National Park Service Asked To Create Policy On Religious Displays

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a national non-profit alliance of local, state and federal scientists, law enforcement officers, and land managers, yesterday issued a press release complaining that the National Park Service has failed to create a policy regarding religious displays on federal park lands.  The group points to two recent controversies that remain unresolved.  One involves a Buddhist stupa on the grounds of the Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico. The other involves bronze plaques with biblical verses in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. The stupa was on land purchased by a national park. The bronze plaques, which were removed by Park Service officials, but whose placement is being reconsidered, belong to the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. Yesterday's Denver Post reports on the situation.

Native American Student Sues To Challenge Dress Code Barring Long Hair

The ACLU of Louisiana announced yesterday that it has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Native American junior high school student challenging the Livingston Parish (LA) Dress Code after the student was suspended for wearing long hair in accordance with the cultural and religious traditions of the United Houma Nations tribe.  The complaint (full text) in  Doe v. Livingston Parish School Board, (MD LA, filed 3/31/2011) claims that the student's free exercise and free expression rights, his rights under the Louisiana Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, and his parents due process rights to control the education and religious upbringing of their son, have all been violated. Houma Courier reports on the lawsuit.

Suit Challenges Suspension of Student For Preaching, Bringing Bible To School

A lawsuit filed last week in a California federal district court charges that the Grossmont Union High School District infringed the constitutional rights of 16-year old Kenneth Dominguez when it told him he could not bring his Bible to school or preach at school. According to a press release from the Pacific Justice Institute, eventually the student was suspended for two days when he refused to comply.  According to yesterday's San Diego Union Tribune, the school district says that Dominguez has a history of disruptive behavior and was interrupting class.

Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Demolition Permit For Mormon Chapel To Be Built

The Albany (NY) Times Union yesterday reported that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is suing the city of Albany and its Planning Board in state court over their refusal to issue a permit so that the church can demolish a former Catholic school building in preparation for construction of a Mormon chapel. The suit alleges that the refusal violates RLUIPA and that the city's demolition review ordinance is unconstitutional. The Planning Board says that the now-empty Catholic school building is intertwined with the character of the neighborhood and could be renovated for use at the same cost as building a new chapel.

Plaintiff Can Move Ahead On Some Claims Growing Out of Dispute Over Driver's License Photo

Islam v. City of Bridgeton, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32411 (D NJ, March 28, 2011), is a lawsuit growing out of a heated exchange between a Muslim woman (named Pamela Winrow Islam) and the manager of a branch office of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission over the conditions under which Islam could have her drivers' license photo taken wearing a religious headscarf. The argument ended in a local police officer escorting Muslim out. The parties disagree over whether force was used to do so. Islam sued alleging violation of various of her constitutional rights, violation of New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, as well as false arrest and malicious prosecution. The court allowed plaintiff to move ahead with various of her claims as to some of the defendants, but not as to  others.

In Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, Anti-Union Views Are Not Religious Beliefs

In Best Wood Judge Firewood and Tree Service v. U.S. Department of Transportation, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32405 (ED WI, March 25, 2011), a Wisconsin federal district court rejected a claim by the owner of a land clearing business that his free exercise rights were infringed when he was denied certification that would have made him eligible for a federally-funded Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. Owner Thomas Holzrichter claimed he was "socially disadvantaged" since he had consistently been denied subcontracts on Wisconsin Department of Transportation projects because neither he nor his employees were union members. Holzrichter claimed that he had strong moral and religious beliefs that precluded him from joining a union. However the court held:

Holzrichter admits that his Roman Catholic faith does not reject union membership. Moreover, Holzrichter is not opposed to all unions or the concept of union membership—and approves of teachers' and state workers' unions such as his wife's union—thereby reducing any inference that he holds an anti-union belief "religiously." Holzrichter is vehemently opposed to joining Local 139, and that objection may be based in his personal beliefs, ethics and morals. But in this court's opinion Holzrichter's opposition to Local 139 alone does not equate with his devotion to the divine, an ultimate being, or that which has ultimate importance. Holzrichter's opposition to Local 139 is neither required by a religious faith nor part of any personal religiousness; it is a personal preference based on personal principles.

Suit In Lebanon Attacks Politician For Criticizing Veiled Muslim Women

Lebanon's Daily Star reports on a lawsuit that has been filed in Beirut against Wiam Wahhab, leader of the Tawhid Party, by 70 Lebanese and Saudi women for remarks Wahhab made about Muslim women's veils. In a television interview earlier this month, Wahhab described Saudi women as being made to wear “black trash bags."  The lawsuit claims that Wahhab should be prosecuted for inciting religious hatred (Lebanon Penal Code Art. 317) and insulting religion (Lebanon Penal Code Art. 474). Plaintiffs also want the court to shut down the Tawhid Party.  Wahhab has apologized for his remarks, saying they were aimed a Saudi authorities for their oppressive treatment of women.

