Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Malaysia Looks To Expand Its Islamic Finance Industry
Recent Articles and Books of Interest
- Richard W. Garnett, Judicial Enforcement of the Establishment Clause, (Constitutional Commentary, Forthcoming).
- Abner Greene, Three Theories of Religious Equality...and of Exemptions, (Texas Law Review, Vol. 87, No. 963, 2009).
- Simon Butt, Polygamy and Mixed Marriage in Indonesia: Islam and the Marriage Law in the Courts, (in Indonesia: Law and Society, T. Lindsey, ed., Federation Press, 2008).
- Thomas Charles Berg, Religious-School Financing and Educational Pluralism in the American Tradition, (Rivista Antonianum, 2009).
- Gregory A. Kalscheur, Conscience and Citizenship: The Primacy of Conscience for Catholics in Public Life, (Journal of Catholic Social Thought, Vol. 6, No. 2, Summer 2009).
- Jessica Knouse, From Identity Politics to Ideology Politics, (Utah Law Review, Forthcoming).
- Michael Kent Curtis, Be Careful What You Wish For: Gays, Dueling High School T-Shirts, and the Perils of Suppression, (Wake Forest Law Review, Forthcoming).
- Nelson Tebbe, Excluding Religion: A Reply, (University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Vol. 157, 2009).
From Bepress:
- Rahma Hersi, A Value Oriented Legal Theory for Muslim Countries in the 21st Century: A Comparative Study of Both Islamic Law and Common Law Systems, (Cornell Law School Graduate Student Papers Series, Paper 29, April 2009).
From SmartCILP:
- Kyle Duncan, Misunderstanding Freedom from Religion: Two Cents on Madison's Three Pence, 9 Nevada Law Journal 32-62 (2008).
- Gene R. Nichol, Establishing Inequality, (Reviewing Martha C. Nussbaum, Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America's Tradition of Religious Equality.) 107 Michigan Law Review 913-930 (2009).
- Bishop Thomas J.Paprocki, Address. Annual Meeting of the National Diocesan Attorneys Association, As the Pendulum Swings from Charitable Immunity to Bankruptcy, Bringing It to Rest with Charitable Viability, 48 Journal of Catholic Legal Studies 1-18 (2009).
- Joshua Foster, Prophets, Cartoons, and Legal Norms: Rethinking the United Nations Defamation of Religion Provisions, 48 Journal of Catholic Legal Studies 19-57 (2009).
- Harry G. Hutchison, Work, the Social Question, Progress and the Common Good? (Reviewing Recovering Self-Evident Truths: Catholic Perspectives on American Law, edited by Michael A. Scaperlanda and Teresa Stanton Collett), 48 Journal of Catholic Legal Studies 59-116 (2009).
Recent Books:
- Daniel O Conkle, Constitutional Law: The Religion Clauses, Second Edition, (Foundation Press, 2009), excerpts on SSRN.
- Steven P. Miller, Billy Graham and the Rise of the Republican South, (Univ. of Pennsylvania Press, March 2009), reviewed in the New York Times.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Paper Questions Governmental Structure of Ave Maria, Florida
In Kuwait, Islamists Challenge Women Candidates For Parliament
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Dawson v. Burnette, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37729 (WD MI, May 4, 2009), a Michigan federal district judge adopted a magistrate's recommendations that a Buddhist prisoner be permitted to proceed with his 1st Amendment damage claim alleging that he was denied a vegan diet, but that his claims under RLUIPA be dismissed and his claims for declaratory and injunctive relief be dismissed as moot.
In Mitchell v. Hamlet, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37567 (ND CA, April 15, 2009), in a screening hearing, the court permitted plaintiff to proceed with his claims that he was denied a Halal diet, the ability to wear a beard, the ability to group-worship, the ability to use earned time to attend prayer services, and that he was limited to a single vendor in purchasing religious items. He also claims he was limited in the amount of prayer oils that he can order, and that no Muslim chaplain or large prayer rug is available to Muslim inmates.
In Boyd v. McGuire, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38026 (D NJ, May 5, 2009), a New Jersey federal district court permitted a Muslim jail inmate to proceed with his equal protection claim that Muslim prisoners receive only a vegetarian diet, while Jewish prisoners receive a kosher diet that includes meat. The court dismissed his 1st Amendment claim, but with leave to amend and refile. It also dismissed his claim for prospective injunctive relief because he was about to be transferred to a different facility.
In Davis v. Hawaii, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38091 (D HI, May 4, 2009), a Hawaii federal magistrate judge transferred venue to Arizona in a case alleging that a Hawaii prisoner incarcerated in Arizona was prevented him from practicing his Native Hawaiian religion.
Obama Will Address Muslim World From Egypt June 4
Q: ... there are a lot of Muslims who look at the leadership of Egypt warily and consider it to be exactly the problem with leaders in the Muslim world.... Is it not possible that this is a bad selection?
MR. GIBBS: No. I think, as I mentioned earlier, ... in many ways, this is the heart of Arab world. And ... this isn't a speech to leaders. This is a speech to many, many people and a continuing effort by this President and this White House to demonstrate how we can work together to ensure the safety and security and the future well-being, through hope and opportunity, of the children of this country and of the Muslim world....
British Muslim Police Chef Objects To Requirement He Cook Pork
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Pope, In Jordan, Speaks On Manipulation of Religion
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.
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.)