Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, July 11, 2008
British Registrar Wins Right To Refuse To Perform Civil Partnership Ceremonies
UPDATE: Here is the full text of the employment tribunal's decision in Ladele v. London Borough of Islingon. [Thanks to the Christian Institute for posting it and to the Anonymous comment to this post for the lead.]
UPDATE: The National Secular Society reported on July 18 that the Islington Council plans to appeal the employment tribunal ruling.
Alleged Biased Remarks By Clinic Director Are Part of Lawsuit
7th Circuit Holds Condo Mezuzah Ban Does Not Violate Fair Housing Act
Judge Wood dissenting said that plaintiffs are claiming religious discrimination, and that a reasonable interpretation of the facts is that the rule was not neutral. Instead its purpose was to discriminate against Jewish condo owners. She argues that a ban on mezuzot amounts to a constructive eviction for observant Jewish residents. In her view, the Fair Housing Act's ban on discrimination in the sale or rental of residential housing is not restricted to activities prior to sale. Yesterday's New York Sun reports on the decision. (See prior related posting.)
As discussed in the court's opinion, now both the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have legal provisions assuring condo owners the right to place religious symbols on doors. [Thanks to Nicole Neroulias for the lead.]
Legal Maneuvers Ahead of Realignment Vote By Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese
In its lawsuit, Calvary (in 2005) obtained a court order prohibiting the diocese from transferring any property to any entity outside the Episcopal Church. So this April, Duncan formed a new Pennsylvania corporation named the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, apparently intending to have it take custody of diocese assets if the realignment is approved. (Episcopal News Service, July 11). In response, Calvary has filed a petition with the court asking it to appoint a monitor to assure that its 2005 order is being complied with, or alternatively, giving Calvary's attorney access to the financial books and records of the diocese. Meanwhile, Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh, a group opposing Duncan's moves, has issued a document titled Frequently Asked Questions About Realignment.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Obama Campaign's Religious Affairs Director Profiled
Minority Religions Face Burial Problems In Kyrgyzstan
Poll Contrasts Views On Sharia In Iran, Egypt, Turkey
In Iran, a majority of residents tell Gallup that Sharia must be a source of legislation, but not the only source. In Turkey, poll findings show how divided the Turkish public is about the role of Sharia in legislation. In Egypt, however, public opinion is much more likely to favor religious law as the only source of legislation....
[M]en and women express strikingly similar views within each country on the role of Sharia in legislation.... Overall, older respondents are more likely than younger ones to say Sharia must be the only source of legislation (although this pattern is weaker in Turkey than in Iran and Egypt).... In Turkey and Iran, those who have a secondary level of education are less likely than those with a primary level of education or less to say Sharia must be the only source of legislation. There is no difference by education level in Egypt.
3rd Circuit Finds Prison Music Policy Does Not Violate Establishment Clause
Michigan Church Wins Zoning Challenge In Settlement
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
India, Under Christian Pressure, Blocks Migration of Bene Menashe To Israel
Defense Department Moves To Dismiss Suit Claiming Religious Discrimination
Lawsuit Challenges Publishers' Translation of Bible Verse
UPDATE: Bill Poser on Language Log has an excellent discussion of the translation issues posed by the original Greek in the Biblical verse at issue.
Gaer Elected New Chair of USCIRF
Muslim Woman Sues For Employment Discrimination
Hungary's Constitutional Court Strikes Down Hate Speech Amendments
Swiss Referendum on Banning Minaret Construction Will Be Held
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Police Require Orthodox Jewish Woman To Remove Wig For Arrest Photo
Folk Religions Get Very Different Treatments Around the World
Meanwhile Lifesite News yesterday reported on a case decided in May by a criminal court judge in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Judge Ricardo Augusto Schmitt ordered confiscation from bookstores of all copies of a book condemning witchcraft written by Catholic priest Jonas Abib. The book is titled "Yes, Yes! No, No! Reflections on Healing and Liberation." In obtaining the court order, the public prosecutor argued that Bahia's state constitution requires the state "to preserve and guarantee the integrity, respectability, and permanence of the values of Afro-Brazilian religion." He accused accused Abib of "making false and prejudiced statements" about spiritualist religions and inciting disrespect for their objects of worship.