RLUIPA Applies To Law Aimed At Transitional Housing For Sex Offenders

In Martin v. Houston, (MD AL, July 25, 2016), an Alabama federal district court held that a pastor can invoke RLUIPA in challenging an Alabama law that would require him to close down his mobile home transitional housing arrangement for recently-released male sex offenders.  The law, which the state legislature made applicable to only one county, prohibits unrelated adult sex offenders from establishing residency in the same home or living less than 300 feet apart on the same property. The court concluded that the law constitutes a land use regulation under which the government makes individualized assessments of the proposed use of property.

2016 Democratic Platform On Protecting Religious Minorities Internationally

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the last in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Here is the Platform provision on international human rights dealing with Religious Minorities:

We are horrified by ISIS’ genocide and sexual enslavement of Christians and Yezidis and crimes against humanity against Muslims and others in the Middle East. We will do everything we can to protect religious minorities and the fundamental right of freedom of religion.

2016 Democratic Platform On International Human Rights of LGBT Communities

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the sixth in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Here is the Platform provision on international human rights of the LGBT community:

Democrats believe that LGBT rights are human rights and that American foreign policy should advance the ability of all persons to live with dignity, security, and respect, regardless of who they are or who they love. We applaud President Obama’s historic Presidential Memorandum on International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons, which combats criminalization, protects refugees, and provides foreign assistance. We will continue to stand with LGBT people around the world, including fighting efforts by any nation to infringe on LGBT rights or ignore abuse.

2016 Democratic Platform on Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the fifth in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Note that the excerpt continues after the jump. Here is the Platform section on Securing Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice:

Democrats are committed to protecting and advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice. We believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion—regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or how she is insured.

2016 Democratic Platform on Tribal Nation Religious Traditions

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the fourth in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Here is an excerpt from the Platform section on Honoring Indigenous Tribal Nations:

We will manage for tribal sacred places, and empower tribes to maintain and pass on traditional religious beliefs, languages, and social practices without fear of discrimination or suppression. We also believe that Native children are the future of tribal nations and that the Indian Child Welfare Act is critical to the survival of Indian culture, government, and communities and must be enforced with the statutory intent of the law.

2016 Democratic Platform on Respecting Faith and Service

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the third in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Here is an excerpt from the Platform provision titled Respecting Faith and Service:

Democrats know that our nation, our communities, and our lives are made vastly stronger and richer by faith in many forms and the countless acts of justice, mercy, and tolerance it inspires. We believe in lifting up and valuing the good work of people of faith and religious organizations and finding ways to support that work where possible.

2016 Democratic Platform on LGBT Rights

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the second in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Note that the excerpt continues after the jump. Here is the Platform section on Guaranteeing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights:

Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized that LGBT people—like other Americans—have the right to marry the person they love. But there is still much work to be done. LGBT kids continue to be bullied at school, restaurants can refuse to serve transgender people, and same-sex couples are at risk of being evicted from their homes. That is unacceptable and must change.

2016 Democratic Platform on Religious Discrimination

Yesterday the Democratic Party at its national convention adopted its 2016 Platform (full text).  This is the first in a series of seven posts that focus on Platform provisions dealing with religious discrimination and with social issues that often generate controversy defined in religious terms. Here are two Platform excerpts that deal with religious discrimination:

Fixing our Broken Immigration System

...We reject attempts to impose a religious test to bar immigrants or refugees from entering the United States. It is un-American and runs counter to the founding principles of this country....

Guaranteeing Civil Rights

Democrats will always fight to end discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. We need to promote civility and speak out against bigotry and other forms of intolerance that have entered our political discourse. It is unacceptable to target, defame, or exclude anyone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. While freedom of expression is a fundamental constitutional principle, we must condemn hate speech that creates a fertile climate for violence. We condemn Donald Trump’s demonization of prisoners of war, women, Muslims, Mexicans, and people with disabilities; his playing coy with white supremacists; and the climate of bigotry he is creating. We also condemn the recent uptick in other forms of hate speech, like anti-Semitism and Islamophobia....

Challenge To Church Pension Plan Not Barred By First Amendment

In Bacon v. Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, (MN App., July 25, 2016), a Minnesota state court of appeals held that neither the First Amendment nor the Freedom of Conscience Clause of the Minnesota Constitution prevents a civil court from adjudicating a challenge to the manner in which the Lutheran Church retirement plans were managed. Participants in the pension plan sued claiming breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, and fraud and concealment in the administration and management of the Plans. The court said in part:

Because the plan documents themselves contain the fiduciary duties, a Minnesota court can adjudicate many of the claims without reaching the religious documents.... There does not appear to be a specific ruling of a governing ecclesiastical body at issue in this case....

