California Proposes Halal and Expanded Vegetarian Diets For Prisons

On Jan. 16, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued a Notice of Proposed Regulations that would add a halal meat alternative program as a third religious dietary option for inmates at all adult institutions in the state. Participation in the program will be open to Muslim inmates and other inmates with a religious need to consume halal meat, as determined by a Muslim Chaplain. The proposed regulations would also amend existing regulations for vegetarian diets to make it clear that it is available to inmates who seek it for a personal or ethical reasons, as well as those who request it for religious reasons. The Notice says that the purpose of the proposed regulations "is to avoid future costly litigation and unnecessary expenses to the taxpayers of the State of California." Links to all the formal notices, text and forms involved are available from the CDCR website. Yesterday's Fresno Bee reported on the proposed regulations.

Passenger's Tefillin Leads To Security Scare and Emergency Landing

A U.S. Airways Express plane with 15 passengers aboard en route from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Louisville yesterday made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after a flight attendant became concerned when a 17-year old Jewish youth put on tefillin for his morning prayers. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, neither the flight attendant nor the pilot had ever seen tefillin-- small leather boxes containing scriptural verses connected to leather straps and placed on the arm and head. The pilot reported that a passenger had a device with "wires" on the plane. In a statement, the airline said the crew "did not receive a clear response" when they asked the passenger about the tefillin. Law enforcement vehicles surrounded the plane when it touched down and it was taken to a remote area where the boy, and his sister who was travelling with him were removed. Apparently with 20 minutes or so, police decided the pair, shaken by the experience, posed no threat. A TSA statement referred to the unscheduled landing as a "disruptive passenger" incident.

Group Urges Action To Appoint International Religious Freedom Ambassador

CNSNews reported yesterday that the Christian Advocacy group, Open Doors USA, has begun a petition drive to urge President Obama to fill the vacant position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Open Doors spokesperson Lindsay Vessey said that an appointment is needed to demonstrate the importance of international religious freedom. The position was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). Washington Post's On Faith reported that rumors circulating in the capital suggest that the White House is considering prominent New York City pastor, Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, for the position. Meanwhile, international religious freedom advocates are also concerned that the Ambassador-at-Large position does not carry enough clout to affect foreign policy.

Also yesterday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released a letter it sent earlier this month to President Obama urging him to designate Vietnam a "Country of Particular Concern" under the IRFA. It also asked him to press Congress to pass the proposed Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 1159/ H.R. 1969). USCIRF had already recommended adding Vietnam to the list in its 2009 Annual Report issued last May. (See prior posting.)

Bible References On Rifle Sights Will End

Trijicon, Inc. issued a statement yesterday voluntarily agreeing to stop its previously reported practice of including coded references to Bible verses as part of the serial number on rifle sights supplied to the military. The New York Times reports that the company will also supply the Pentagon with 100 free modification kits that will allow the military to remove the serial numbers from rifles of units deployed in combat. Foreign military units will also be offered the kits. Trend reports that Australia and New Zealand have both announced that they will remove the inscriptions from rifle sights issued to their military. Meanwhile, blogger Christian Fighter Pilot suggested this week that there was in fact a close tie-in between the Biblical verses chosen by Trijicon and the rifle sights. The sights use fiber optic and light enhancement technology, and all of the Bible verses chosen (Old and New Testament) include "light" as a theme.

Alaska Appellate Court Says Religious Belief in Marijuana Was Not Sincere

In Lineker v. State, (AK Ct. App., Jan 20, 2010), the Alaska Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision upheld a trial court's finding that defendants had not established that their possession of marijuana was supported by a sincere religious belief. Judge Mannheimer dissenting argued that the trial court's findings in places seemed to assess the sincerity of defendants' beliefs by examining whether they were unorthodox. (See prior related posting.)

Court Holds Church Can Tear Down Historic Rectory

In Stamford, Connecticut, a state trial court judge on Wednesday refused to enjoin St. Andrew's Episcopal Church from tearing down its its 136-year old rectory building. The Stamford Advocate reports that in a 26-page opinion the court rejected the challenge brought under a rarely used state law that allows any citizen to sue to prevent the "unreasonable" destruction of historic buildings. In denying the temporary injunction. the court concluded that there is no feasible or affordable alternative to the church's arrangement with a real estate developer.

Suit Challenges Regulation of Spiritual Counsellors As Fortune Tellers

Yesterday's Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch reports on a lawsuit filed in federal district court in Virginia challenging the constitutionality of a Chesterfield County (VA) law that regulates "spiritual counsellors" in the same way that fortune tellers are regulated. This includes a requirement to obtain a permit after a background check and character references, as well as zoning restrictions and a $300 license tax. Spiritual adviser Sophie King says she is engaged in a religious activity. She says she is not a fortune teller because she merely relays information she receives without knowing how it relates to her individual client. The county, in a motion to dismiss filed this week, says that King is engaged in a business that may be regulated. The motion to dismiss also argues that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over challenges to the county's business license tax or zoning ordinance.

