Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Individual Congregations Seek To Intervene In Fort Worth Episcopal Diocese Case
Groups Challenge Use of Church for Graduation Ceremonies
We ... understand that when the Board first approved using the Cathedral for graduations, it was told that the religious items in the Cathedral would be covered for graduations. In fact, this never occurred; indeed, ... religious symbolism is inherent in virtually every aspect of the Cathedral, and so secularizing the facility for school events would not appear to be possible....The ACLU filed a similar objection in 2006 when the use of the Cathedral began. (See prior posting.)
[T]hat the Enfield Schools may have secular reasons for using the Cathedral (such as the price or the physical amenities of the facility) does not render such use constitutional. The Establishment Clause not only prohibits conduct that has a religious purpose, but also conduct that has a religious effect, such as religious coercion, endorsement, or delegation.... Second, the placement of a disclaimer on school graduation programs cannot cure the constitutional violations. A disclaimer does nothing to prevent or remedy coercive imposition of religion upon students and family members at a graduation ceremony, as we have here.
Defendant Sentenced For Cyber Attack On Scientology Websites
University Settles With Woman Fired For Being A Witch
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Appeal Filed Seeking Acceptance of D.C. Marriage Initiative Petition
Yesterday, several proponents of the initiative filed suit seeking court review of the Election Board's ruling. The complaint (full text) in Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, (DC Super. Ct., filed 11/18/2009), challenges the restriction in D.C. law that precludes using the initiative for any measure that would authorize discrimination in violation of the Human Rights Act. It also argues that the Initiative does not violate the HRA. Alliance Defense Fund issued a release announcing that the appeal had been filed.
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.