Controversy Surrounds Today's National Day of Prayer

Today is National Day of Prayer, and the the White House's decision not to host a formal event marking the occasion continues to generate controversy. As reported previously, the President will issue a Proclamation marking the day, but will not be involved beyond that. The National Day of Prayer Task Force holds its event, led by Beth Moore and Shirley Dobson, at 9:00 a.m. in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Liberty Counsel has announced that:

following the National Day of Prayer Service, members of Congress and leaders of faith-based groups will hold a bipartisan press conference to affirm America's Christian heritage, as outlined in America’s Spiritual Heritage Resolution (H.Res. 397), and to address President Obama's recent statement, made while visiting Turkey, that "we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation...."

H. Res. 397 is in committee and has not as of this time been voted on by the House. Yesterday's Washington Times quotes several critics of President Obama. Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, said: "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer." Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, added: "For those of us who have our doubts about Obama's faith, no, we did not expect him to have the service. But as president, he should put his own lack of faith aside and live up to the office."

Meanwhile the same Washington Times article reports that neither President Obama nor other top administration officials will attend the 6th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast scheduled for Friday. Joe Cella, a spokesman for the Catholic event, said that while the President would have been welcome to attend, he would not have been permitted to speak because of a 2004 statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (full text) calling on Catholic groups to avoid honoring politicians who oppose Catholic teachings on human life. At Mirror of Justice blog, Rob Vischer questions whether this was the result the Bishops intended by their 2004 directive. Keynote speaker at the Catholic breakfast will be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Maine Is 5th State To Permit Gay Marriage; New Hampshire Bill Sent To Governor

Maine yesterday became the 5th state to authorize same-sex marriage as Gov. John Baldacci signed LD 1020, "An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom." The Brunswick (ME) Times Record reports that the bill moved quickly through the state legislature. Last Thursday the State Senate approved it by a vote of 21-14, the House followed on Tuesday with an 89-57 vote, and the Senate gave its final approval yesterday by a vote of 21-13. While authorizing same-sex marriage, the new law goes on to provide:

This Part does not authorize any court or other state or local governmental body, entity, agency or commission to compel, prevent or interfere in any way with any religious institution's religious doctrine, policy, teaching or solemnization of marriage within that particular religious faith's tradition as guaranteed by the Maine Constitution, Article 1, Section 3 or the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. A person authorized to join persons in marriage and who fails or refuses to join persons in marriage is not subject to any fine or other penalty for such failure or refusal.

AP reports that opponents of the new law say they will challenge it through a statewide referendum. Seacoast Online says that Rev. Bob Emerich of the Jeremiah Project in Plymouth (ME) will be working with the Portland Catholic diocese and other groups to obtain the 55,087 signatures needed to get a referendum measure on the statewide ballot.

Later yesterday, the New Hampshire legislature also passed a bill permitting same-sex marriage. (CNN). HB 436 provides however that:

Members of the clergy as described in RSA 457:31 or other persons otherwise authorized under law to solemnize a marriage shall not be obligated or otherwise required by law to officiate at any particular civil marriage or religious rite of marriage in violation of their right to free exercise of religion protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by part I, article 5 of the New Hampshire constitution.

The state Senate last week approved the bill by a vote of 13-11. Yesterday the House approved it by a vote of 178-167. The Concord Monitor says that it is unclear whether or not Gov. John Lynch will veto the bill. In the past he has said that his personal views are opposed to same-sex marriage.

Obama's Mother Was Baptized Posthumously By Mormons

America Blog and the Provo (UT) Daily Herald reported this week that during the 2008 Presidential campaign, someone in the Mormon Church in Provo, Utah posthumously baptized Stanley Ann Dunham, Barack Obama's mother. Time and Seasons explains that the Church has tried to limit baptisms by proxy except where requested by direct descendants. Dunham's name was apparently submitted to the church's FamilySearch.org genealogical site multiple times by at least three different people in three states. The proxy rites were performed in June of 2008, presumably without the knowledge of anyone in the Obama family. Politico quotes LDS spokeswoman Kim Farrah who said in an e-mail statement: "The offering of baptism to our deceased ancestors is a sacred practice to us and it is counter to Church policy for a Church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related. The Church is looking into the circumstances of how this happened and does not yet have all the facts. However, this is a serious matter and we are treating it as such."