Diocese Challenges Designation of Church As Historic District

Yesterday's Springfield (MA) Republican reported that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has filed suit in state court seeking to enjoin enforcement of a city ordinance enacted last December that creates an historic district out of Our Lady of Hope Church. The suit, filed against the city, the mayor and the council members in office when the district was created, also seeks unspecified damages. Historic district designation means that the building may not be torn down, and no changes can be made to its exterior, without approval of the city's Historical Commission. The complaint alleges that by limiting its ability to control church buildings, including religious symbols on them, the ordinance infringes the Diocese's constitutionally protected free exercise rights and freedom of expression, as well as violating equal protection guarantees, under both the state and federal constitutions.

Egypt's High Administrative Court Overturns Ban On Niqab In University Exams

World Bulletin reports that on Wednesday, Egypt's High Administrative Court overturned a ban imposed by the Minister of Higher Education on female students wearing the full-face niqab in university examinations. The court said:

Freedom to wear the niqab is guaranteed by human rights and constitutional liberties, and a girl's right to dress the way she sees fit in accordance with her beliefs and her social environment is a firm right that cannot be violated.

The court added, however, that a student must show her face when asked to do so for security reasons. The decision reverses one handed down by a Cairo court earlier this month. (See prior posting.)

Supreme Court Decision Impacts Those Seeking Asylum Because of Religious Persecution

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday handed down an immigration law opinion that has important implications in cases in which an individual about to be deported or removed seeks to reopen proceedings to claim asylum because of religious persecution in his country of origin. A federal regulation makes discretionary a decision to reopen proceedings to consider changed conditions relating (among other things) to religious persecution in his country of origin. In Kucana v. Holder, (Sup. Ct., Jan. 20, 2010), the Court, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg, held that a statutory bar to judicial review of decisions by the Attorney General that are made discretionary by statute does not apply to decisions by the Attorney General made discretionary only by federal regulations. In this case, an Albanian citizen sought political asylum, fearing political persecution. His motion to reopen his removal proceedings was based on claims that conditions in Albania had worsened. Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion. ScotusBlog reports on the decision.

Court Rejects Claim of Religious Exemption From Income Taxes

In Bennett-Bey v. Shulman, (D DC, Jan. 20, 2010), the federal district court for the District of Columbia dismissed a pro se complaint in which plaintiff claimed a free exercise exemption from having federal income taxes withheld from her salary. Tanya Bennett-Bey alleged that she had sovereign immunity from federal taxes because she is a beneficiary of the Great Moorish Estate Express Trust, which makes her "a Moorish American Citizen." The court first found that it lacked jurisdiction because plaintiff had never filed for a refund from the IRS. Beyond that, plaintiff failed to allege that paying federal income tax would place a substantial burden on her free exercise of religion.

Rifqa Bary Remains In Foster Care, Agrees to Counseling

The Columbus Dispatch reported yesterday that a sort of detente has been reached in the case of Rifqa Bary, the 17-year old who fled her home in Ohio after converting from Islam to Christianity. She fled to a pastor in Florida, claiming her father had threatened to kill her because of the conversion. Florida courts eventually returned her to Ohio. At a court hearing in Columbus (OH) on Tuesday, both sides agreed that Rifqa would remain in a foster home where she is now living in temporary custody of Franklin County (OH) Children Services. Rifqa and her parents will go through counseling. If they are not reconciled, when Rifqa turns 18 in August when will be considered an adult and will be free to live wherever she wishes. Also in the court hearing, Rifqa admitted she was unruly in running a way from home, but the court will impose no sanctions on her. During the hearing, Rifqa, carrying a wooden cross and wearing a rhinestone crucifix necklace, clung to her attorney, Angela Lloyd. (See prior related posting.)

Japan's Supreme Court Says City's Gift of Site For Shrine Is Unconstitutional

Japan's Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the city of Sunagawa violated the Japanese Constitution when it allowed city-owned land to be used without charge as a site for a Shinto shrine. Article 20 of the Constitution bans religious organizations from receiving any privileges from the State and bars the government from engaging in religious activity. According to today's Japan Times , the Supreme Court's Grand Bench wrote: "It is inevitable that the general public would believe the local government supports a specific religion if it provides specific benefits to it." The Court remanded the case to the Sapporo High Court for it to fashion a remedy other than removal of the shrine.

Hundreds Killed In Muslim-Christian Violence In Nigeria

Reports from the Nigerian city of Jos say that between 200 and 400 people were killed and over 4,000 were injured in three days of violence between Muslims and Christians that began January 17. The Kyiv Post reports that most of the violence took place in the city's poor neighborhoods. There are conflicting reports on what started the violence. Next reports that the Plateau state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew and that the federal government has ordered the deployment of troops to the area.