Anti-Abortion Group Challenges Library's Rules For Use of Meeting Rooms

An anti-abortion group, 40 Days for Life, filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against a Wisconsin public library that cancelled the group's scheduled showing in a library public meeting room of a film titled Blood Money.  The library claimed that the film would interfere with normal use of the library and therefore was in violation of the library's rules for use of meeting rooms.  The Memorandum in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction  (full text) in 40 Days For Life of Wassau v. Illick, (WD WI, filed 3/30/2011), claims that the Marathon County (WI) library's standards for use of public meeting rooms are vague and place unlimited discretion in the hands of the library director and trustees. It also claims the rules are not viewpoint neutral. Thomas More Society yesterday issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.

UPDATE: In a letter dated March 31, counsel for Marathon County  wrote plaintiffs' counsel informing them  that  the library will now permit showing of the scheduled film. The letter says in part: "Although the library had legitimate concerns raised by Facebook postings regarding the staging of a protest at the library as a result of you client's actions, it has been determined that this matter should not be litigated." (TMS press release).

New York Syrian Jewish Community Leader Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Trenton, New Jersey announced on Monday that 89-year old Rabbi Saul Kassin, a leader of New York's Syrian Jewish community pleaded guilty to an Information (full text) charging him with operating an illegal money remitting business. As summarized by JTA:

Kassin confessed to using his Magen Israel Society to launder money given to him by Solomon Dwek, a real-estate tycoon and the son of a prominent Syrian rabbi who was arrested in 2006 for a $50 million bank fraud. Under the system, Kassin and the charity kept 10 percent. Dwek later became a federal informant.

As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors will nos seek a prison sentence. However Kassin agreed to forfeit $367,500 in funds seized from the Magen Israel Society's bank account. He could also be fined up to $250,000. (See prior related posting.) Kassin was originally arrested as part of a larger public corruption and money laundering probe in 2009. (See prior posting.)

Court Agrees University Could Not Reasonably Accommodate Program Coordinator's Sabbath Needs

In Crider v. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, (ED TN, March 28, 2011), a Tennessee federal district court dismissed a case brought by a Seventh Day Adventist who claimed that the University of Tennessee failed to accommodate her religious beliefs that precluded her from performing any work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  Kimberly Crider was hired as coordinator in the University's Programs Abroad Office. Among her responsibilities was the monitoring on rotating week ends of an emergency cell phone that could be called by students and faculty who are traveling abroad. Various other job responsibilities also called for week end work. The court found that the University could not reasonably accommodate Crider without incurring undue hardship. [Thanks to CCH Employment Law Daily via Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]

4th Circuit Upholds West Virginia's Vaccination Requirements Over Constitutional Challenges

In Workman v. Mingo County Board of Education, (4th Cir., March 22, 2011), the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld West Virginia's statute requiring vaccination for various diseases as a condition of attending school. The court rejected plaintiff's free exercise, equal protection  and substantive due process challenges to the requirement. (See prior related posting.) The Charleston Gazette reporting on the case yesterday says that plaintiff will seek review of the decision in the Supreme Court.

Muslim Center's Zoning Claims Move Ahead, But Individual Capacity Claims Dismissed

In Irshad Learning Center v. County of DuPage, (ND IL, March 28, 2011), an Illinois federal district court dismissed individual capacity claims against county officials, but permitted plaintiffs to move ahead with most of their other challenges to the denial of a conditional use permit to use their property for Muslim religious purposes and educational activities. The lawsuit alleges that the county violated RLUIPA, the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act and various constitutional provisions in denying the zoning request. The court held that individual members of the County Board and Zoning Board of Appeals have quasi-judicial immunity from liability for the zoning decisions they made. The court refused to dismiss plaintiffs' claims against the county charging violations of the equal terms and substantial burden provisions of RLUIPA and the Equal Protection  and Free Exercise Clauses. Yesterday's Naperville (IL) Sun reported on the decision.

Muslim Brotherhood In Egypt Invites Copts To Join Its New Political Party

Al Masyr Al Youm today reports that Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie has invited Coptic Christians to join the Freedom and Justice Party-- the new political party which the Brotherhood plans to form. Badie says the new party will not preach religion. It will organize athletic and artistic activities, and support new economic institutions, hospitals and schools. The Supreme Council of Egypt's Armed Forces has approved a new law that bars the formation of political parties based on religion. (See prior posting.)

10th Circuit Upholds Bald Eagle Protection Regulations Over RFRA Challenge

In a complicated opinion yesterday, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the current federal regulations that implement the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act against a claim that they infringe the religious freedom of adherents of Native American religions who are not members of federally recognized Indian tribes.  In United States v. Wilgus, (10th Cir., March 29, 2011), the court gave this background:

16 U.S.C. § 668, prohibits possession of the feathers or parts of eagles, but contains an exception to the ban when the feathers are possessed "for the religious purposes of Indian tribes." Id. § 668a. The regulations implementing the exception limit its scope to members of federally-recognized tribes only, who are allowed to apply to the government for permits. 50 C.F.R. § 22.22. Wilgus is a follower of a Native American faith, but is not a member of a federally-recognized tribe, nor is he Indian by birth.

Faced with prosecution, Wilgus interposed as a defense the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ... which prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening the religious freedom of individuals, unless it does so to forward a compelling governmental interest via the least restrictive means. Wilgus argues that the government’s choice to limit legal possession of eagle feathers to members of federally-recognized tribes substantially burdens his religious exercise which, he claims, requires him to possess eagle feathers.

