Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Seventh Day Adventist Church Scores Partial Trademark Win
Amish Sentenced To Jail Over Waste Disposal Violations
New Poll on Religion and Public Life
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Report Calls For Understanding Church of England's Role In Welfare System
Minnesota Pastor Challenges IRS Limits On Church Political Involvement
Yesterday a press release from Americans United and the Minneapolis Star Tribune report on developments. Yesterday, AU wrote the IRS urging them to investigate (full text of letter).I am writing you to let you know that I preached a sermon in my church on Sunday, May 18, 2008, that specifically addressed the current candidates for President in the light of the Bible. As you can see from the attached newspaper article, I specifically made recommendations as to who a Christian should vote for.
I have read in the past about how you have a campaign to intimidate churches into silence when it comes to speaking about candidates for office. I am letting you know that I will not be intimidated into silence when I believe that God wants me to address the great moral issues of the day, including who will be our next national leader.
Judge Ready To Rule Against Tangipahoa Parish In Graduation Prayer Case
Judge In FLDS Case Guarded; Joint State Efforts Discussed
In a related development, the Desert News reports today that top law enforcement officials from Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Texas recently met in Las Vegas to discuss cooperative efforts t prosecute crimes within polygamous sects.
9th Circuit Again Certifies Issues To California High Court In Boy Scout Case
South Carolina AG Says Bill On Display of Historical Documents Is Constitutional
UPDATE: Late Wednesday, Gov. Mark Sanford signed the bill into law. (CBN News).
Gambian President Threatens Gays With Punishment Under Islamic Principles
6th Circuit Says Church Autonomy Doctrine Does Not Bar Defamation Case
While we are solicitous of protecting religious services from interference, we do not believe it proper to simply label a sermon as "ecclesiastical" and bar suit. Rather, we ask whether the suit will require us to delve into protected matters of church doctrine, policy, and practice.... We are not asked to determine whether Ogle’s actions complied with church law, whether Hocker’s religious condemnation of Ogle comports with the religious tenants of the COG, or whether Hocker’s statements supported his doctrinal point.... The only issue is whether Hocker’s purported factual statements, made both during a sermon and in multiple other contexts, were falsehoods that harmed Ogle.Finding that Hocker is not a public figure, the court remanded so the trial court could determine whether there had been a showing that the statements made were false and whether the alleged conduct was extreme and outrageous. (See prior related posting.)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Muslim Speaker In Maryland School Creates Concern
Recent Scholarly Articles and New Book of Interest
- Richard W. Garnett, Do Churches Matter? Towards an Institutional Understanding of the Religion Clauses (May 9, 2008, Villanova Law Review, Forthcoming).
- John M. Breen, John Paul II, the Structures of Sin and the Limits of Law, 52 St. Louis University Law Journal 317-373 (2008).
- Frederick Lane, The Court and the Cross: The Religious Right's Crusade to Reshape the Supreme Court, (Beacon, June 2008).
Canadian Court Dismsses Employer's Appeal In Religious Discrimination Case
Are Drawings On Fence Religious Symbols or Graffiti?
French Court Denies Damages To Muslim Couple Who Barred Male Intern From Delivery Room
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Indonesia Stops Short of Dissolving Ahmadiyah Sect
UPDATE: The June 16 Jakarta Post carries an interview with National Commission on Human Rights chairman Ifdhal Kasim who is critical of the government decree. He says it violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and gives the government too much power to interfere with religion.