// API callback
showlatestposts({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:15:32.133-05:00"},"category":[{"term":"Free exercise"},{"term":"Free speech"},{"term":"Abortion"},{"term":"Same-sex marriage"},{"term":"Articles of interest"},{"term":"US Supreme Court"},{"term":"Catholic"},{"term":"Jewish"},{"term":"COVID-19"},{"term":"Prisoner cases"},{"term":"Establishment Clause"},{"term":"Transgender"},{"term":"Muslim"},{"term":"California"},{"term":"Sex abuse claims"},{"term":"Texas"},{"term":"New York"},{"term":"RLUIPA"},{"term":"Title VII"},{"term":"LGBT rights"},{"term":"Religious discrimination"},{"term":"Christian"},{"term":"Vaccination"},{"term":"Reasonable accommodation"},{"term":"RFRA"},{"term":"Donald Trump"},{"term":"Religion in schools"},{"term":"International religious freedom"},{"term":"Contraceptive coverage mandate"},{"term":"Michigan"},{"term":"Ecclesiastical abstention"},{"term":"Israel"},{"term":"Florida"},{"term":"Church services"},{"term":"New Jersey"},{"term":"Equal Protection"},{"term":"Religious exemption"},{"term":"Antisemitism"},{"term":"Employment discrimination"},{"term":"Zoning"},{"term":"Pennsylvania"},{"term":"EEOC"},{"term":"Kentucky"},{"term":"Ministerial exception"},{"term":"Public accommodation law"},{"term":"Indiana"},{"term":"Internal Revenue Code"},{"term":"Britain"},{"term":"Illinois"},{"term":"Ohio"},{"term":"Immigration"},{"term":"Joe Biden"},{"term":"Standing"},{"term":"Religious liberty"},{"term":"North Carolina"},{"term":"Obama"},{"term":"Judiciary"},{"term":"Alabama"},{"term":"Health Care"},{"term":"Tennessee"},{"term":"USCIRF"},{"term":"European Court of Human Rights"},{"term":"India"},{"term":"Islam"},{"term":"Legislative Prayer"},{"term":"Church property"},{"term":"Colorado"},{"term":"Fraud"},{"term":"Sexual orientation discrimination"},{"term":"Blasphemy"},{"term":"School vouchers"},{"term":"New York City"},{"term":"Canada"},{"term":"Catholic schools"},{"term":"Virginia"},{"term":"Hijab"},{"term":"Maryland"},{"term":"Missouri"},{"term":"Jehovah's Witness"},{"term":"Louisiana"},{"term":"Marriage"},{"term":"Washington"},{"term":"Military"},{"term":"Minnesota"},{"term":"Arizona"},{"term":"Oklahoma"},{"term":"Christmas"},{"term":"Church disputes"},{"term":"Native Americans"},{"term":"Defamation"},{"term":"Georgia"},{"term":"Islamophobia"},{"term":"Massachusetts"},{"term":"Russia"},{"term":"Conversion therapy"},{"term":"Sikh"},{"term":"Bankruptcy"},{"term":"Religious schools"},{"term":"State Department"},{"term":"Cross"},{"term":"Hindu"},{"term":"Oregon"},{"term":"Justice Department"},{"term":"Title IX"},{"term":"Hate crimes"},{"term":"Mississippi"},{"term":"South Carolina"},{"term":"Arkansas"},{"term":"Pope Francis"},{"term":"Utah"},{"term":"Mosques"},{"term":"Wisconsin"},{"term":"School aid"},{"term":"France"},{"term":"Connecticut"},{"term":"Pakistan"},{"term":"Congress"},{"term":"Adoption"},{"term":"Homosexuality"},{"term":"State constitutions"},{"term":"China"},{"term":"FLDS"},{"term":"Foster children"},{"term":"Parental rights"},{"term":"Conscientious objection"},{"term":"School prayer"},{"term":"Bible"},{"term":"Capital punishment"},{"term":"Idaho"},{"term":"White House"},{"term":"European Convention on Human Rights"},{"term":"HHS"},{"term":"Kansas"},{"term":"Refugees"},{"term":"Shariah"},{"term":"Ten Commandments"},{"term":"Divorce"},{"term":"Immunity"},{"term":"Iowa"},{"term":"Satanic Temple"},{"term":"Australia"},{"term":"Mormon"},{"term":"Seventh Day Adventist"},{"term":"Vatican"},{"term":"Maine"},{"term":"District of Columbia"},{"term":"Church autonomy"},{"term":"Election Campaigns"},{"term":"Prayer"},{"term":"Fair Housing Act"},{"term":"Hate speech"},{"term":"Medical providers"},{"term":"United Nations"},{"term":"Nevada"},{"term":"Atheism"},{"term":"Buddhist"},{"term":"Genocide"},{"term":"ERISA"},{"term":"West Virginia"},{"term":"Blaine Amendments"},{"term":"Cannabis"},{"term":"Holocaust"},{"term":"Department of Education"},{"term":"Egypt"},{"term":"Episcopal"},{"term":"Montana"},{"term":"Taxes"},{"term":"Jewish divorce"},{"term":"Retaliation"},{"term":"U.S. House of Representatives"},{"term":"Air Force"},{"term":"Halal"},{"term":"Law schools"},{"term":"U.S. Senate"},{"term":"Clergy"},{"term":"Germany"},{"term":"Kosher"},{"term":"NYPD"},{"term":"Sex offenders"},{"term":"Affordable Care Act"},{"term":"American Indians"},{"term":"Baptist"},{"term":"Creche"},{"term":"Hawaii"},{"term":"New Mexico"},{"term":"Polygamy"},{"term":"Quebec"},{"term":"Religion Clause blog"},{"term":"Religious colleges"},{"term":"Amish"},{"term":"Conversion"},{"term":"FFRF"},{"term":"Gender discrimination"},{"term":"Homelessness"},{"term":"Housing discrimination"},{"term":"Malaysia"},{"term":"Secularism"},{"term":"Student religious groups"},{"term":"Terrorism"},{"term":"Turkey"},{"term":"Child abuse"},{"term":"Circumcision"},{"term":"Due Process"},{"term":"High School Athletics"},{"term":"North Dakota"},{"term":"Property tax"},{"term":"Scientology"},{"term":"Synagogue"},{"term":"Child custody"},{"term":"Kosher slaughter"},{"term":"Cemetery"},{"term":"Hajj"},{"term":"Mike Pence"},{"term":"Prison Chaplains"},{"term":"Suicide"},{"term":"US Navy"},{"term":"Grooming rules"},{"term":"Hostile work environment"},{"term":"Presidential campaign"},{"term":"Religious displays"},{"term":"Trademark"},{"term":"Ukraine"},{"term":"Vermont"},{"term":"Books of interest"},{"term":"Contraceptives"},{"term":"Hanukkah"},{"term":"Hobby Lobby"},{"term":"Iran"},{"term":"Iraq"},{"term":"Military chaplains"},{"term":"Proselytizing"},{"term":"Ramadan"},{"term":"Statute of Limitations"},{"term":"Uighurs"},{"term":"Alaska"},{"term":"Chaplains"},{"term":"Freedom of association"},{"term":"National Motto"},{"term":"Religious surveys"},{"term":"Surveillance of Muslims"},{"term":"Belgium"},{"term":"British Columbia"},{"term":"Burma"},{"term":"EU Court of Justice"},{"term":"Easter"},{"term":"License plates"},{"term":"Mootness"},{"term":"National Day of Prayer"},{"term":"Puerto Rico"},{"term":"Rastafarian"},{"term":"South Dakota"},{"term":"FBI"},{"term":"Firearms"},{"term":"Notre Dame"},{"term":"Planned Parenthood"},{"term":"Prisons"},{"term":"Unemployment benefits"},{"term":"Asylum"},{"term":"Copyright"},{"term":"Injunction"},{"term":"Italy"},{"term":"Nigeria"},{"term":"Party Platforms"},{"term":"Public funding"},{"term":"Radical Islam"},{"term":"Rohingya"},{"term":"Saudi Arabia"},{"term":"School Policies"},{"term":"Burqa"},{"term":"Charities"},{"term":"Church of England"},{"term":"Clergy-Penitent Privilege"},{"term":"Election results"},{"term":"Evangelicals"},{"term":"FDA"},{"term":"Facebook"},{"term":"Federal grants"},{"term":"Home schooling"},{"term":"Indonesia"},{"term":"Oaths"},{"term":"Rhode Island"},{"term":"Roy Moore"},{"term":"Vagueness"},{"term":"Alien Tort Statute"},{"term":"Courts"},{"term":"Delaware"},{"term":"FGM"},{"term":"Graduation ceremonies"},{"term":"Infliction of Emotional Distress"},{"term":"Jury prejudice"},{"term":"Kapparot"},{"term":"Nebraska"},{"term":"Presbyterian"},{"term":"Sentencing"},{"term":"Attorneys' Fees"},{"term":"Britain's Equality Act"},{"term":"Charter Schools"},{"term":"Health Insurance"},{"term":"Humanism"},{"term":"Objection to medical treatment"},{"term":"Orthodox"},{"term":"Passover"},{"term":"Police conduct"},{"term":"Privacy"},{"term":"Sabbath"},{"term":"Sudan"},{"term":"Title VI"},{"term":"Arbitration"},{"term":"Methodist"},{"term":"Myanmar"},{"term":"New Hampshire"},{"term":"Religious harassment"},{"term":"Top stories"},{"term":"Books of interst"},{"term":"Caste"},{"term":"Discrimination in Education"},{"term":"Education Tax Credits"},{"term":"Environmentalism"},{"term":"European Union"},{"term":"Guantanamo"},{"term":"ISIS"},{"term":"Ireland"},{"term":"National Prayer Breakfast"},{"term":"Scotland"},{"term":"Social Media"},{"term":"Supreme Court"},{"term":"Syria"},{"term":"Thanksgiving"},{"term":"Wyoming"},{"term":"Apostasy"},{"term":"Brazil"},{"term":"Charter of Rights and Freedoms"},{"term":"Churches"},{"term":"Civil Unions"},{"term":"Conestoga Wood Specialties"},{"term":"Falun Gong"},{"term":"Food"},{"term":"Greek Orthodox"},{"term":"Moorish Science"},{"term":"Northern Ireland"},{"term":"Parsonage allowance"},{"term":"Pastafarian"},{"term":"Russian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Senate Judiciary Committee"},{"term":"Switzerland"},{"term":"US-Vatican relations"},{"term":"USCCB"},{"term":"Unification Church"},{"term":"Universal Life Church"},{"term":"Women's rights"},{"term":"Afghanistan"},{"term":"Ahmadis"},{"term":"Austria"},{"term":"Autopsy"},{"term":"Barry Freundel"},{"term":"Burial"},{"term":"Chaldean Christians"},{"term":"Curriculum"},{"term":"Department of Homeland Security"},{"term":"Eruv"},{"term":"Faith healing"},{"term":"Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act"},{"term":"Freedom of Assembly"},{"term":"Guam"},{"term":"Japan"},{"term":"Pentecostal"},{"term":"Pledge"},{"term":"Poland"},{"term":"Pregnancy