According to Mormon beliefs, after vicarious baptism, the deceased can choose whether or not to accept the ordinances. (About.com.) In the past, Mormon attempts to posthumously baptize Holocaust victims has generated tensions between the LDS Church and the Jewish community. (AP, 11/11/2008).

Hawaii Legislature Passes Resolution Proclaiming "Islam Day"

Hawaii's House and Senate have passed and sent to the governor for signature House Concurrent Resolution 100, declaring September 24, 2009 as "Islam Day" in Hawaii "to recognize the rich religious, scientific, cultural, and artistic contributions Islam and the Islamic world have made since their founding." The Senate vote yesterday approving the measure was 22-3. AP reports that the two Republicans opposing the Resolution were concerned about radical Islamists and said other religions had no special day honoring them. The one Democrat voting against it was concerned about church-state separation. Some 13 "Whereas" clauses in the Resolution stress the contributions and values of Islam.

Tentative Ruling By California Judge Goes Against Break-Away Episcopal Diocese

In Fresno, California, a Superior court judge has issued a tentative ruling in Diocese of San Joaquin v. Schofield, (Super. Ct., May 4, 2009) [scroll to pg. 48]. He proposed granting summary judgment rejecting the validity of amendments to the articles of incorporation of the corporation sole, The Protestant Episcopal Bishop of San Joaquin. Those amendments purported to eliminate the requirement that any new bishop be approved by Episcopal church bodies and ordained by 3 Episcopal bishops. The diocese attempted to implement the amendment to facilitate its break off from the Episcopal Church and its affiliation with the more conservative Province of the Southern Cone. Holding that state courts must defer to the highest ecclesiastical authority of an hierarchical church on questions of religious doctrine, the court concluded that civil courts must recognize Bishop Jerry Lamb who was installed by the Episcopal Church as the Bishop of San Joaquin after Bishop John-David Schofield broke way. It similarly held that the amendment to change the name of the corporation to The Anglican Bishop of San Joaquin was ultra vires and void.

According to yesterday's Religious Intelligence, the court held a hearing on May 5 for the parties to respond to the tentative ruling. In the hearing, attorneys for the break-away diocese argued that summary judgment is improper because there is a factual dispute about whether the Episcopal Church is "hierarchical." They also claim that the church failed to give proper notice of the meeting at which Lamb was elected as the continuing bishop. The Episcopal Church responded that the court lacks authority to review its internal procedures. Virtue Online also reports on the court's tentative ruling.

Legislative Invocations Reprinted By Paper

Yesterday's Oklahoma Gazette reprints at length excerpts from invocations and remarks by clergy offered in the Oklahoma House of Representatives this legislative session. Each week a state representative invites a member of the clergy to be pastor of the week. Usually they offer a prayer on Monday through Wednesday, and on Thursday give short remarks which can be reprinted in the House Journal if requested by the sponsoring member. From Bible verses, to humor, to inspiration, the prayers and remarks cover a wide range of topics.

Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Focuses On Human Rights

The 15th Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences is meeting in the Vatican through Tuesday. The meetings this year are focused on Catholic social doctrine and human rights. Pope Benedict XVI addressed the group (full text of remarks). He said in part:

In the middle of the last century, after the vast suffering caused by two terrible world wars and the unspeakable crimes perpetrated by totalitarian ideologies, the international community acquired a new system of international law based on human rights....

The Church's action in promoting human rights is therefore supported by rational reflection, in such a way that these rights can be presented to all people of good will, independently of any religious affiliation they may have. Nevertheless..., human reason must undergo constant purification by faith, insofar as it is always in danger of a certain ethical blindness caused by disordered passions and sin; and, on the other hand, insofar as human rights need to be re-appropriated by every generation and by each individual....

This perspective draws attention to some of the most critical social problems of recent decades, such as the growing awareness - which has in part arisen with globalisation and the present economic crisis - of a flagrant contrast between the equal attribution of rights and the unequal access to the means of attaining those rights. For Christians ... it is a shameful tragedy that one-fifth of humanity still goes hungry. Assuring an adequate food supply, like the protection of vital resources such as water and energy, requires all international leaders to collaborate in ... promoting solidarity and subsidiarity with the weakest regions and peoples of the planet as the most effective strategy for eliminating social inequalities ... and for increasing global security.