Visa Bans for Two Muslim Scholars Lifted

Reuters reported yesterday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has signed orders ending the bans on granting visas to two Muslim scholars--Prof. Tariq Ramadan of Oxford University and Prof. Adam Habib of Johannesburg University. Originally government officials gave no reason for revoking Ramadan's visa, but later said it was based on a provision of the Patriot Act that allows exclusion of individuals who have supported terrorism. Ramadan is also banned from some Arab countries for his criticism of their failure to support the Palestinians. The ACLU issued a press release praising Secretary Clinton's actions.

Free Exercise Claim Growing Out of Auto Search Dismissed

In Turner v. Craig, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3356 (ND CA, Jan. 14, 2010), plaintiff alleged that he was arrested after a traffic stop by defendant police officers. Officers searched his vehicle and took a bottle of "blessing oil" that defendant uses for religious purposes from the car's glove box. Plaintiff claimed this violated his free exercise rights. The court dismissed the claim with leave to amend, indicating that plaintiff needed to set out some description of his religious practices and allege that defendants acted with the object or purpose of suppressing his religion. Various other claims growing out of the same incident-- including illegal search and false arrest allegations-- were also dismissed with leave to amend.

Vatican Issues Guidelines For Scheduled Mideast Synod

The Vatican yesterday released a document titled Guidelines for Mideast Synod. The synod, scheduled for Oct. 10-24, is expected to attract some 150 bishops, mostly from Eastern rite churches. Haaretz reports that there are some 17 million Christians in the Middle East from Iran to Egypt. Many Christians have fled, but many others (primarily from Philippines, India and Pakistan) have arrived in Arab lands in recent years to work in domestic or manual labor. Here are some excerpts from the lengthy Guidelines:

18. Political conflicts in the region have a direct influence on the lives of Christians, both as citizens and as Christians. The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories makes daily life difficult with regard to freedom of movement, the economy and religious life (access to the Holy Places is dependent on military permission which is granted to some and denied to others on security grounds). Moreover, certain Christian fundamentalist theologies use Sacred Scripture to justify Israel's occupation of Palestine, making the position of Christian Arabs even more sensitive.

19. In Iraq, the war has unleashed evil forces within the country, religious confessions and political movements, making all Iraqis victims. However, because Christians represent the smallest and weakest part of Iraqi communities, they are among the principal victims, with world politics taking no notice.

20. In Lebanon, Christians are deeply divided at a political and confessional level, without a commonly acceptable plan of action. In Egypt, the rise of political Islam, on the one hand, and the disengagement of Christians from civil society on the other, lead to intolerance, inequality and injustice in their lives. Moreover, this Islamisation also penetrates families through the media and school.... In many countries, authoritarianism or dictatorships force the population - Christians included - to bear everything in silence....

22. In the Middle East, freedom of religion customarily means freedom of worship and not freedom of conscience, i.e., the freedom to change one's religion for belief in another. Generally speaking, religion in the Middle East is a social and even a national choice, and not an individual one. To change religion is perceived as betraying a society, culture and nation, founded largely on a religious tradition.

23. Conversion is seen as the fruit of a proselytism with personal interests attached and not arising from authentic religious conviction. Oftentimes, the conversion of Jews and Muslims is forbidden by State laws. Christians, though also subjected to pressure and opposition from families and tribes - even if less severely - remain free to change their religion. Many times, the conversion of Christians results not from religious conviction but personal interests or under pressure from Muslim proselytism, particularly to be relieved from obligations related to family difficulties.

British Equality Commission Opens Consultation on Equality Guides

Last week, Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission opened its consultation on drafts of three guides under Britain's Equality Bill. The Bill is in its final stages of Parliamentary passage. The three proposed guides are: (1) Employment; (2) Equal Pay; and (3) Services, Public Functions and Associations. (Links to full texts and questionnaires.) The draft guides have extensive examples of the ban on religious discrimination, and also deal with various exemptions for religious organizations. The consultations close on April 2.

British Proposal Would Permit Religious Same-Sex Commitment Ceremonies

Ekklesia reported yesterday on a proposal to create more options in Britain for same-sex commitment ceremonies. The proposal is now before the House of Lords. Currently under Britain's Civil Partnership Act 2004, same-sex commitment ceremonies can only be conducted by civil registrars. The proposed amendment to the pending Equality Bill would also give legal recognition to same-sex commitment ceremonies performed by churches or religious organizations if they wish to be able to do so.

UPDATE: The House of Lords passed the amendment by a vote of 95-21 on March 2. London Times.

Cert. Denied In Kindergarten Bible Reading Ban

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Busch v. Marple Union School District, (Docket No. 09-315, 1/19/2010). (Order List.) In the case, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, upheld a Pennsylvania elementary school's restriction that barred a kindergartner's mother from reading aloud from the Bible as part of a "show and tell" activity in her son's classroom. (See prior posting.) The Christian Science Monitor reports on the Supreme Court's refusal to grant review. The school involved is in suburban Philadelphia.