discrimination"},{"term":"Protests"},{"term":"Qur'an"},{"term":"Religion In Public Life"},{"term":"South Africa"},{"term":"UAE"},{"term":"Uganda"},{"term":"Westboro Baptist Church"},{"term":"Aboriginal rights"},{"term":"Art"},{"term":"Ben Carson"},{"term":"Birth certificate"},{"term":"Chief Rabbinate"},{"term":"College athletics"},{"term":"Coptic Christians"},{"term":"Crimes Against Humanity"},{"term":"Defense Spending Bill"},{"term":"Department of Labor"},{"term":"Drugs"},{"term":"Eminent domain"},{"term":"European Commission"},{"term":"FEMA"},{"term":"Greece"},{"term":"Hare Krishnas"},{"term":"Historic preservation grants"},{"term":"Kirpan"},{"term":"Lawyer discipline"},{"term":"License photo"},{"term":"Marines"},{"term":"Medicaid"},{"term":"Pharmacists"},{"term":"Romania"},{"term":"Sex segregation"},{"term":"Spain"},{"term":"UK Supreme Court"},{"term":"United Methodist Church"},{"term":"Universal Declaration of Human Rights"},{"term":"Unruh Civil Rights Act"},{"term":"Alberta"},{"term":"American Humanist Association"},{"term":"Bangladesh"},{"term":"Commerce Clause"},{"term":"Department of Agriculture"},{"term":"FACEA"},{"term":"Graves"},{"term":"Hungary"},{"term":"Indigenous religions"},{"term":"Licensing"},{"term":"Lithuania"},{"term":"Lutheran"},{"term":"NLRB"},{"term":"Name change"},{"term":"Norway"},{"term":"Ontario"},{"term":"Palestinians"},{"term":"Rabbinical Courts"},{"term":"Religious coercion"},{"term":"Religious organizations"},{"term":"Social Security Number"},{"term":"Trinity Western Law School"},{"term":"Yoga"},{"term":"Alcohol"},{"term":"Armenia"},{"term":"Beth Din"},{"term":"Bosnia and Herzegovina"},{"term":"Bulgaria"},{"term":"CAIR"},{"term":"Censorship"},{"term":"Citizenship"},{"term":"Cockfighting"},{"term":"Cremation"},{"term":"Eid al-Adha"},{"term":"Eid al-Fitr"},{"term":"Evolution"},{"term":"Execution"},{"term":"Georgia (Nation)"},{"term":"Jeff Sessions"},{"term":"Jordan"},{"term":"Kamala Harris"},{"term":"Kenya"},{"term":"Los Angeles"},{"term":"Mexico"},{"term":"Parole"},{"term":"Postal Service"},{"term":"Protestant"},{"term":"Ripeness"},{"term":"Satanists"},{"term":"School Athletics"},{"term":"Textbooks"},{"term":"Title X"},{"term":"Ukrainian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"United Church of Christ"},{"term":"Advocacy organizations"},{"term":"Anglican"},{"term":"Arson"},{"term":"Baha'i"},{"term":"Bahrain"},{"term":"Bible Colleges"},{"term":"Bivens remedy"},{"term":"Blawg100"},{"term":"Blogs"},{"term":"Brunei"},{"term":"Building code"},{"term":"Criminal Charges"},{"term":"Cults"},{"term":"Czech Republic"},{"term":"Diwali"},{"term":"Eagle feathers"},{"term":"Exempt organizations"},{"term":"FOIA"},{"term":"Forest Service"},{"term":"Government contracts"},{"term":"HUD"},{"term":"Historic designation"},{"term":"In Vitro Fertilization"},{"term":"Inda"},{"term":"International Court of Justice"},{"term":"International Criminal Court"},{"term":"Islamic schools"},{"term":"Jains"},{"term":"Middle East"},{"term":"Military base"},{"term":"Mt. Soledad"},{"term":"Museums"},{"term":"Nation of Islam"},{"term":"New Zealand"},{"term":"Niqab"},{"term":"No-Fly List"},{"term":"North Korea"},{"term":"Pagan"},{"term":"Passports"},{"term":"Photo"},{"term":"Released time program"},{"term":"Religious violence"},{"term":"School boards"},{"term":"Second Amendment"},{"term":"Space Force"},{"term":"Sunday"},{"term":"Ted Cruz"},{"term":"Treasury Department"},{"term":"VA"},{"term":"Valentine's Day"},{"term":"Visas"},{"term":"War crimes"},{"term":"cultural objects"},{"term":"11th Amendment"},{"term":"ADEA"},{"term":"ADF"},{"term":"Academic rules"},{"term":"Alevi"},{"term":"Algeria"},{"term":"Azerbaijan"},{"term":"Bernie Sanders"},{"term":"Boy Scouts"},{"term":"Brett Kavanaugh"},{"term":"Britain Employment Appeal Tribunal"},{"term":"Charitable solicitation"},{"term":"Chicago"},{"term":"Christian Science"},{"term":"Church violence"},{"term":"Controlled Substances"},{"term":"Cuba"},{"term":"Department of Interior"},{"term":"Domestic partnerships"},{"term":"Ecclesiastical Courts"},{"term":"Educational standards"},{"term":"Egyptian constitution"},{"term":"Ethiopian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Ethnic discrimination"},{"term":"Fetal tissue"},{"term":"First Nations"},{"term":"Gambia"},{"term":"Gideon Bibles"},{"term":"Good Friday"},{"term":"Good News Clubs"},{"term":"Government employees"},{"term":"Human Trafficking"},{"term":"Intellectual property"},{"term":"Kazakhstan"},{"term":"Kidnapping"},{"term":"Korea"},{"term":"Kyrgyzstan"},{"term":"Lanham Act"},{"term":"Legion of Christ"},{"term":"Lev Tahor"},{"term":"Liberty University"},{"term":"MLK Day"},{"term":"Martin Luther King Jr."},{"term":"Mennonite"},{"term":"Messianic Judaism"},{"term":"Morocco"},{"term":"Naturalization"},{"term":"Navy"},{"term":"Nazis"},{"term":"Netherlands"},{"term":"Noise restrictions"},{"term":"Non-binary individuals"},{"term":"Nova Scotia"},{"term":"Nowruz"},{"term":"Personhood"},{"term":"Pipeline"},{"term":"Politics and religion"},{"term":"Prayer Breakfast"},{"term":"Presidential Proclamation"},{"term":"Religious garb"},{"term":"Religious pluralism"},{"term":"Salvation Army"},{"term":"Santeria"},{"term":"Science standards"},{"term":"Sharia"},{"term":"Torture Victim Protection Act"},{"term":"Tribal governments"},{"term":"Tunisia"},{"term":"Tunisian constitution"},{"term":"U.S. Civil Rights Commission"},{"term":"Unitarian"},{"term":"Vandalism"},{"term":"Vietnam"},{"term":"White supremacists"},{"term":"Wicca"},{"term":"Witchcraft"},{"term":"Yemen"},{"term":"Zoroastrian"},{"term":"12-Step Program"},{"term":"Adultery"},{"term":"African Methodist Episcopal Church"},{"term":"Amy Coney Barrett"},{"term":"Argentina"},{"term":"Asatru"},{"term":"Bermuda"},{"term":"Bill Clinton"},{"term":"Bishop Fulton J. Sheen"},{"term":"Black Lives Matter"},{"term":"Bob Jones University"},{"term":"Britain Employment Tribunal"},{"term":"Britain's Charity Commission"},{"term":"Caliphate"},{"term":"Capitol insurrection"},{"term":"Census"},{"term":"Charlie Hebdo"},{"term":"Chile"},{"term":"Christian Identity"},{"term":"Church of Greece"},{"term":"Church of the Brethren"},{"term":"Colombia"},{"term":"Commentary"},{"term":"Convention Against Torture"},{"term":"Creationism"},{"term":"Creativity"},{"term":"Dalai Lama"},{"term":"Dead Sea Scrolls"},{"term":"Denmark"},{"term":"Department of Transportation"},{"term":"Disorderly conduct"},{"term":"Distribution of religious material in schools"},{"term":"Drug and Cosmetic Act"},{"term":"Ethiopian Orthodox Chruch"},{"term":"Ethnic cleansing"},{"term":"Exorcism"},{"term":"Fair Labor Standards Act"},{"term":"False advertising"},{"term":"Finland"},{"term":"Fornication"},{"term":"Funeral picketing"},{"term":"Gaza"},{"term":"Georgian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Government grants"},{"term":"Guatemala"},{"term":"Hospital chaplain"},{"term":"House of Lords"},{"term":"Hutterite"},{"term":"IRS"},{"term":"Iceland"},{"term":"Ivanka Trump"},{"term":"Jeb Bush"},{"term":"Judaism"},{"term":"Kurdistan"},{"term":"Labor unions"},{"term":"Lebanon"},{"term":"Maldives"},{"term":"Mali"},{"term":"Mandaeans"},{"term":"Mikveh"},{"term":"Muslim Brotherhood"},{"term":"Native Hawaiians"},{"term":"Natural Law"},{"term":"New York Religious Corporation Law"},{"term":"No Religious Test"},{"term":"Olympics"},{"term":"Parliamentary Assembly"},{"term":"Police"},{"term":"Political leaders"},{"term":"Population"},{"term":"Pregnancy discriminaiton"},{"term":"Presidential Medal of Freedom"},{"term":"Quakers"},{"term":"Recusal"},{"term":"Roma"},{"term":"Saskatchewan"},{"term":"Serbian Orthodox"},{"term":"Sex"},{"term":"Slovakia"},{"term":"Slovenia"},{"term":"Snake handling"},{"term":"South Korea"},{"term":"Sri Lanka"},{"term":"Tajikistan"},{"term":"Taoism"},{"term":"Teas"},{"term":"Thailand"},{"term":"The Herald"},{"term":"Thirteenth Amendment"},{"term":"Tibet"},{"term":"Tort liability"},{"term":"Travel"},{"term":"UDV"},{"term":"Union dues"},{"term":"Virgin Islands"},{"term":"Voting fraud"},{"term":"Washington D.C."},{"term":"Wieland"},{"term":"William Barr"},{"term":"Yazidis"},{"term":"Zimbabwe"},{"term":"ADA"},{"term":"Accounting"},{"term":"Adventist"},{"term":"Advertising"},{"term":"Advocacy organiztions"},{"term":"Africa"},{"term":"African religions"},{"term":"Al-Queda"},{"term":"American flag"},{"term":"Americans United"},{"term":"Anglican; Ontario; Cults"},{"term":"Angola"},{"term":"Animal sacrifice"},{"term":"Animal sacrifice. Hindu"},{"term":"Annexation"},{"term":"Antiquities Act"},{"term":"Apartheid"},{"term":"Bahamas"},{"term":"Balkans"},{"term":"Ballots"},{"term":"Belarus"},{"term":"Bequest"},{"term":"Bernie Madoff"},{"term":"Billy Graham"},{"term":"Black Muslim"},{"term":"Black magic"},{"term":"Bolivia"},{"term":"Bosnia"},{"term":"Botswana"},{"term":"Britain's EHRC"},{"term":"Bulgarian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Burden of Proof"},{"term":"CDC"},{"term":"Cambodia"},{"term":"Cayman Islands"},{"term":"Cenetery"},{"term":"Central African Republic"},{"term":"Chad"},{"term":"Child pornography"},{"term":"China; International religious freedom"},{"term":"Chippewa"},{"term":"Church bells"},{"term":"Confucianism"},{"term":"Constitution Day"},{"term":"Croatia"},{"term":"Curfews"},{"term":"Cyprus"},{"term":"Dakhma of Angra Mainyu"},{"term":"Death certificate"},{"term":"Debo Adegbil"},{"term":"Defendant's rights"},{"term":"Demonstration"},{"term":"Dennis Canon"},{"term":"Department of Management and Budget"},{"term":"Druze"},{"term":"Dutch Reformed Church"},{"term":"Eddie Long"},{"term":"Elane Photography"},{"term":"Elie Wiesel"},{"term":"Emory"},{"term":"Environmenalism"},{"term":"Equal Pay Act"},{"term":"Eritrea"},{"term":"Ethiopia"},{"term":"Extradition"},{"term":"FMLA"},{"term":"Festivus"},{"term":"Fiduciary  duties"},{"term":"Flor"},{"term":"Flying Spaghetti Monster."