Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Groups Will Portray Nativity Scene On Supreme Court Sidewalk
Malaysia Authorities Charge Progressive Muslim Cleric
Deputy Proposes Change In Russia's National Anthem to Remove Reference To God
Israel's High Court Denies Rehearing In Grant of Kosher Certification To Messianic
Think-Tank Charges U.S. Conservatives With Using African Clergy In LGBT Battles
Additional background is also available from PRA's website. Ekklesia carries an article on PRA's new report.U.S. conservatives have successfully recruited a significant number of prominent African religious leaders to a campaign seeking to restrict the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The flagship issue ... is the ordination of LGBT clergy by mainline Protestant denominations-- particularly the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches-- in the United States....
As a direct result of this campaign, homophobia is on the rise in Africa-- from increased incidents of violence to antigay legislation that carries the death penalty....
[O]ne of the main organizations promoting homophobia in both Africa and the United States over the last decade is the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), a well-funded neoconservative think tank that opposed the African liberation struggles. In Africa, IRD and other U.S. conservatives present mainline denominations' commitments to human rights as imperialistic attempts to manipulate Africans into accepting homosexuality-- which they characterize as a purely western phenomenon. For IRD, this campaign is part of a long-term, deliberate, and successful strategy to weaken and split U.S. mainline denominations, block their powerful progressive social witness promoting social and economic justice, and promote political and social conservatism in the United States. Using African leaders as a wedge in the U.S. conflicts is only its latest and perhaps most effective tactic.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
EEOC Says TSA Failed To Accommodate Rastafarian's Dreadlocks
Cloture Voted On Hamilton's Nomination For 7th Circuit
The most strident criticisms accused Hamilton of "prohibiting prayers that mention Jesus Christ in the Indiana House of Representatives, but allowing prayers that mention Allah." (Red State blog.) That charge grew out of language in Hamilton's second opinion explaining the scope of the injunction. It specifically banned sectarian prayer, including Christian prayer that uses the name of "Christ." Hamilton emphasized that the only sectarian prayers that seem to have been offered in the Indiana House were Christian ones. Non-sectarian prayer, addressing God more generically, is permitted. Hamilton wrote:
The Arabic word "Allah" is used for “God” in Arabic translations of Jewish and Christian scriptures. If those offering prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives choose to use the Arabic Allah, the Spanish Dios, the German Gott, the French Dieu, the Swedish Gud, the Greek Theos, the Hebrew Elohim, the Italian Dio, or any other language's terms in addressing the God who is the focus of the non-sectarian prayers contemplated in Marsh v. Chambers, the court sees little risk that the choice of language would advance a particular religion or disparage others. If and when the prayer practices in the Indiana House of Representatives ever seem to be advancing Islam, an appropriate party can bring the problem to the attention of this or another court.The Senate is scheduled to take its final vote on Hamilton's nomination today.
UPDATE: On Thursday the Senate gave final approval to Hamilton's nomination by a vote of 59-39.
Appellate Court Will Consider Procedural Dispute In Ft. Worth Episcopal Diocese Case
Student Sues School After Refusal To Permit Participation In Pro-Life Day
Former Editor Sues Washington Times For Religious Discrimination
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
British Tribunal Grants Asylum To Afghan Convert To Christianity
Supreme Court Orders Yesterday In Two Cases of Interest
Also yesterday in Holy See v. Doe, (Docket No. 09-1, Nov. 16, 2009) (Order List), the Supreme Court invited the Solicitor General to file a brief expressing the views of the United States on whether certiorari should be granted. In the case, the 9th Circuit held that the Vatican is not shielded by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act from a respondeat superior claim against it by a victim of a priest's sexual abuse. (See prior posting.) SCOTUS Blog discusses the Court's action.
Azerbaijan Official Reports On Status of Required Re-Registration of Religious Groups
Christian Groups Continue Objections To Hate Crimes Law
Suit Challenges Religious Activities In Tennessee County's Schools
44 Members of Congress Join Amicus Brief Supporting Engravings At Capitol Visitor Center
Monday, November 16, 2009
Group Challenges Indianapolis Schools' Internet Filtering Policy
Sites that promote and provide information on religions such as Wicca, Witchcraft or Satanism. Occult practices, atheistic views, vodoo rituals or any form of mysticism are represented here. Includes sites that ... [instruct in the use of] spells, incantations, curses and magic powers.FFRF contends that this policy amounts to viewpoint discrimination and a violation of the Establishment Clause because it allows access to sites offering information about Christianity and other mainstream religions, but not about atheism. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]
Obama Champions Human Rights At Town Hall Meeting In China
We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation. These freedoms of expression and worship -- of access to information and political participation -- we believe are universal rights.He also mentioned religion in responding to a student's question about Afghanistan and terrorism. The President said in part:
They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities -- whether they are in the United States, China, or any nation. Indeed, it is that respect for universal rights that guides America's openness to other countries; our respect for different cultures; our commitment to international law; and our faith in the future.
We also have to think about what motivates young people to become terrorists, why would they become suicide bombers. And although there are obviously a lot of different reasons, including I think the perversion of religion, in thinking that somehow these kinds of violent acts are appropriate, part of what's happened in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan is these young people have no education, they have no opportunities, and so they see no way for them to move forward in life, and that leads them into thinking that this is their only option.
FOIA Appeal Filed To Get Information On Bureau of Prisons Chapel Library Project
Rubashkin Encounters Religious Observance Problems In Jails After Trial
Chabad.info has a rather graphic account of the problems encountered by Rubashkin in maintaining his Orthodox Jewish religious observances during these moves. On the first night, South Dakota prison officials removed Rubashkin's tzitzis (fringed garment) despite Rubashkin's objections, and moved him in a wheel chair since he insisted he would not walk without wearing his tzitzis. Friday morning Federal marshals decided he could wear the tzitzis. Rubashkin's family had purchased kosher food meeting his strict standards. However, Sioux City jail officials refused to allow it in because it was not packaged correctly. Rubashkin went without food from Thursday night until Saturday evening when he got grape juice, rolls and soup mix that he ate cold. Rubashkin's family ask supporters to pray and recite psalms for him.