Recent Articles of Interest

From SSRN:

• Paul T. Babie, Australia and Australian External Territories in Brill, Encyclopedia of Law and Religion (July 2016).
• Melissa Crouch, Promiscuity, Polygyny and the Power of Revenge: The Past and Future of Burmese Buddhist Law in Myanmar, (Asian Journal of Law and Society, Special Issue on Buddhism and Law in Asia, Forthcoming).
• Eva Brems, Objections to Anti-Discrimination in the Name of Conscience or Religion: A Conflicting Rights Approach, (Forthcoming in The Conscience Wars: Rethinking the Balance between Religion, Identity, and Equality (Susanna Mancini & Michel Rosenfeld eds., Cambridge University Press, 2017)).
• Claudia E. Haupt, Religious Outliers: Professional Knowledge Communities, Individual Conscience Claims, and the Availability of Professional Services to the Public, (Law, Religion, and Health in the United States (Holly Fernandez Lynch, I. Glenn Cohen, & Elizabeth Sepper eds. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2017 Forthcoming)).
• Perry Dane, Scopes of Religious Exemption: A Normative Map, (Religious Exemptions, Oxford University Press, Forthcoming).
• Christopher McCrudden, Marriage Registrars, Same-Sex Relationships, and Religious Discrimination in the European Court of Human Rights, (July 20, 2016).
• Peter J. Boettke, Joshua C. Hall & Kathleen M. Sheehan, Was Adam Smith Right about Religious Competition?, (West Virginia University, Department of Economics, Working Paper No. 15-47 (2015)).
• Melissa Crouch, Introduction: Islam and the State in Myanmar, (Melissa Crouch (ed), Islam and the State in Myanmar: Muslim-Buddhist Relations and the Politics of Belonging. Oxford University Press, 2016, Forthcoming).
• Oonagh B. Breen, Guardians of the Charitable Realm: Charitable Trust Supervision Practice and Procedure in the Common Law World, (European Review of Private Law, Forthcoming).

From SmartCILP and elsewhere:

• Benjamin Porat, Ownership and Exclusivity: Two Visions, Two Traditions, 64 American Journal of Comparative Law 147-190 (2016).
• Richard A. Epstein, Religious Liberty Under Siege In Mississippi, (Hoover Institution, Defining Ideas, July 18, 2016).

Church Directional Sign On Public Property Did Not Violate Establishment Clause

In Tearpock-Martini v. Shickshinny Borough, (MD PA, July 22, 2016), a Pennsylvania federal district court dismissed an Establishment Clause challenge to the action of a borough council that voted to permit a sign on a public property pointing the way to a local Baptist church.  Plaintiff whose property was near the sign was a member of council as well, but voted against the action. Borough employees helped install the sign which read: "Bible Baptist Church Welcomes You!".  The sign included a cross and a Bible and a directional arrow with the words "one block". Finding that the sign is a "religious display," the court concluded nevertheless:

A reasonable observer familiar with the history and context of the display would not perceive the sign as a government endorsement of religion.

(See prior related posting.)

Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases

In Turner v. Sidorowicz, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93339 (SD NY, July 18, 2016), a New York federal district court dismissed an inmate's complaint that he was removed from the kosher diet meal plan after he allegedly took food from the regular meal line.

In Powell v. City of New York, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94186 (SD NY, July 14, 2016), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of an inmate's complaint that Muslims in his housing unit were not called for Friday Jummah services for two consecutive weeks. UPDATE: The court adopted the magistrate's recommendation at 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 101919 (Aug. 3, 2016).

In Turner v. Schofield, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94304 (WD TN, July 20, 2016), a Tennessee federal district court, while dismissing a number of claims, allowed a Nation of Islam inmate to move ahead with his complaint that pork meals are being served in the non-pork food line, that he is allergic to the food being served as  a pork replacement, and he has been refused passes for religious services when hi uses his Nation of Islam name to sign up.

In Burrell v. Loungo, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94561 (MD PA, July 18, 2016), a Pennsylvania federal magistrate judge dismissed, with leave to amend, numerous claims by an inmate including his claim that his free exercise rights were infringed when his request for a furlough to attend an outside church service was denied.

In McCann v. Moreno, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 7715 (TX App., July 21, 2016), a Texas state appeals court affirmed the dismissal of a claim by a Jewish-Druid inmate that insistence he receive an insulin dose at 3:00 am violates his free exercise rights because his religion requires that he not eat or rise before sunrise.