},{"term":"General Services Administration"},{"term":"George W. Bush"},{"term":"Ghana"},{"term":"Gibraltar"},{"term":"Halloween"},{"term":"Harvard University"},{"term":"Hebrew-Israelite"},{"term":"Hong Kong"},{"term":"ICANN"},{"term":"Ifa"},{"term":"Incest"},{"term":"India; Animal Sacrifice"},{"term":"Indian Civil Rights Act"},{"term":"Inter-American Court of Human Rights"},{"term":"Interfaith Alliance"},{"term":"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights"},{"term":"Interposition"},{"term":"Ja[an"},{"term":"Jerry Falwell"},{"term":"Jesse Jackson"},{"term":"Jewish population"},{"term":"John Kasich"},{"term":"Jr."},{"term":"Kabbalah"},{"term":"Kashmir"},{"term":"King Charles"},{"term":"Kiryas Joel"},{"term":"Kwanzaa"},{"term":"LIbya"},{"term":"Labor Day"},{"term":"Laos"},{"term":"Larceny"},{"term":"Leafleting"},{"term":"Liberia"},{"term":"Libraries"},{"term":"Luxembourg"},{"term":"Macedonia"},{"term":"Magna Carta"},{"term":"Massachuseetts"},{"term":"Mat Staver"},{"term":"Medicare"},{"term":"Merrick Garland"},{"term":"Methodist Episcopal Church"},{"term":"Michael Broyde"},{"term":"Militia"},{"term":"Millett"},{"term":"Moldova"},{"term":"Money laundering"},{"term":"Montenegrin Orthodox"},{"term":"Montenegro"},{"term":"Murder"},{"term":"Mwmorials"},{"term":"NYC Human Rights Law"},{"term":"Namibia"},{"term":"National Institutes of Health"},{"term":"Neil Gorsuch"},{"term":"Nepal"},{"term":"POW's"},{"term":"Peyote"},{"term":"Philippines"},{"term":"Plagiarism"},{"term":"Plymouth Brethren"},{"term":"Polyamory"},{"term":"Pope Benedict XVI"},{"term":"Pope Pius XII"},{"term":"Pope Tawadros II"},{"term":"Poverty"},{"term":"Probation"},{"term":"Professional athletics"},{"term":"Prosecutorial misconduct"},{"term":"Prostituiton"},{"term":"Prostitution"},{"term":"Proud Boys"},{"term":"Qatar"},{"term":"Queensland"},{"term":"Raelian Movement"},{"term":"Religious oppression"},{"term":"Reproductive Health Act"},{"term":"Reproductive rights"},{"term":"Rex Tillerson"},{"term":"Rob Sherman"},{"term":"Romanian Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Rwanda"},{"term":"SEC"},{"term":"Samuel Alito"},{"term":"San Marino"},{"term":"Satmar sect"},{"term":"Satmar sect; Sex segregation"},{"term":"Separation of Church and State"},{"term":"Serbia"},{"term":"Sermons"},{"term":"Shinto"},{"term":"Singapore"},{"term":"Small Business Administration"},{"term":"Somalia"},{"term":"Southern Poverty Law Center"},{"term":"Space travel"},{"term":"Student Fees"},{"term":"Sukuk"},{"term":"Summum"},{"term":"Surrogacy"},{"term":"Susan Rice"},{"term":"Sweden"},{"term":"TSA"},{"term":"Taliban"},{"term":"Tanzania"},{"term":"Tarot"},{"term":"Tennessee; Judge"},{"term":"Turkish Orthodox Church"},{"term":"Turkistan"},{"term":"Twitter"},{"term":"U.S"},{"term":"USCBP"},{"term":"Uzbekistan"},{"term":"Vaishnavism"},{"term":"Vegans"},{"term":"Wildlife"},{"term":"Wisconsin; Establishment Clause"},{"term":"Yasukuni Shrine"},{"term":"Zambia"},{"term":"Zika"},{"term":"obstruction of exercise"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Religion Clause"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources."},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=26\u0026max-results=25\u0026orderby=published"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"24811"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2127189270604612768"},"published":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:15:00.144-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Antisemitism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Delaware"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Department of Education"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VI"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Delaware School Enters Resolution Agreement with DOE Over Antisemitism Complaint"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a January 29 \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/news\/press-releases\/us-department-educations-office-civil-rights-reaches-agreement-resolve-antisemitic-harassment-red-clay-consolidated-school-district\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights announced an agreement with the Red Clay, Delaware, Consolidated School District resolving a complaint about antisemitic harassment of a student. The press release sets out a number of incidents of harassment by fellow students. It then finds:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the district responded to most harassing incidents the student experienced, these responses were often haphazard; were inconsistently enforced as well as inconsistently reflected in district documentation; did not consistently include effective or timely steps to mitigate the effects of the harassment on the student or other students; and did not appear to respond to escalating and repeated incidents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOCR's findings are set out at greater length in its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/investigations\/more\/03231373-a.pdf\"\u003Eformal letter\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to the school district.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe school district has agreed (full text of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www2.ed.gov\/about\/offices\/list\/ocr\/docs\/investigations\/more\/03231373-b.pdf\"\u003EResolution Agreement\u003C\/a\u003E) to reimburse the student's parents for past counseling, academic and therapeutic service costs from the incidents. It has agreed to widely publicize an anti-harassment statement; implement a student informational program; revise school policies; engage in training; audit complaints and incidents; and conduct an assessment of school climate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/forward.com\/fast-forward\/578118\/delaware-k-12-school-promises-changes-in-response-to-federal-probe-of-antisemitic-bullying\/?utm_source=The+Forward+Association\u0026amp;utm_campaign=9114fee672-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_10_31_06_37_COPY_01\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_term=0_-dab582b726-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D\"\u003EJTA\u003C\/a\u003E, reporting on the agreement, says:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe agreement marks the first time in nine months that the education department announced the closure of an antisemitism-related investigation filed under Title VI....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2127189270604612768"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2127189270604612768"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/delaware-school-enters-resolution.html","title":"Delaware School Enters Resolution Agreement with DOE Over Antisemitism Complaint"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4317366735629526484"},"published":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:10:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:10:00.154-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Antisemitism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Military"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"National Guard General Seeks $1.6M Damages for Antisemitic Harassment and Termination"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EA suit charging antisemitic discrimination was filed last week in a California state trial court by a retired Brigadier General in the Air National Guard against his former supervisor as well as against the state of California, the California Military Department and California Governor Gavin Newsom seeking $1.6 million in damages and injunctive relief. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/s3.documentcloud.org\/documents\/24399422\/magram-v-beevers.