in challenging the Alabama law. They say that couples who are sexually active but not married are barred from receiving Holy Communion. This, they argue, means that the government is controlling whether a couple can receive religious sacraments.

The Alabama statute, like that in other states, was enacted in order to comply with a provision of the federal child support enforcement statutes (42 USC Sec. 666(a)(13)). Last May in Buck v. Stankovic, (MD PA, May 1, 2007), a Pennsylvania federal district court issued a preliminary injunction barring Pennsylvania authorities from insisting that an individual prove his or her lawful presence in the United States as a condition of obtaining a marriage license.

Haj Begins Tomorrow-- Preparations Under Way

In Saudi Arabia, the Haj begins tomorrow. Yesterday's Arab News reports that King Abdullah arrived in Jeddah to supervise preparations for handling the expected 2.5 million pilgrims, which will include Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Violence Against Christians In India Decried

Friday's Christian Post reports that there have been 500 incidents of violence against Christians in India in the past 23 months. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) says that the violence is encouraged by Hindu groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers' Organization) and the Bharatiya Janata (Indian People's) Party. GCIC says that accusations of forced conversionary activity are often used by Hindutva forces as the excuse for attacking Christians.

Muslim Women Maintain Dress Code In High School and College Sports

The Associated Press today reports on the growing number of Muslim high school and college women who are participating in school athletic programs, while continuing to observe religious dress codes. An increasing number wear a hijab (head scarf) and long pants while playing basketball or participating in track and field. The National Federation of State High School Associations permits players to wear a head covering for religious reasons if it poses no danger to others and is not likely to come off during play. It also allows pants in place of shorts or skirts.

Recent Prisoner Religious Exercise Cases

In Adamson v. McDonough, (11th Cir., Dec. 12, 2007), the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a Florida district court's dismissal of a prisoner's First Amendment free exercise challenge to a rule against using correspondence privileges to advertise for pen pals. Plaintiff, a Southern Baptist, claimed that prison officials refused to mail 13 letters he wrote to Baptist churches and ministers to request "prayer partners and religious pen pals." The state failed to offer any explanation of the purpose of the challenged rule.

In Harris v. Moore, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91687 (ED MO, Dec. 13, 2007), a Missouri federal district court rejected Free Exercise and RLUIPA claims by a prisoner who is a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Church and is a minister ordained by the Universal Life Ministries Church. Plaintiff complained that he was limited to attending one religious service per week and was prohibited from receiving mail containing more than five pages of religious material.

In Robertson v. Kansas, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91266 (D KA, Dec. 10, 2007), a Kansas federal district court rejected a prisoner's First Amendment and RLUIPA claims that the refusal to permit him to have conjugal visits violated his religious belief in procreation.

In Trahan v. Carey, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89973 (ED CA, Nov. 27. 2007), a California federal magistrate judge dismissed an inmate's claim that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was punished for refusing to recite the "Center Point Creed" in a substance abuse program. The court found that the Creed is secular. Plaintiff was given an opportunity to file an amended complaint alleging that religious books were used in the program.

Christmas Tree Debated At Connecticut Senior Center

Manchester, Connecticut's unwritten policy of not placing Christmas trees in municipal buildings does not apply to the town's Senior Center, according to Town Manager Scott Shanley. According to yesterday's Journal Inquirer, this means that the Senior Center's advisory committee will decide on Wednesday whether or not to reverse the decision by Senior Center Director Eileen Faust not to put up a tree this year because it might offend members of non-Christian faiths.

Rivalry Between Two Menorahs On Public Property

In Brooklyn, New York, apparently no one has complained much about Chabad placing Hanukkah menorahs on public property. A release issued yesterday by Chabad outlines the good-natured rivalry between Chabad of Brooklyn Heights and Chabad of Park Slope over which group's menorah is the "biggest" or "tallest". One of the contending menorahs is in front of Brooklyn's downtown courthouse, while the other is at Grand Army Plaza at the entrance to Prospect Park.