In an earlier en banc decision, the 10th Circuit had held that defendant's religious exercise was substantially burdened, but that the government had two compelling interests for doing so. In yesterday's decision, the 10th Circuit dealt with the remaining issue-- whether the current regulation is the least restrictive means of furthering the government's interests in protecting the bald eagle as our national symbol and in fostering Native American  culture and religion. It held that it is.

In the course of its decision, the court refined the articulation of the government's compelling interests. It concluded that the interest was one of protecting the culture of federally-recognized Indian tribes, not protecting Native American religion more generally. It said that the broader formulation would run afoul of the Establishment Clause:

"When the government acts with the ostensible and predominant purpose of advancing religion, it violates that central Establishment Clause value of official religious neutrality...." [citation omitted]. If we were to hold that the federal government has a compelling interest in fostering Native American culture generally by providing special exceptions to criminal laws for Native American religious practices, we are concerned this might run up against this principle.

By adopting the federally-recognized tribes version of the interest, however, we remain on safe ground, based on the Supreme Court’s conclusion that federally recognized tribes are political—rather than religious or racial—in nature.

AP reports on the decision.

Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Protecting Civil Rights of American Muslims

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights held a hearing yesterday on Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims. A webcast of the entire hearing as well as transcripts of statements made by the four witnesses and two committee members are all available on the Judiciary Committee's website. A report on the hearing from Religion News Service describes the widely publicized hearing as follows:

In many ways, the hearing led by Senate Democrats on Tuesday (March 29) was the dramatic antithesis of one House Republicans held earlier this month on homegrown Islamic radicalism.

Instead of gavel-banging, decorum prevailed. Sober statistics stood in for emotional anecdotes, and laughter, not sobs, resounded in the committee room. While an audience packed the gallery, the dais was empty save for the six senators who came and went.

But the most striking change was the second hearing’s focus: Crimes committed against American Muslims, not by them.

(See prior related posting.)

Police In India Arrest 14 For Illegal Conversion To Christianity

Today's Hindustan Times reports that in the Indian state of Orissa yesterday, police arrested 14 individuals, mostly tribals, on charges that they converted illegally to Christianity.  They were charged with violating the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act 1967 which provides that no person shall "convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means". Police are also looking for the pastor behind their conversion.

UPDATE: A report in Christian Today clarifies the basis for the arrest of the 14 individuals who converted. Under the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act 1989, citizens wishing to convert must undergo a police inquiry of their reasons for converting. The conversion must be approved by police and a local magistrate. (See prior posting.)

Punitive Damage Claim Added In Chicago Priest Sexual Abuse Case Against Jesuits

In a previously filed clergy sexual abuse case against the Jesuit order in Chicago, plaintiffs yesterday filed a lengthy motion (full text) seeking to add a claim for punitive damages. Today's New York Times reports on the case which involves abuse committed by former priest Donald McGuire who is now serving a 25-year prison sentence. The motion in John Doe 117 v. Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus, (Cook Co. Cir. Ct., motion filed 3/28/2011) alleges that "the Chicago Jesuits were aware of McGuire's 'problems' with young boys since his ordination in the early 1960's, yet did nothing to stop his abuse of children ... despite many specific warnings regarding McGuire and his pedophilic tendencies."

Judge Backs Off Sentencing Defendants To Read Bible Study Workbook

In Houston, Texas, a new criminal court trial judge has run into a church-state controversy only a few months after taking office. KHOU News yesterday reported that Judge John Clinton offered defendants in his court an option to community service. They could read the book "The Heart of a Problem" and return to discuss it with him in a few months. The book is a Bible study workbook that promotes victorious Christian living. After Harris County lawyers raised questions, Clinton backed off his plan. He said: "All I was trying to do was help. I was told about the book. I received the book. I read the book. I thought, 'Hey this is a great book.' Again, me thinking based on my faith, not thinking in general." Clinton says any defendant who has already been sentenced to read the book can choose something else instead.

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore To Set Up Presidential Exploratory Committee

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore is planning to set up a presidential exploratory committee according to a report by CNN. The former judge was removed from office in 2003 for defying a federal court order to remove a large granite Ten Commandments monument that he had placed in Alabama's state courthouse. Moore is a conservative Christian and an active member of the tea party movement. His campaign will focus on repealing the health care reform law, lowering taxes, limiting government and eliminating progressive income taxes.

Closing Arguments Begin In Canadian Test of Polygamy Ban

In Canada, in the British Columbia Supreme Court, closing arguments began yesterday in the reference case testing the constitutionality of Canada's criminal ban on polygamy. The trial began in November. (See prior posting.) The Vancouver Sun yesterday reported that in his closing argument lawyer Craig Jones, representing the B.C. attorney general argued against "the position of the court-appointed amicus that the law is invalid because it was an attempt to force a white, Christian morality on society." He also argued that the polygamy ban applies to multi-party conjugal relationships involving gays and lesbians as well as heterosexuals. Thousands of pages of pleadings, transcripts and other documents from the trial are available online.