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EMagram v. Beevers,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E(CA Super. Ct., filed 1\/24\/2024), alleges in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis case is an action for Religious Discrimination, Harassment, and Wrongful Termination in violation of California Government Code § 12940, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) arising out of Magram’s 37-plus years of employment with the California Air Guard and United States Air Force, which includes 14-plus years as a full time officer on State Active Duty with the CMD. Beevers discriminated against Magram by harassing and wrongfully terminating Magram because of Magram’s Jewish faith, Jewish heritage, and Magram’s complaints about Beevers’ anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment. Beevers’ discrimination against Magram violated FEHA and California public policy. The State of California, CMD, and Governor Newsom were aware of Beevers’ anti-Semitism, Beevers’ anti-Semitic campaign, and Beevers’ retaliation against Magram. The State California, CMD and Governor Newsom facilitated and ratified Beevers’ anti-Semitism and Beevers’ anti-Semitic campaign against Magram.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stripes.com\/theaters\/us\/2024-01-31\/california-national-air-guard-general-lawsuit-antisemitism-retaliation%C2%A0-12857191.html\"\u003EStars and Stripes\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4317366735629526484"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4317366735629526484"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/national-guard-general-seeks-16m.html","title":"National Guard General Seeks $1.6M Damages for Antisemitic Harassment and Termination"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1676648554786627625"},"published":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:05:00.130-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Greek Orthodox"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New York"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Parental rights"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Mother Sues School for Socially Transitioning Her Daughter"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed yesterday in a New York federal district court by the mother of a middle school student who contends that her free exercise and due process rights were violated when the school began to socially transition her daughter by using a masculine name and plural pronouns in referring to her without informing the mother of the school's action.\u0026nbsp; The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/VitsaxakiComplaint.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EVitsaxaki v. Skaneateles Central School District,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ND NY, filed 1\/31\/2024), alleges in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E233. Mrs. Vitsaxaki was raised in a Catholic household, but after marrying Mr. Vitsaxakis, joined the Greek Orthodox Church...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E262. Mrs. Vitsaxaki’s free-exercise rights include the right to raise her children in accordance with her religious beliefs and the right to direct her children’s education and upbringing consistent with her religious beliefs, including on identity, sex, gender, and fundamental questions of existence like how her children should identify themselves....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E263. By referring to Jane with a masculine name and incorrect pronouns without notifying Mrs. Vitsaxaki or seeking her consent and by concealing these actions from Mrs. Vitsaxaki, Defendants substantially burdened Mrs. Vitsaxaki’s ability to exercise her religion....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E266. During the three-month (at a minimum) period that Defendants were concealing from Mrs. Vitsaxaki the actions taken to socially transition Jane, Mrs. Vitsaxaki was unable to exercise her religion by choosing to educate Jane in an environment that would not have undermined her religious beliefs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/vitsaxaki-v-skaneateles-central-school-district\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the filling of the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1676648554786627625"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1676648554786627625"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/mother-sues-school-for-socially.html","title":"Mother Sues School for Socially Transitioning Her Daughter"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2530094091312921444"},"published":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-02-01T07:00:00.240-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Clergy-Penitent Privilege"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Florida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sex abuse claims"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Recorded Statements Made to Church Leaders and Pastor Not Privileged"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2dca.flcourts.gov\/content\/download\/1679381\/opinion\/Opinion_22-3707.pdf\"\u003EState of Florida v. Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(FL App., Jan. 31, 2024), a Florida state appellate court held that a video recording of a meeting between defendant and some 14 to 20 church leaders (including the pastor) did not meet the statutory requirements for the communication to be privileged. The court reversed the trial court's grant of defendant's motion to suppress the video at defendant's trial for sexually molesting the church pastor's 12-year-old granddaughter. The pastor called the meeting and instructed defendant \"that he would need to explain to the church leaders the details of what he had done and that he would need to ask for forgiveness.\" The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe reject the State's attempt to frame the communication here as being made only to S.S. [the victim's mother] and to the other church leaders.\u0026nbsp; Having viewed the video and reading the transcript therefrom, we conclude that M.S., Gonzalez's pastor, was among the recipients of Gonzalez's communication and, therefore, that part of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flsenate.gov\/Laws\/Statutes\/2011\/0090.505\"\u003Esection 90.505(2)\u003C\/a\u003E was met. However, the privilege requires more than just a statement being made to a member of the clergy.\u0026nbsp; The dispute in this case centers on the other requirement: that the communication was confidential.\u0026nbsp; And that part of the test requires that the communication be \"made privately for the purpose of seeking spiritual counsel or advice from the member of the clergy in the usual course of his or her practice or discipline and not intended for further disclosure except to other persons present in furtherance of the communication.\"\u0026nbsp; § 90.505(1)(b)....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2530094091312921444"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2530094091312921444"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/recorded-statements-made-to-church.html","title":"Recorded Statements Made to Church Leaders and Pastor Not Privileged"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-7097158755141983099"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-31T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-31T07:05:00.138-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Arson"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Justice Department"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sentencing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"18 Year Prison Sentence Imposed for Firebombing Church"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Department of Justice \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/ohio-man-sentenced-18-years-prison-firebombing-church-planned-host-drag-show-events\"\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E that on Monday an Ohio federal district court sentenced Aimenn D, Penny to 18 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release after Penny pleaded guilty to violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act and using fire and explosives to commit a felony. DOJ described the violations:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to court documents, on March 25, 2023, Penny made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC), in Chesterland, Ohio. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground. Through Penny’s guilty plea, he admitted to using force through fire and explosives, intending to obstruct CCC congregants in their enjoyment and expression of their religious beliefs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7097158755141983099"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7097158755141983099"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/18-year-prison-sentence-imposed-for.html","title":"18 Year Prison Sentence Imposed for Firebombing Church"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4190286211892624565"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-31T07:00:00.055-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-31T07:00:00.137-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reasonable accommodation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Court Rules On Class Action Certification of Claims by Religious Objectors to Covid Vaccine"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/california\/candce\/3:2022cv06119\/401999\/55\/0.pdf?ts=1706633685\"\u003EChavez v. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, (ND CA, Jan. 28,2024), a California federal district court refused to certify as a class action a suit on behalf of employees of the Transit District (BART) who were denied a religious exemption or accommodation from BART's Covid vaccine mandate. The court concluded that the disparate factual issues underlying the claims under Title VII and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act means that common issues of law or fact do not predominate. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs submitted nearly as many systems of belief and grounds for objection as they did applications. Whether or not any one request rests on a bona fide religious belief presents an individual inquiry that requires the consideration of evidence pertaining only to the response in question....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBART’s undue hardship showing—likely to be the dispositive issue in this action—also rests on individual factual issues....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt similarly concluded that common issues did not predominate in plaintiffs' First Amendment Free Exercise Claim, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs cite myriad scripture and personal experiences, CDC VARS data and concerns regarding health consequences ... among others, as grounds for objection. Many identify non-vaccination as a core religious tenant, some characterize their decision as a “personal choice,” a number discuss medical concerns.... [T]he need to determine whether plaintiffs have met the bona fide religious belief threshold generates “an unmanageable variety of individual . . . factual issues,” and forecloses on class certification....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, the court concluded that plaintiffs also failed to meet the re\u003Cspan\u003Equirement that a class action\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;is the superior way to adjudicate the claims.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/california\/candce\/5:2022cv01019\/391987\/125\/0.pdf?ts=1706633686\"\u003EUnifySCC v. Cody\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ND CA, Jan. 29, 2024), a different Northern District of California judge certified a class action (except as to damages) on behalf of 463 individuals who obtained a religious exemption from the Covid vaccine mandate of San Jose County but who, because they were in high risk roles, were placed on administrative leave until reassignments or transfers to lower risk positions became available.\u0026nbsp; The court ruled:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Class is certified with respect to the following common questions regarding Defendants’ liability:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1. Whether Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ right to free exercise and equal protection of the law by prioritizing medical exemptions over religious exemptions in high-risk settings;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2. Whether Defendants’ Risk Tier System violated the Free Exercise Clause and Equal Protection Clause because it relegated Plaintiffs and the Class members to unpaid leave but allowed some unvaccinated or non-boosted employees to continue to work;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E3. Whether the County’s religious exemption and\/or accommodation procedure was either non-neutral or not generally applicable such that it constitutes an individualized assessment ... and is thereby subject to strict scrutiny;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E4. Whether Defendants provided Individual Plaintiffs and the Class members with reasonable accommodation as required under FEHA and Title VII; and\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E5. Whether Defendants violated the Establishment Clause by demonstrating hostility towards religion.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Class is NOT certified with respect to questions of damages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4190286211892624565"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4190286211892624565"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/court-rules-on-class-action.html","title":"Court Rules On Class Action Certification of Claims by Religious Objectors to Covid Vaccine"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4276683306428523444"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-30T10:53:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-30T10:53:37.363-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fraud"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Licensing"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Florida Official Rules That Changing Gender Marker On Driver's License Constitutes Fraud"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a January 26 Memorandum (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/GFDzxAVXkAAC4J-?format=jpg\u0026amp;name=medium\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E), the Executive Director of the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department has rescinded the rule allowing transgender individuals to change the gender marker on their driver's licenses.\u0026nbsp; He ruled that gender reflected on one's driver's license must reflect one's sex as \"determined by innate and immutable biological and genetic characteristics.\" The Memorandum went on to say:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[M]isrepresenting one's gender, understood as sex, on a driver license constitutes fraud ... and subjects the offender to criminal and civil penalties, including cancellation, suspension, or revocation of his or her driver license....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/us\/transgender-people-in-florida-face-having-their-driver-s-licenses-revoked\/ar-BB1htJmZ?ocid=socialshare\u0026amp;pc=DCTS\u0026amp;cvid=d2328a4b325a448ca5c8fadf8a3785b6\u0026amp;ei=16\"\u003ENewsweek\u003C\/a\u003E reports on these developments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4276683306428523444"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4276683306428523444"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/florida-official-rules-that-changing.html","title":"Florida Official Rules That Changing Gender Marker On Driver's License Constitutes Fraud"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2546537130011571132"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-30T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-30T07:05:00.159-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Health Care"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Court Decides 7 Cases of Health Care Employees' Refusal to Receive Covid Vaccine"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;A Delaware federal district court judge yesterday handed down opinions in seven lawsuits against the same medical center that terminated employees who requests for religious exemptions from the Covid vaccine mandate were denied. In 5 of the cases, the court refused to dismiss plaintiffs' Title VII failure to accommodate claims because plaintiffs had plausibly alleged a sincere religious belief and that their objections to the Covid vaccine were related to that belief. \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2023cv00037\/81199\/23\/0.pdf?ts=1706287690\"\u003EAiken v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc\u003C\/a\u003E., \u003C\/i\u003E(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024); \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2022cv01283\/80190\/33\/0.pdf?ts=1706287691\"\u003EHernandez v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024);\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2022cv01471\/80612\/26\/0.pdf?ts=1706287691\"\u003EMassotti v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024); \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2022cv01472\/80631\/23\/0.pdf?ts=1706287692\"\u003EProud v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024); \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2022cv01457\/80587\/24\/0.pdf?ts=1706375054\"\u003EWhite v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024). In 2 cases, the court concluded that plaintiffs' objections to the vaccine were not plausibly connected to a sincerely held religious belief. \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2022cv01392\/80487\/32\/0.pdf?ts=1706287691\"\u003EMcDowell v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DE, Jan. 25, 2024); \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/delaware\/dedce\/1:2023cv00465\/82234\/17\/0.pdf?ts=1706287692\"\u003EOsborne v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D DE, Jan.25, 2024). Each opinion details the religious claim asserted by plaintiff.