Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Louisiana Governor Criticized For State Travel To Worship In Various Churches
Justice Department 2007 Memo Says RFRA Trumps Non-Discrimination Law
In the memo, OLC concluded that requiring World Vision to comply with the JJDPA nondiscrimination provision would substantially burden its religious exercise, and enforcing the religious nondiscrimination provision would not further a compelling governmental interest. Some civil rights groups took strong exception to the newly released memo. ACLU senior legislative counsel Christopher E. Anders called it "the church-state equivalent of the torture memos."
Vietnam Official Wants Hanoi Archbishop Ousted
Vatican Issues Commentary on Religion and Government
[This] means: "Give to Caesar what God himself wants to be given to Caesar." ... We are not divided between two loyalties; we are not forced to serve "two masters." The Christian is free to obey the state, but he is also free to resist the state when it goes against God and his law.... [Y]ou must first obey God and your own conscience....
Paying appropriately levied taxes is for the Christian ... a duty of justice and therefore an obligation of conscience.... The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" reminds us that tax evasion, when it reaches certain proportions, is a mortal sin.... It is stealing ... from the community, that is, from everyone. Naturally, this supposes that the state is just and equitable in imposing taxes.
Christian cooperation in building a just and peaceful society does not stop at paying taxes; it must also extend itself to the promotion of common values such as the family, the defense of life, solidarity with the poor, peace. There is also another sphere in which Christians must make a contribution to politics.... Christians must help to remove the poison from the climate of contentiousness in politics, bring back greater respect, composure and dignity to relationships between parties....
Friday, October 17, 2008
7th Circuit Limits Taxpayer Standing In Suit Seeking Restitution From Notre Dame
Philippines House Passes Bill To Ban Religious Labels In Reporting On Criminal Suspects
Groups Criticize Kyrgyzstan's Proposed Religion Law
The proposed law will also ban the free distribution of religious literature. Parliamentary Deputy Zainidin Kurmanov, one of the law's authors, said: "It is very unpleasant when you are on the street when someone comes up to you and forces on you their ideas on their religion." He also said that extremist literature is being distributed as religious tracts.
Policy Change On Gay Pride Parade Results In Injunction Denial For Firefighters
Virginia Break-Away Anglican Congregations Score Another Victory
This ruling follows another important one made on September 26 in which Judge Bellows rejected challenges by the Episcopal Church to the validity of the votes authorizing eleven conservative congregations to break away from the Episcopal Church. The court now must still decide on the ownership of a handful of additional properties, including whether a 276-year-old church once attended by George Washington belongs to the Christ Episcopal Church in Alexandria. (See prior related posting.)
Texas Atheist Group Releases Voters Guide
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Court Dismisses Church's Challenge To Closure Ordered By Synod
Texas Appoints 3 Anti-Evolutionists To Curriculum Review Panel
It's simply stunning that any state board members would even consider appointing authors of an anti-evolution textbook to a panel of scientists.... Texas universities boast some of the leading scientists in the world.... It’s appalling that some state board members turned to out-of-state ideologues to decide whether Texas kids get a 21st-century science education.[Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]
Consent Decrees In Two Christian Free Speech Cases
ADF has also announced a consent decree in a second case, Foht v. Village of Kewaskum, (ED WI, Oct. 14, 2008). Plaintiff, who was placing Christian literature on the door handles of residences was threatened with fines under a village ordinance banning various kinds of literature distribution. Subsequently the Village repealed the ordinance. In the consent order, the court found that the prior ordinance was facially unconstitutional, but dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice. The Village agreed to pay nominal damages and plaintiff''s attorneys fees.
Saudi Resigns From Municipal Council In Protst Over Eid Festivities
Fair Use Claim Filed In Dispute Over Anti-Muslim Remarks on YouTube
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Army Base Jewish Lay Leader Criticized For Reaction To Anti-Semitic Incident
He has a drill sergeant who has never seen a keepah in his life and treated him less than mommy and daddy would and made some derogatory comments about his faith. This whole thing is an issue of overreaction. Should his drill sergeants have known better? Yeah. But they didn’t. I was at a party where people talking about Jewing somebody down. It goes on. Does it make it right? No. But it’s basic training. You can’t control 100 or so soldiers. I mean everybody uses the “n” word now and then” to refer to African Americans....Block also interviewed the drill sergeants who were reprimanded for referring to Handman as "Juden," "kike" and "fucking Jew." Block said: "these are two absolutely contrite individuals who did not understand what they were saying. One of the drill sergeants spent time in Germany. Juden is the German word for Jew. To some Jews it may have a pejorative impact. But it’s a legitimate word in German."
Any young Jew who uses his minority status to play the system is villainous. There’s that element that I am being discriminated against.
Indian Government Claims Ram's Bridge Not Essential To Hindu Beliefs
Meanwhile, however, complying with an earlier suggestion by the court, the government has appointed a special committee to examine whether it would be possible to create an alternative and shorter sea route around India’s southern tip, and in that way avoid damage to the Rama Setu.