Mary Ann Glendon, president of the the Academy, delivered remarks (full text) upon being received by the Pontiff during the plenary session. After focusing on the Church's "long engagement with human rights," she also commented that: "in today's world, ironically, many threats to the dignity of the person have appeared in the guise of human rights."

Judge McConnell, 1st Amendment Expert, Will Move From 10th Circuit To Stanford

Press releases yesterday from Stanford Law School and the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals announced that Circuit Judge Michael W. McConnell will resign from the court to join Stanford Law School's faculty as director of the the Stanford Constitutional Law Center. McConnell is widely recognized as an expert on 1st Amendment religious freedom issues. Before being appointed to the 10th Circuit, he served on the faculties of University of Chicago and University of Utah law schools. (See prior related posting.)

DC Council, Over Religious Objections, Votes To Recognize Gay Marriages From Elsewhere

According to the Washington Post, over the opposition of a number of local ministers and others, the D.C. City Council yesterday voted 12-1 to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere. The sole vote against the bill was former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, who said he decided on his vote after prayer and discussion with religious leaders. He says his vote represents his constituents' wishes. (US News.) If, as expected, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty signs the bill, Congress will then have 30 days to pass, and send to the President for his signature, a joint resolution disapproving the law. (DC Home Rule Act, Sec. 602(c)). Immediately after the Council vote, a crowd of opponents, led by local ministers, began shouting that new Council members were needed. Security guards had to be called to restore order. If this bill is approved by Congress, it is expected that Council will later move to authorize gay marriages to be performed in the District.

Non-Muslims In Northwest Pakistan Dislocated By Taliban

While the press has focused extensively on demands of Islamists in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province for the institution of Sharia law (see prior posting), less attention has been given to the plight of non-Muslim minority religions in the area. Dawn, however, reported yesterday on the visit of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti to 128 displaced Sikh families who have taken refuge Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the town of Hasan Abdal. Addressing a press conference, Bhatti said: "The present government believes in the principles of tolerance, human equality and peaceful co-existence." He condemned the demand by local Taliban elements that non-Muslim minorities pay a Jizya (tax), and announced a relief package for non-Muslim families who have been dislocated in Swat, Buner and Orakzai Agency.

HUD Swears In Assistant Secretary For Fair Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that John Trasviña was sworn in Monday as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. In that position, he heads the office that is responsible for enforcing federal laws assuring equal access to housing, including the Fair Housing Act that bars religious discrimination in the sale, renal and financing of residential housing. Trasviña previously served as President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. HUD also swore in two other officials on Monday: the General Counsel, and the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.

UN Special Rapporteur Evaluates Religious Freedom In Serbia

Yesterday, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir, completed a six-day visit to Serbia. UN News Centre reports that Jahangir gave a mixed review to developments in the country. She praised the situation in a number of smaller municipalities that are multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-linguistic, and which seem to enjoy an atmosphere of religious tolerance. However, she criticized a 2006 religion law that requires registration of churches and religious communities, and which distinguishes between traditional and non-traditional religions. (See prior posting.) Jahangir will present her findings to the U.N. Human Rights Council next year.

Cert. Petition To Be Filed In Episcopal Church Property Dispute

Yesterday, St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, CA announced that it will file a petition for certiorari to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the California Supreme Court's decision in the Episcopal Church Cases. In the case, the California high court held that the building and property of St. James Parish belongs to the Episcopal Church, not the parish, once the parish broke away and affiliated with the more conservative Anglican Church of Uganda. (See prior posting.) Apparently the major issue that will be raised by St. James is the validity of California's statutory provision permitting a trust to be imposed on assets of a religious corporation by the governing instruments of a general church of which the corporation is a member. (Cal. Corp. Code Sec. 9142.)

UPDATE: Here is the petition for certiorari that was filed on June 24, 2009.

Compliance, Or Not, With Religious Customs Relevant To Suicide Finding

In Green v. William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York, (NY Ct. App., May 5, 2009), New York's high court upheld a trial court's conclusion that Alan Green had committed suicide and his widow was not entitled to receive the proceeds of a half-million life insurance policy. The policy provided that if the insured died by suicide within 2 years of issuance of the policy, the only death benefit would be the premiums paid. The high court said that the presumption against suicide requires the fact finder to conclude that suicide was highly probable. It does not preclude such a finding merely because there is also evidence that would support a contrary finding. Among the evidence cited by the court was the fact that Green's widow "refused to permit an autopsy or a toxicological examination of his body, saying that such intrusions were forbidden by Jewish religious law, but she ordered the body cremated in violation of that religious prohibition." [Thanks to Y.Y. Landa for the lead.]

