Certainly, the contradiction of tensions and divisions between the followers of different religious traditions, sadly, cannot be denied. However, is it not also the case that often it is the ideological manipulation of religion, sometimes for political ends, that is the real catalyst for tension and division, and at times even violence in society? In the face of this situation, where the opponents of religion seek not simply to silence its voice but to replace it with their own, the need for believers to be true to their principles and beliefs is felt all the more keenly. Muslims and Christians, precisely because of the burden of our common history so often marked by misunderstanding, must today strive to be known and recognized as worshippers of God faithful to prayer ... and ever mindful of the common origin and dignity of all human persons...The resolve of Jordanian educators and religious and civic leaders to ensure that the public face of religion reflects its true nature is praiseworthy.
Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Pope, In Jordan, Speaks On Manipulation of Religion
Obama Compromises On End To D.C. School Vouchers
Two Amish Families Held In Contempt Over Sewage Code Compliance
Activists Will File Criminal Complaint Against Pope In Israel
British Court Upholds Ban On Hindu Funeral Pyres
Court Hears Petition To Force Teenager To Have Chemo Over Religious Objections
Friday, May 08, 2009
6th Circuit Defines Test For Religious Accommodation Claim Against Union
In Reed, an employee who had religious objections to union membership was accommodated by allowing him to contribute the full amount of union dues to charity. The employee, however, argued that he should be allowed to contribute to charity $10 per month less-- the smaller amount that equals the agency fee charged by the union in lieu of dues to those who object to the union's political stances. The lead opinion written by Judge Batchelder held that the employee, Jeffrey Reed, had suffered no discipline or adverse employment action other than the accommodation itself. Thus he had not proven a critical element of his claim.
Judge Guy, concurring in the result, concluded that Reed's claim fails because the accommodation offered by the union was reasonable. Judge McKeague, dissenting, argued that Reed had established his prima facie case by showing that he was subjected to adverse employment action. He was required to pay more as a religious objector than he would have had to pay as a secular objector to union membership. Judge McKeague went on to hold that the accommodation offered by the union was unreasonable and discriminatory. [Thanks to Jonathan Adler via Joe Slater for the lead.]
Under Pressure, National Mock Trial Group Agrees To Accommodate Sabbath Needs
This year's competition is being held in Atlanta, hosted by the Georgia State Bar. ADL yesterday said the schedule change came only after Judge Doris Downs, Chief Judge of Fulton County (GA) Superior Courts, said the competition could not use Fulton County courtrooms if all schools could not fully participate. Also, ADL Southeast Regional Board Chair Elizabeth Price tendered her resignation as a member of the Georgia State Bar's board of governors when the Association refused to support accommodation for the Jewish school. Adding even further pressure, according to a release from the Orthodox Union, were questions raised by Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue's office and questions raised by the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice as to whether Georgia State Courts could receive federal grant funds if they discriminated. Today's Fulton County (GA) Record also has coverage of Judge Downs' role in obtaining the changed schedule.
UPDATE: Here is the competition organizers' side of the dispute in a press release from NHSMTC. It says that the Maimonides team had earlier accepted a compromise under wihich it would merely not participate in Saturday rounds. The organizers say they also provided other accommodations involving more hotel space and dietary considerations.
Settlement In Case Challenging NC Park Speech Rule
Oklahoma Legislature Authorizes 10 Commandments At Capitol
The State Capitol Preservation Commission ... is hereby authorized to ... arrange for the placement on the State Capitol grounds of a suitable monument displaying the Ten Commandments. The ... monument shall use the same words used on the monument at issue in Van Orden v. Perry, that the United States Supreme Court ruled constitutional. This monument shall be designed, constructed, and placed on the Capitol grounds by private entities at no expense to the State of Oklahoma....The family of Rep. Mike Ritze, sponsor of the bill, will pay the $10,000 cost of the monument.
In the event that the legality or constitutionality of the Ten Commandments monument is challenged in a court of law, the Oklahoma Attorney General or Liberty Legal Institute is hereby authorized to prepare and present a legal defense of the monument.
The placement of this monument shall not be construed to mean that the State of Oklahoma favors any particular religion or denomination thereof over others, but rather will be placed on the Capitol grounds where there are numerous other monuments.
European Parliament Recommends Directive Protecting Kosher Slaughter
MEPs approve the principle that animals must be slaughtered using only methods that ensure death instantly or after stunning, except in the case of religious ritual, for which they called for the current blanket exemption to be preserved rather than allowing for exemptions to be decided at national level.EJP reports that the proposal now goes for a vote by the EU Council of Ministers, scheduled for next month. Currently kosher slaughtering of animals is banned in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, while Switzerland permits it only for poultry. The European Jewish community is concerned that the impact of the bill could be undercut because a vote is scheduled next month by the Council of Ministers on whether even animals killed in religious rites are required to be stunned before slaughter. Kosher slaughtering does not permit stunning.
Parents Sue For Records of Lesbian Minister's Talk At High School
Thursday, May 07, 2009
President Signs National Day of Prayer Proclamation
Throughout our Nation's history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer.... It is in that spirit of unity and reflection that we once again designate the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.The White House released a photo of the President signing the Proclamation, with Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, looking on.
At Tuesday's White House Press Briefing (full text), this exchange between reporters and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs took place:
[See prior related posting.]Q: Robert, can I ask about Thursday? The National Day of Prayer -- the President, as I understand it, is going to sign a proclamation but there's not going to be a public ceremony, as the Bush administration did. Why the difference in approach? Does the President have a different feeling about this event than his predecessor?
MR. GIBBS: No, I mentioned, I think when I was asked about this last week, that prayer is something that the President does every day. I think, given some of the issues that you all have denoted today, it might be a healthy thing. But we're doing a proclamation, which I know that many administrations in the past have done.
Q: The previous administration had a ceremony with prayers and speeches and such. Does he think -- the current President think that that was politicized in some fashion?
MR. GIBBS: No, I'm not going to get into that. Again, I think the President understands, in his own life and in his family's life, the role that prayer plays. And I would denote that administrations prior to the past one did proclamations. That's the way the President will publicly observe National Prayer Day. But as I said, privately he'll pray as he does every day.
Q: Is he going to pray at the church that he calls his own?
MR. GIBBS: I'm sorry --
Q: Will he soon pray in a church that he calls his own?
MR. GIBBS: He may. Amen. (Laughter.)
Controversy Surrounds Today's National Day of Prayer
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
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
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"
Tentative Ruling By California Judge Goes Against Break-Away Episcopal Diocese
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
Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Focuses On Human Rights
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."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.