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2546537130011571132"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2546537130011571132"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/court-decides-7-cases-of-health-care.html","title":"Court Decides 7 Cases of Health Care Employees' Refusal to Receive Covid Vaccine"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6831181295873283500"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-30T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-30T07:00:00.137-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"International religious freedom"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"International Religious Freedom Summit Being Held In D.C."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThis year's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/irfsummit.org\/\"\u003EInternational Religious Freedom Summit\u003C\/a\u003E is being held today and tomorrow at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/irfsummit.org\/about\/\"\u003ECo-chaired\u003C\/a\u003E by Sam Brownback, former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom and Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lanto Foundation for Human Rights, and featuring several members of Congress as Honorary Co-Chairs, the event brings together dozens of non-profits and NGO's to discuss current issues impacting religious liberty around the world. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/irfsummit.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/digital-program-2024.pdf\"\u003EHere\u003C\/a\u003E is the full program for the event.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6831181295873283500"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6831181295873283500"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/international-religious-freedom-summit.html","title":"International Religious Freedom Summit Being Held In D.C."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8341489026831354790"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-29T15:49:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-29T15:49:16.925-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Equal Protection"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Gender discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Medicaid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pennsylvania"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Pennsylvania Supreme Court Casts Doubt on Abortion Exclusion From State Medicaid Coverage"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-65-2022mo%20-%20105815658253412907.pdf?cb=1\"\u003EAllegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(PA Sup. Ct., Jan. 29, 2024) [Majority Opinion], the Pennsylvania Supreme Court remanded to the trial court for strict scrutiny review a challenge to the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's ban on the use of state Medicaid funds for abortion services (except in the case of rape, incest or threat to the life of the mother). Six of the Court's 7 Justices participated in the case.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Justice Donohue's opinion (joined by Justice Wecht) sets out the conclusions of a majority of the Justices in a 219-page opinion. The majority overruled its 1985 decision in \u003Ci\u003EFischer v. Department of Public Welfare \u003C\/i\u003Ethat had upheld the ban.\u0026nbsp; The majority concluded that that pregnancy-related distinctions may violate the state Constitution's Equal Rights Amendment (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.legis.state.pa.us\/cfdocs\/legis\/LI\/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM\u0026amp;ttl=00\u0026amp;div=0\u0026amp;chpt=1\u0026amp;sctn=28\u0026amp;subsctn=0\"\u003EArt. I, Sec. 28\u003C\/a\u003E), saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [T]he \u003Ci\u003EFischer\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;Court ignored that reproductive functions, by definition, have historically been the primary basis for the distinction between men and women, i.e., physical characteristics that make one a member of the sex. The text of Section 28 does not support the exception created by \u003Ci\u003EFischer\u003C\/i\u003E that equality of rights can be denied or abridged based on a physical characteristic that makes a person a member of the male or female sex....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;... [W]e overrule \u003Ci\u003EFischer’s\u003C\/i\u003E interpretation of the Equal Rights Amendment. We further conclude that when a statute is challenged as violative of Section 28, a sex-based distinction is presumptively unconstitutional, and it is the government’s burden to rebut the presumption with evidence of a compelling state interest in creating the classification and that no less intrusive methods are available to support the expressed policy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe majority also overruled \u003Ci\u003EFischer's \u003C\/i\u003Eholding that the state Constitution's equal protection provision (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.legis.state.pa.us\/cfdocs\/legis\/LI\/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM\u0026amp;ttl=00\u0026amp;div=0\u0026amp;chpt=1\u0026amp;sctn=26\u0026amp;subsctn=0\"\u003EArt. I, Sec. 26\u003C\/a\u003E) does not prevent the state from conferring a benefit unequally.\u0026nbsp; The majority said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [A] court, presented with a challenge to a legislative classification that touches on the exercise of a civil right on the basis that it violates Article I, Section 26, must determine whether the classification operates neutrally with regard to the exercise of that right. If it does not, the court shall then conduct a commensurate means-end review.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriting only for himself and Justice Wecht, Justice Donohue also contended that that the state Constitution substantively protects a woman's right to make reproductive decisions, including abortion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJustice Wecht also filed a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-65-2022co%20-%20105815658253413062.pdf?cb=1\"\u003E71-page concurring opinion\u003C\/a\u003E discussing additional issues. Chief Justice Todd filed a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-65-2022cdo%20-%20105815658253413103.pdf?cb=1\"\u003E17-page opinion\u003C\/a\u003E dissenting in part, concluding that the \u003Ci\u003EFischer\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;decision is binding precedent. Justice Dougherty filed a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-65-2022cdo1%20-%20105815658253413119.pdf?cb=1\"\u003Ebrief opinion\u003C\/a\u003E concurring in part, agreeing with the majority's overruling of \u003Ci\u003EFischer. \u003C\/i\u003EJustice Mundy filed a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/assets\/opinions\/Supreme\/out\/J-65-2022cdo2%20-%20105815658253413159.pdf?cb=1\"\u003E24-page opinion\u003C\/a\u003E dissenting in part, concluding that the funding ban should be upheld on the basis of the \u003Ci\u003EFischer\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;case and strongly criticizing the majority's holding that Art. I, Section 26 requires funding neutrality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/health\/abortion-laws-pennsylvania-state-constitution-20240129.html\"\u003EPhiladelphia Inquirer\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8341489026831354790"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8341489026831354790"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/pennsylvania-supreme-court-casts-doubt.html","title":"Pennsylvania Supreme Court Casts Doubt on Abortion Exclusion From State Medicaid Coverage"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1579805815740134227"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-29T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-29T07:00:00.201-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Articles of interest"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Recent Articles of Interest"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom SSRN:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERobert T. Miller, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4676647\"\u003ECommonsense Morality\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, (339 First Things 15 (2024)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReva B. Siegel \u0026amp; Mary E. Ziegler, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4697851\"\u003EAbortion-Eugenics Discourse in Dobbs: A Social Movement History,\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(2 J. Am. Con. Hist. (2024, Forthcoming).