San Diego Diocese Will Begin Release of Records On Abusive Priests

In September 2007, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego (CA) entered a settlement in claims of clergy sexual abuse by 144 victims. Part of the settlement included an agreement on release of documents regarding abusive priests and employees, and records of how the Church dealt with them. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the files will finally be released tomorrow on a secure website that will be accessible to plaintiffs' lawyers. Retired Judge William C. Pate will then review challenges to the release of specific documents. Priests who are still living will be permitted to challenge release of information about them. Also the diocese is claiming that certain of the documents should remain private. It is anticipated that it will take 5 to 6 months for the challenges to be decided.

Kentucky Appeals Court Will Review Case On Access To Church Records

Yesterday's Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal reported yesterday that a Kentucky state Court of Appeals earlier this week stayed an order issued by a Jefferson Circuit Court in a suit by church members against the pastor and three lay leaders of the First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown. Twenty-nine members had sued seeking access to the church's financial records. The trial court had ruled that under the church's constitution, members had a contractual right to see the records, and that court enforcement of that right did not involve deciding matters of church doctrine. The Court of Appeals order delays enforcement of the trial court order while the appellate court reviews defendants' free exercise arguments in the case.

This Is "Evolution Weekend" In Houses of Worship

This weekend is Evolution Weekend in churches and synagogues around the country. Sponsored by the Clergy Letter Project, the purpose of the weekend is to demonstrate that "evolutionary theory ... is fully harmonious with religious faith." Over a thousand congregations from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries are slated to take part. Yesterday's International Herald Tribune reports that participating houses of worship plan sermons, Sunday school lessons and even evolution dances.

Geert Wilders Kept Out of Britain, But His Video Is Shown to House of Lords

Controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders was invited to England last week by a member of Britain's House of Lords, but British immigration officials at Heathrow Airport on Thursday sent him back to the Netherlands, saying that he is a threat to security. The London Telegraph and Radio Netherlands report on developments. Wilders, known for his strong anti-Muslim views, had been invited to show his inflammatory film Fitna in the upper house of Britain's Parliament. The video was screened in the House of Lords Thursday even without Wilders there, but only about 5 members of the House of Lords and 25 other people attended. Het Frije Volk yesterday published the text of the speech Wilders had intended to deliver in the House of Lords. In it, he called Islam a threat, saying that its goals are "world domination, holy war, sharia law, the end of the separation of church and state, the end of democracy." (See prior related posting.)

City Barred From Enforcing Noise Ordinance In Consent Decree

A consent judgment (full text) has been entered by a New York federal district court enjoining the city of Ithaca from enforcing a provision in its municipal ordinances that bans noise which can be heard more than 25 feet away. DeFerio v. City of Ithaca, (ND NY, 2/12/2009) was a lawsuit brought by a Christian evangelist who had been prevented by police from preaching in the Ithaca Commons. The consent order bans enforcement of the limitation against anyone engaged in unamplified speech in a public place. It also orders the police to train its officers in proper enforcement of the ban, and awards attorney's fees and nominal damages. Alliance Defense fund issued a release announcing the consent judgment. An article yesterday in WorldNet Daily has more background on the case. (See prior related posting.)

Some Oklahoma Legislators Object To Invocation By Gay Minister

A routine motion in Oklahoma's House of Representatives encountered unexpected opposition last Wednesday, according to NewsOK. Reverend Scott Jones had been invited by Rep. Al McAffrey to deliver that day's invocation as chaplain for the day in the House. McAffrey is the Oklahoma legislature's only openly gay member. Rev. Jones, in remarks before delivering his prayer, introduced his guests that were in the House gallery, including his "loving partner and fiance, Michael." When at the end of the session, McAffrey moved to include Jones' invocation in the House Journal, 20 representatives voted against the motion. (64 voted in favor.) McAffrey said the unusual negative votes were apparently because Jones and most of his congregation are gay. Americans United issued a release yesterday criticizing the legislators for demonstrating "official favoritism among religions based on their personal religious biases in the public chamber of the Oklahoma House of Representatives."

In Some Nations, Religious and Cultural Objections To Valentine's Day Arise

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but in various parts of the world there is religious and cultural resistance to observing the day's customs. The day originated as a celebration of two 3rd century Christian martyrs, both known as St. Valentine. AP reports that in Saudi Arabia, religious police have required stores to remove items that are red, or that are intended as Valentine's Day gifts. Saudi Arabia bans celebrations of Christian holidays. In Sudan, according to ENI, the Sudan Ulema Authority issued a statement saying: "Valentine's Day comes from Western countries. I call on Muslims not to imitate Christians." The London Telegraph reports that in India, a leader of the Hindu nationalist group, Sri Ram Sena, said: "Valentine's Day is definitely not Indian culture. We will not allow celebration of that day in any form." Meanwhile, a group of Indian women who oppose the actions of Sri Ram Sena have begun the Pink Chaddi Campaign. It calls on women to send their pink underwear to Sri Ram Sena leader Pramod Muthalik. The campaign is reported on a blog titled Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women.

