Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Russia Reasserts Control Over Orthodox Cathedral In France
British Airways Employee Loses Suit Over Rules On Jewelry
Does School's Santa Hat Ban Amount To Religious Discrimination?
British Magistrate Reprimanded Over Conduct Regarding Niqab
Officer Sues Coast Guard To Avoid Immunization With Vaccine From Fetus' Cells
Kentucky County Tries New 10 Commandments Display
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
9th Circuit Rejects Convoluted RFRA and Free Exercise Challenges To Deportation
The court held first that no religious belief precluded petitioners from adopting a child, so their religious views did not create their ineligibility to have their removal order cancelled. Second, the court said, petitioners did not show that they were pressured to violate their beliefs. It said: "No sensible person would abandon his religious precepts to have a child in the hope that the child would be so very ill or learning disabled as to come within the small number of children as to whom 'exceptional and extremely unusual hardship' can be shown." Yesterday's San Francisco Examiner reported on the decision.
Church's Gay Rights Stance Leads To Denial of Insurance Coverage
NPR Program Focuses On Diplomacy and Religion in the 21st Century
Article Surveys Islam In U.S. Courts Last Year
New Poll Expores Pakistanis Views on Islam
There is strong public support for giving Islam a wider role in Pakistan. A large majority feels it is very important to live in a country that is governed according to Islamic principles. A majority says it would like to see Shari’a or Islamic law play a larger role in their country than it does today.A World Public Opinion release summarizes the report and links to the detailed data, questionnaire and description of methodology.
At the same time, there is little support for a shift towards extreme religious conservatism. Instead there is significant support for some reforms in the opposite direction. Only a small minority—even among those who want a greater role for Shari’a—wants to see the "Talibanization" of daily life increase. About two-thirds support a recent government plan to reform the madrassahs, including strong support among those favoring Shari’a. A plurality supports the Women’s Protection Act, which modifies existing law in the direction of greater women’s rights.
Appeal Filed In "Be Happy, Not Gay" T-Shirt Case
Monday, January 07, 2008
Cert. Denied In Massachusetts Church Closing Case
Huckabee Preaches At New Hampshire Church Ahead of Primary
Israel Will Re-Establish Religious Affairs Ministry
Ohio Governor Interviewed On His Faith And Its Impact
[PD:] Has your faith changed over the years?
[Strickland:] My understanding of religious faith and of personal responsibility I think has matured. I used to feel like I had all of the answers.... I read the Bible and I pray and I listen to advice that I get from people of faith. But, no, I'm not as presumptuous as I used to be when it comes to thinking that I understand fully and completely the precise will of God....
I think there is a danger of having God conform to our image, rather than trying to conform to his. And I think that can lead to arrogance and self- righteousness and a sense of superiority that, from my point of view, is the antithesis of what true faith leads to.
Afghan Islamic Council Decries Christian Proselytizing
Some Books and Book Reviews of Interest
Tom Perrotta's new novel The Abstinence Teacher, (St. Martin's Press, 2007), focusing in a new way on conservative Christian viewpoints, was reviewed last week by the London Telegraph.