In Henderson v. Muniz, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94828 (ND CA, July 20, 2016), a California federal district court allowed a Muslim inmate to move ahead with his complaints regarding denial of daily and Friday prayers, denial of a qualified Muslim chaplain, necessary congregational artifacts, ability to celebrate Iftar and, as to one defendant, failure to provide hot Ramadan meals prepared and served by Muslim inmates.

In Etterson v. Newcome, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94927 (ED VA, July 19, 2016), a Virginia federal district court refused to dismiss a Muslim inmate's complaint that  he was wrongly removed him from the list to receive Ramadan trays when he was seen eating and drinking after sundown but before the Ramadan trays had been served.

In Celestin v. Rock, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95450 (ND NY, July 20, 2016), a New York federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing on qualified immunity grounds a Jewish inmate's complaint about not receiving Seder meals in special housing unit. The court stated: "although plaintiff may have had a well-established right to have the Seder meal brought to his cell, based on his individual belief that he could celebrate the Seder by himself, it was objectively reasonable for all the defendants to believe that they were not violating plaintiff's rights...."

In Flowers v. Mullet, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95009 (WD OK, July 21, 2016), an Oklahoma federal district court adopted a magistrate's recommendation (2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95473, June 27, 2016) and dismissed an inmate's complaint that a Bible was taken from his cell.

Federal Agencies Seek Public Input On Contraceptive Mandate Accommodation

In a Request For Information (full text) published yesterday in the Federal Register, the IRS, HHS and Employee Benefits Security Administration asked for suggestions on ways to further accommodate objections by religious non-profits to  furnishing their employees coverage for contraceptive services in employer health plans.  The Release is the government's response to the U.S. Supreme Court's remand last May in Zubik v. Burwell. (See prior posting.) The Release says in part:

The Departments are using the RFI procedure because the issues addressed in the supplemental briefing in Zubik affect a wide variety of stakeholders, including many who are not parties to the cases that were before the Supreme Court. Other employers also have brought RFRA challenges to the accommodation, and their views may differ from the views held by the employers in Zubik and the consolidated cases. In addition, any change to the accommodation could have implications for the rights and obligations of issuers, third party administrators, and women enrolled in health plans established by objecting employers.

Responses must be submitted by Sept. 20. [Thanks to Jeff Pasek for the lead.] 

Cert. Petition Filed In Bakery's Refusal To Provide Cake For Same-Sex Wedding

Yesterday a petition for certiorari (full text) was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in Masterpiece Cake Shop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, (cert filed 7/22/2016). In the case, a Colorado Court of Appeals held that a bakery owner's free exercise and free speech rights were not infringed when the Colorado Civil Rights Commission found that the refusal to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violates Colorado's public accommodation law.  The Colorado Supreme Court denied review. (See prior posting.) ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the petition for review.

RFRA Allows Insured To Refuse Contraceptive Coverage

In Wieland v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (ED MO, July 21, 2016), a Missouri federal district court enjoined the federal government from enforcing the Affordable Care Act against a couple who, on religious grounds, object to participating in a healthcare plan that provides coverage for contraceptives and similarly object to providing contraceptive coverage to their daughters who are on their health insurance policy. Plaintiff, a Roman Catholic, is a Missouri state legislator and receives health insurance through the state's health care plan.  Finding that plaintiffs have standing because they might be able to find a plan that does not offer contraceptive coverage, the court went on to hold that RFRA bars enforcement of the mandate against plaintiffs, saying in part:

Defendants further argue that “[i]t is not a substantial burden on a person’s religion to subscribe to a group health plan that covers services that the person will not use for religious reasons, or that other individuals covered by the plan will elect, in the exercise of their personal choice, to utilize.” Plaintiffs contend that Defendants’ argument is, in essence, an attack on the sincerity of their religious beliefs, which the Supreme Court most recently in Hobby Lobby cautioned against. This Court agrees. Defendants’ argument is, in effect, an argument that Plaintiffs’ religious beliefs are unreasonable. However, the sincerity of Plaintiffs’ religious beliefs has not been disputed, and it is not for the Court “to say that [Plaintiffs’] religious beliefs are mistaken or insubstantial.”

The court went on to hold that even assuming that the government has a compelling interest in "a workable insurance system that covers a wide range of preventative health services," there are less restrictive means of achieving this goal:

the government could allow a system like that in place in Missouri before the Mandate, where individuals could simply check a box to opt out of contraceptive coverage.

Modern Healthcare reports on the decision. (See prior related posting.) [Thanks to Jeff Pasek for the lead.] 