UPDATE: India's Sri Rama Sene called off its plans to protest Valentine's Day activities, though its leader Pramod Mutalik has become something of a cultural hero. (India Today, Feb. 13.)

Christian College Student Sues Over Speech Prof's Treatment of His Presentation

On Wednesday, a student at Los Angeles City College filed a federal court lawsuit against a speech professor John Matteson, and against the trustees and various administrators at the College. The lawsuit revolves around a speech that plaintiff Jonathan Lopez delivered in class to fulfill an open-ended assignment for the course. His speech focused on his Christian beliefs including beliefs that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman. Prof. Matteson had already made clear to the class that he was a supporter of same-sex marriage. Lopez believes that sharing his Christian beliefs is a religious duty.

The complaint Lopez v. Candaele, (CD CA, filed 2/11/2009) (full text) alleges that Prof. Matteson refused to permit Lopez to complete his speech, called him a "fascist bastard" and, instead of entering a grade on an evaluation sheet, wrote that Lopez should "ask God" for his grade. An appeal to the dean was unavailing. It led to threats of retaliation by Matteson and claims by administrators that Lopez was engaged in hate speech. The lawsuit challenges both the actions taken against Lopez and the College's speech code as violations of the 1st and 14th Amendments. Alliance Defense Fund issued a release yesterday reporting on the case and linking to additional background materials.

European Court Says Russia Violated Rights of Unification Church Missionary

Yesterday the European Court of Human Rights in Nolan and K. v. Russia, (ECHR, Feb. 12, 2009), ruled that Russia violated Sec. 1, Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), as well as various other provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, when it refused to readmit to the country an American missionary. Patrick Francis Nolan had worked in the country for 8 years with youth organizations affiliated with the Unification Church. Russia claimed that Nolan had engaged in activities that posed a security threat. However it never specified the nature of those activities. As summarized by the Court's press release on the decision:

Given the primary religious nature of the applicant’s activities and the general policy as set out in the Concept of National Security of the Russian Federation, that is to say that foreign missionaries posed a threat to national security, the Court considered it established that Mr Nolan's banning from Russia had been designed to repress the exercise of his right to freedom of religion. However, since the interests of national security were deliberately omitted as a permitted ground for restrictions on the exercise of the right to freedom of religion in Article 9 of the Convention, such interests could not be relied upon as a justification for the measures taken by the Russian authorities against Mr Nolan.

[Thanks to Institute on Religion & Public Policy for the lead.]

USCIRF Urges U.S. To Press Turkey On Monastery Dispute

On Wednesday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a release encouraging the U.S. government to raise with Turkey the importance of respecting property rights of religious minorities. Of particular concern to USCIRF is a case currently in Turkish courts involving land claimed by the Mor Gabriel Syriac Orthodox monastery. Today's Zaman on Thursday, reporting on the latest court hearing in the case, also describes details of the dispute:

The row began when Turkish government land officials redrew the boundaries around Mor Gabriel and the surrounding villages in 2008 to update the national land registry as part of a cadastre modernization project in compliance with EU instructions. The monks say the new boundaries turn over to the villages large plots of land the monastery has owned for centuries and designate monastery land as public forest.

Report On Hate Movements In Times of Economic Crisis Is Released

The Simon Wiesenthal Center yesterday announced the release of a new report titled Hatred In Hard Times-- And How to Combat It: Lessons From History For the 21st Century. The report was written to warn of possible anti-Semitism and other hate movements growing out of the current economic crisis, dubbed by the report as the "Panic of 2008." Authored by historian Dr. Harold Brackman, the 46-page report traces hate movements growing out of various economic crises beginning as far back as the Dutch Tulip Mania of the 1630's. The report also focuses on movements throughout U.S. history that have pressed for greater tolerance.

European Court Says Bulgaria Improperly Resolved Church Split

In a judgment handed down last month, the European Court of Human Rights held that the government of Bulgaria has improperly taken sides in a dispute between two factions of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church v. Bulgaria, (ECHR, Jan. 22, 2009), the court concluded that Bulgaria has violated Sec. 1, Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights. As summarized in the Court's press release on the case:

in the context of an ongoing dispute between two groups claiming leadership of the Church, ... the State had taken action to terminate the autonomous existence of one of the two opposing groups and had provided the other group with exclusive control over the affairs of the whole religious community. It found that that had been contrary to the Government’s duty to remain neutral in such matters, as it had not been a question of merely recognising the canonical leadership of the Church but a question of which leadership had been canonical. The authorities had therefore taken sides in an unsettled controversy deeply dividing the religious community. That had amounted to an interference with the applicants' right to freedom of religion, which had included the right to organisational autonomy of the religious community.