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDaniel B. Rice, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4695367\"\u003ECivic Duties and Cultural Change\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E (January 15, 2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMartin David Kelly, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4702409\"\u003EChallenging Common Good Constitutionalism\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, (January 22, 2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEkaterina Ryzhkova, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4683051\"\u003EVector to the East: The Islamic Legal Path\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E (January 3, 2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBrandon Marc Higa \u0026amp; Joshua D. Faumuina, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4683400\"\u003EJapan’s Same-Sex Marriage Cases (2021-2023) \u0026amp; the Fight for Freedom of Marriage in Japan\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Asian-Pacific Law \u0026amp; Policy Journal Vo. 25:2 (Forthcoming)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDavid S. Schwartz, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4702932\"\u003EMaking Sense of 303 Creative: A Free Speech Solution in Search of a Problem\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Univ. of Wisconsin Legal Studies Research Paper No. 1792 (2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EScott Skinner-Thompson, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4705216\"\u003ESolidifying Students' Right to Gender Expression\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Boston University Law Review, Vol. 104 (2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELibby Adler, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4698168\"\u003EOn the Why of Same-Sex Marriage in Cuba\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(17 FIU Law Review 485 (2023)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/libguides.heinonline.org\/current-index-to-legal-periodicals\/smartcilp\"\u003ESmartCILP\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFrederick Schauer, \u003Ci\u003EDisestablishing the Establishment Clause\u003C\/i\u003E, [\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.journals.uchicago.edu\/doi\/10.1086\/725160\"\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E], (2022 Supreme Court Review 219-242).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMichael Asimow, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4189143\"\u003EJewish Lawyers in American Popular Culture\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, (21 Virginia Sports \u0026amp; Entertainment Law Journal 1-22 (2022)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1579805815740134227"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1579805815740134227"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/recent-articles-of-interest_0869731157.html","title":"Recent Articles of Interest"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3086832114265079264"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-26T15:00:00.005-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-26T15:00:00.207-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holocaust"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"President Issues Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EToday President Biden issued a Statement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2024\/01\/26\/statement-from-president-joe-biden-international-holocaust-remembrance-day-statement-2024\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) calling attention to International Holocaust Remembrance Day which occurs tomorrow (the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet armed forces). The Statement reads in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETomorrow ... we join nations around the world and pause to mourn one of the darkest chapters in human history, when six million Jews were systematically targeted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators in the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s. We also grieve the Roma, Sinti, Slavs, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, racial minorities, and political dissidents who were abused or killed. And we honor the courage of survivors and the heroism of people who bravely stood up to the Nazis, risking everything to save innocent lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, the charge to remember the Holocaust, the evil of the Nazis, and the scourge of antisemitism is more pressing than ever. On October 7 Hamas terrorists unleashed pure, unadulterated evil on the people of Israel....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the aftermath of Hamas’s vicious massacre, we have witnessed an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism at home and abroad that has surfaced painful scars from millennia of hate and genocide of Jewish people. It is unacceptable. We cannot remember all that Jewish survivors of the Holocaust experienced and then stand silently by when Jews are attacked and targeted again today. Without equivocation or exception, we must also forcefully push back against attempts to ignore, deny, distort, and revise history. This includes Holocaust denialism and efforts to minimize the horrors that Hamas perpetrated on October 7, especially its appalling and unforgiveable use of rape and sexual violence to terrorize victims.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3086832114265079264"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3086832114265079264"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/president-issues-statement-on.html","title":"President Issues Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6288142711917132009"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:10:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:10:00.132-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fair Housing Act"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Virginia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Presumption of Discrimination in Virginia Fair housing Law Held Unconstitutional"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/media.aclj.org\/pdf\/Carter-v-VREB-1-24-2024-Order.pdf\"\u003ECarter v. Virginia Real Estate Board\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(VA Cir. Ct., Jan. 24, 2024), a Virginia state trial court held unconstitutional a portion of Virginia's Fair Housing Law (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title36\/chapter5.1\/section36-96.3\/\"\u003E§36-96.3\u003C\/a\u003E) that provides:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe use of words or symbols associated with a particular religion, national origin, sex, or race shall be prima facie evidence of an illegal preference under this chapter that shall not be overcome by a general disclaimer. However, reference alone to places of worship, including churches, synagogues, temples, or mosques, in any such notice, statement, or advertisement shall not be prima facie evidence of an illegal preference....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the case, a realtor's e-mails contained a signature line reading \"For Faith and Freedom, Jesus Loves You, and with God all things are Possible.\" Her e-mails also contained a personal statement reading \"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16\". The Virginia Real Estate Board began an investigation of the realtor based on these religious statements. The court invalidated this portion of the Fair Housing Law, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[This section of the] Virginia Fair Housing Law ... infringes the natural right of individuals to express their identity and, as such, stands in sharp contrast to the freedom of Virginians and Americans to express their identity that lie at the heart of the First Amendment ... and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Moreover, the statute restricts individual expression with a sweeping generalization so broad that \u003Ci\u003Eany\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;expression of individual identity related to religion, national origin, sex, or race is deemed tantamount to a desire to engage in unlawful discrimination.... Virginia's presumption of animus in the Fair Housing Law inequitably and overbroadly inhibits those rights, and as such, it fails to give the breathing space that First Amendment freedoms require....