Trump Again Calls For Repeal of Politicking Limits on Churches-- Some Background

In Donald Trump's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last night (full text from Politico), he repeated his previous promise to work for repeal of the Johnson Amendment, saying:

At this moment, I would like to thank the evangelical community who have been so good to me and so supportive. You have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits.

An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views.

I am going to work very hard to repeal that language and protect free speech for all Americans.

The relevant language is found in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which, in describing religious and charitable organizations that qualify for tax-exempt status, says that they may "not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

Here is a history and critique of the Johnson Amendment from the perspective of Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization that seeks its repeal. And here is an issue of Liberty Magazine containing four articles largely supporting the Amendment's underlying policy and constitutionality.

Plaintiffs Lack Standing To Challenge Florida Chabad Center

In Gagliardi v. City of Boca Raton, (SD FL, July 21, 2016), a Florida federal district court dismissed on standing grounds a challenge by residents and taxpayers of Boca Raton to zoning changes by the city that permitted a Chabad (Hasidic Jewish) group to construct a religious center.  Plaintiffs, who identified themselves as Christians, claim that the city's actions violated the Establishment clause, the equal protection and due process clauses, and the Florida Constitution.  Dismissing the complaint, with leave to file an amended complaint, the court said in part:

Plaintiffs fail to allege any injury at all, let alone one that is concrete and particularized. The closest they come to asserting an injury is when they allege that the building is “injurious to residents in the area including” Plaintiffs.... This allegation is insufficient because it merely states in conclusory fashion that the building is “injurious” without specifying how it causes injury...

Rejecting plaintiff's claim of taxpayer standing, the court said in part:

The only expenditure they identify is the payment of salaries to City employees who allegedly “provided favorable treatment to one religious group.”... “Nearly all governmental activities are conducted or overseen by employees whose salaries are funded by tax dollars. To confer taxpayer standing on such a basis would allow any municipal taxpayer to challenge virtually any governmental action at anytime...."

Palm Beach Sun Sentinel reports on the decision.

White House Hosts Belated Eid al-Fitr Reception

Yesterday afternoon, President Obama hosted a somewhat belated Eid al-Fitr reception at the White House. In his Remarks (full text) he said in part:

For Muslims across the United States and around the world, this is a time of spiritual renewal -- a time to reaffirm your duty to serve one another, especially the least fortunate among us.  And it’s a time to reflect on the values that guide you in your faith -- gratitude, compassion and generosity.  And it’s a reminder that those values of Islam -- which comes from the word salaam, meaning peace -- are universal.... 

Today is also another reminder that Muslims have always been a part of America.  In colonial times, many of the slaves brought over from Africa were Muslim.  We insisted on freedom of religion, in Thomas Jefferson’s words, for, “the Jew and Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan.”  For more than two centuries, Muslim Americans of all backgrounds -- Arab and Asian, African and Latino, black and white -- have helped build America....  

And Muslim Americans have enriched our lives every single day.  You’re the doctors we trust with our health, entrepreneurs who create jobs, artists who inspire us, activists for social justice -- like the LGBT Muslims who are on the frontlines in the fight for equality....  You’re the athletes that we cheer for -- like American fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad... who is going to be proudly wearing her hijab when she represents America at the Rio Olympics.

DOJ Sues Township Over Denial of Zoning Variance For Mosque

The U.S. Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has filed suit against  Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania over the township's denial of a zoning variance to permit Bensalem Masjid to construct a mosque on property near a commercial area.  The complaint (full text) in United States v. Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, (ED PA, filed July 21, 2016), alleges that the zoning denial violates the substantial burden, equal terms, discrimination and unreasonable limitations provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Washington Times reports on the lawsuit.

Another Court Refuses To Enjoin California's Reproductive FACT Act

In Mountain Right to Life v. Harris, (CD CA, July 8, 2016), a California federal district court denied a preliminary injunction against enforcement of California's Reproductive FACT Act. The Act requires medical clinics that offer family planning or pregnancy related services to furnish clients a notice that California has public programs that provide free or low-cost access to family planning, pre-natal care and abortion services. Clinics offering pregnancy-related services that do not have licensed medical personnel on staff must provide notice of that fact. In the case, a faith-based crisis pregnancy center argued that the Act violates its free speech and free exercise rights. The court found that the center did not show a likelihood of success on the merits.  The court concluded that the state has a compelling interest in ensuring that people know whether or not they are receiving care from licensed professionals. The statute's other notice requirement is a constitutionally permissible regulation of professional speech to protect the government's substantial interest in its residents knowing the health care resources that are available. Two other federal district courts have reached similar conclusions. (See prior posting.)