On Wednesday the Alliance Defense fund issued a release praising the January decision, saying that it "underscores the vital importance of the church operating independently of state coercion and control."

Anti-Religion Signs Will Go Up In Madison WI Buses

In Madison, Wisconsin starting today riders on six buses are will see provocative advertising signs from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Each sign carries a quotation from a different famous atheist or free thinker. Included are quotes from: Mark Twain, Clarence Darrow, Emily Dickinson, Butterfly McQueen and Richard Dawkins. For example, the sign featuring a portrait of Darrow reads: "I don't believe in God because I don't believe in Mother Goose." The Examiner yesterday reported at length on the quotes and featured photos of most of the signs that will be displayed inside the buses. FFRF already has a national billboard campaign in operation. (See prior related posting.)

Swedish Muslim Student Claims Discrimination Over Niqab

In Stockholm, Sweden, a Muslim woman has filed a religious discrimination complaint with the Equality Ombudsman. The Local reported yesterday that the woman was told by an adult education college in Spanga that she cannot wear her niqab in class or in contact with college staff. The niqab covers her face, except for the area around her eyes. The school, the Västerort Vuxengymnasium, cites a recent decision by the National Agency for Education. The student says she has offered a compromise which apparently the school has not accepted-- she will remove her niqab during class if she can sit in the front.

Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council Invalidates New Religion Law

According to a report yesterday from Interfax , Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council has ruled that controversial amendments to the country's laws on religion and religious organizations are inconsistent with Kazakhstan's Constitution. The amendments, passed by Parliament last November, had been referred to the Constitutional Council by President Nursultan Nazarbaev before he signed them. (See prior posting.) The amendments were widely criticized by human rights groups.

UPDATE: Forum 18 on Thursday had a longer report on the decision. It indicates that President Nazarbaev has one month during which he can propose changes to the decision. they take effect only if supported by two-thirds of the Constitutional Council. The report also says that the Council's decision calls into question the constitutionality of Kazakhstan's current Religion Law as well.

Defendant's Religious Beliefs Prevent Him From Viewing Sexual Photos For Trial

In Spring Valley, New York, a man on trial for committing sexual acts with underage girls and photographing two other men having sex with them now claims that he has turned religious and cannot view the sexual photos to aid in his own defense. Yesterday's Lower Hudson Journal-News reports that defendant David Silverman grew up in a Hasidic Jewish community, but left in his teens and was placed in foster care. He has recently again become religiously observant. The offenses Silverman is charged with were allegedly committed when he was 21. Silverman met the girls involved through MySpace's online social network. He has plead not guilty, denying he touched them.

Proposal Would Delete Anti-Atheist Clause of Arkansas Constitution

Art. 19., Sec. 1 of the Arkansas Constitution provides: "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court." Yesterday State Rep. Richard Carroll introduced into the Arkansas General Assembly a resolution (HJR 1009) proposing a constitutional amendment that would repeal this provision. The "Whereas" clauses in the resolution say that it is likely the existing provision violates the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and would be struck down in an appropriate court challenge. Ft. Smith City Wire reports on the proposal. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

County Board Moves To Moment of Silence; Generates Strong Objections

The Dodge County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors last week decided to end the practice of opening their meetings with a prayer from one of the Board members. Instead meetings will begin with a moment of silence. The Fond du Lac Reporter last week traced the reason for the decision. Newly elected Supervisor Dean Fuller became concerned after a fellow Board member opened a meeting with a sectarian Christian prayer. Fuller complained to the Freedom from Religion Foundation which, in turn, wrote Board Chairman Russell Kottke asserting that the past practice was unconstitutional. Reaction to the Board's decision has been strong. OneNewsNow yesterday quoted Libery Counsel's Mat Staver who said that the decision "is an example of where some radical separationists are pushing this country. They want to literally eliminate any kind of reference to God or religion." Also last week Supervisor Fuller, who initiated the change, said he has received death threats. (620 WTMJ News).

Group Demands Schools End Use of Church For Graduation Ceremonies

Americans United yesterday issued a release announcing that they have written three Wisconsin public school districts and a community college demanding that they stop holding their graduation ceremonies at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Graduation speakers at the church stand under a 30-foot cross which church officials refuse to cover for the ceremonies. At past graduations the Church has also displayed banners with religious messages and church personnel have distributed religious pamphlets to graduates and their families. The letters sent to each school assert that the use of the Church under these circumstances violates the Establishment Clause. The AU release links to the full text of the letters sent to each school.

Lebanon Says Citizens Can Remove Religious Affiliation From State Records

In Lebanon yesterday, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud issued a circular permitting any citizen to have his or her religious affiliation removed from Civil Registry Records. Ya Libnan reports that the decision to allow religion to be replaced by merely a slash sign (/) was based on provisions in Lebanon's Constitution protecting freedom of belief, as well as provisions in the introduction to the Constitution pledging commitment to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.