Al Jazeera Video Shows U.S. Soldiers Who Want To Proselytize In Afghanistan

Al Jazeera yesterday reports on a video, filmed a year ago, showing evangelical Christian soldiers at Bagram air base in Afghanistan with Bibles printed in Pashto and Dari that they hoped to distribute to local residents. The Bibles were sent to a serviceman by his church in the U.S., according to AlterNet. Apparently none were actually distributed. In the video, Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, chief of the U.S. military chaplains in Afghanistan, tells soldiers: "The special forces guys -- they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians, we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down."

While General Order No. 1 issued by the U.S. military's central command specifically bans "proselytising of any religion, faith or practice, "Sergeant Jon Watt tells a group of soldiers: "you can't proselytise, but you can give gifts." In a second report today, Al Jazeera says that the U.S. military has confiscated the Bibles and reprimanded the soldiers who appear in the video. Col. Greg Julian told Al Jazeera: "Most of this is taken out of context ... this is irresponsible and inappropriate journalism.... There is no effort to go out and proselytise to Afghans." [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]

French Trial of Gang Members Accused of Anti-Semitic Torture Is Closed To Press

In France, a court has made the controversial decision to bar journalists from the trial of gang members accused of kidnapping and torturing to death a 23-year-old French Jew, Ilan Halimi. (Background.) A report yesterday by JTA says that Halimi's family and the French Jewish community want the trial opened in order to raise awareness of anti-Semitism in France. However, because two of the 27 defendants were juveniles in 2006 when the crimes were committed, French law permits the trial to be closed. Apparently members of the Barbarians gang targeted Halimi because they believed Jews would be worth a large ransom. One of the questions in the trial of the gang's leader, Youssour Fofna, is whether this constitutes a crime based on Halimi's religion or ethnicity. Author Alexandre Lévy says: "Politically it's very delicate in France to be the first to talk about anti-Semitism. It's like the nuclear button."

"Joe the Plumber" Gives His Views on Religion and Politics

Monday's Christianity Today carries an interview with Samuel Wurzelbacher , who became known as "Joe the Plumber"-- the symbol of the average American-- in the 2008 Presidential campaign. Wurzelbacher answers questions regarding his Christian faith and his view of the future of the Republican Party. After saying that "the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off of Christian values," Wurzelbacher opines that the Republican Party is not reaching out enough to evangelicals. His favorite Christian leader is James Dobson. He says: "When politicians start talking about being a Christian, I just worry, because a lot of them don't really follow through.... I would love to hear our leaders actually check with God before he does stuff." On whether he plans to run for political office: "Not right now. God hasn't said, 'Joe, I want you to run.'"

New Website On "Islamic Lawfare"

The Middle East Forum today announced the launch of a new website, The Legal Project. The website features primary source material and analysis on "Islamic lawfare," described as:

attempts by supporters of radical Islam to suppress free discourse on Islam and terrorism by (1) exploiting Western legal systems and traditions and (2) recruiting state actors and international organizations such as the United Nations.

I have added the website to the "Resources" section of the Religion Clause sidebar.

Turkish Author Tried In Abstentia For Insulting Religious Values

AFP today reports that in Istanbul, Turkish author Nedim Gursel goes on trial in abstentia charged under Art. 216 of the Turkish Penal Code with insulting the religious values of the people. The charges grow out of Gursel's novel "The Daughters of Allah." Gursel currently lives in France. Hurriyet reports that a Religious Affairs Directorate committee concluded that the book "was insulting and sarcastic, humiliating Allah, its prophets, divine religions, worshipping, holy books and religious principles. This cannot be explained in the scope of freedom of thought or criticism."

Leaders In Hungary Propose Ban on Holocaust Denial and Hate Speech

In Hungary, Ildiko Lendvai, leader of the governing Socialist Party, told a May Day celebration last Friday that her party plans to propose a constitutional amendment to ban Holocaust denial and hate speech. MTI reports that the move follows a Holocaust denial demonstration held in Budapest two weeks ago by right-wing organizations including the Magyar Garda Movement.