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EACLJ issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/aclj.org\/religious-liberty\/aclj-wins-lawsuit-against-virginia-real-estate-board-for-targeting-jesus-loves-you-and-john-316-court-strikes-down-unconstitutional-law\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the decision.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6288142711917132009"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6288142711917132009"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/presumption-of-discrimination-in.html","title":"Presumption of Discrimination in Virginia Fair housing Law Held Unconstitutional"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4971891180582342584"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:05:00.135-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hijab"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Muslim"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Photo"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reasonable accommodation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tennessee"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"County Revises Policy on Religious Head Coverings in Booking Photos in Settlement of Suit by Muslim Woman"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a Settlement Agreement (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/horwitz.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Johnston.Fully_.Executed.Settlement.Agreement.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EJohnston v.\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003ERutherford County, Tennessee,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(MD TN, 1\/18\/2024), the county has agreed to pay $100,000 in damages to a Muslim woman who authorities required to remove her hijab for a booking photo. Sophia Johnston was stopped by police for having a taillight out and was arrested when it turned out she had a 6-year-old outstanding warrant for failing to appear on charges of driving with a suspended license. (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fox17.com\/news\/local\/woman-forced-to-remove-her-hijab-in-rutherford-co-mugshot-calls-incident-a-nightmare#\"\u003EBackground\u003C\/a\u003E.) In the Settlement Agreement, the county also agreed to delete from its records photos and video of Johnston without her hijab. Johnston will have a booking photo wearing her hijab retaken. Under the Agreement, the county has also adopted a new policy on Religious Accommodations for Head Coverings During Booking Process (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/horwitz.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/425-Religious-Accommodations-for-Head-Coverings-During-Booking-Process-.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) and has updated its Detention Center Protocols (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/horwitz.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/9.1402-Admission-24JAN24.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) to allow booking photos to be taken with religious head coverings so long as the head covering is first removed for a search.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fox17.com\/news\/local\/rutherford-county-to-pay-100k-settlement-changes-policies-after-hijab-removal-lawsuit\"\u003EWZTV News\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the settlement.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4971891180582342584"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4971891180582342584"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/county-revises-policy-on-religious-head.html","title":"County Revises Policy on Religious Head Coverings in Booking Photos in Settlement of Suit by Muslim Woman"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4436973819611820126"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:00:00.037-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-26T07:00:00.200-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Alabama"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Capital punishment"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RLUIPA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"11th Circuit Rejects RLUIPA Challenge to Novel Execution Method; Supreme Court Denies Review"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/media.ca11.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/unpub\/files\/202410095.pdf\"\u003ESmith v. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Corrections\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(11th Cir., Jan. 24, 2024), the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision refused to stop the January 25 execution of death row inmate Kenneth Smith.\u0026nbsp; The U.S. Supreme Court also refused to stay Smith's execution and denied \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E in the case, initially in an Order dated January 24 (\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/orders\/courtorders\/012424zr_m647.pdf\"\u003ESmith v. Alabama\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(Docket No. 23-6517)), and subsequently in an order dated January 25, to which\u0026nbsp;Justice Sotomayor filed a dissent, as did Justice Kagan joined by Justice Jackson. (\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/23pdf\/23a688_ap6c.pdf#page=6\"\u003ESmith v. Hamm\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(Docket No. 23-6562)). Smith was executed in the evening of January 25. The case has garnered \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/other\/alabama-plans-to-carry-out-the-first-execution-by-nitrogen-gas-today\/ar-BB1hfBtf\"\u003Esubstantial news coverage\u003C\/a\u003E because Alabama used a novel execution method-- nitrogen gas-- after a first attempt at execution by lethal injection failed. In addition to 8th Amendment claims, Smith, who wished to engage in audible prayer as he was being executed, raised free exercise claims under RLUIPA (as well as other claims).\u0026nbsp; The 11th Circuit affirmed the district court's refusal to issue a preliminary injunction, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, Smith argues that the Protocol substantially burdens his ability to audibly pray during the course of his execution because he faces an untenable choice—audibly pray or face a substantial risk of superadded pain or prolonged death due to a dislodged mask. It is not speculative that Smith would engage in religious exercise because he both audibly prayed and sang the contemporary hymn “I Am Not Alone” during his failed execution. However, we cannot say that the district court clearly erred when it found that any risk of the mask gaping or dislodging is speculative based upon the same factual findings regarding the mask’s design, fit, and nitrogen volumes above. Without such findings, we cannot conclude that Smith will be substantially burdened in his ability to audibly pray during the course of the execution. Based upon this standard of review, we are bound to accept the district court’s findings as to Smith’s claim and affirm the district court on its RLUIPA holding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJudge Wilson filed a concurring opinion and Judge Pryor filed a dissent on the 8th Amendment issue.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4436973819611820126"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4436973819611820126"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/11th-circuit-rejects-rluipa-challenge.html","title":"11th Circuit Rejects RLUIPA Challenge to Novel Execution Method; Supreme Court Denies Review"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5954131909697645116"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-25T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-25T07:05:00.137-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"College athletics"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Health Care"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"High School Athletics"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ohio"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ohio Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto of Bill on Transgender Health Care and Sports Participation"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Ohio Senate yesterday \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.legislature.ohio.gov\/legislation\/135\/hb68\/votes\"\u003Evoted\u003C\/a\u003E 24-8 to override Governor Mike DeWine's veto of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/search-prod.lis.state.oh.us\/solarapi\/v1\/general_assembly_135\/bills\/hb68\/EN\/05\/hb68_05_EN?format=pdf\"\u003EHB 68\u003C\/a\u003E, the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. The Ohio House of Representatives two weeks ago voted 65-28 to override. The bill, which will now become law, bars physicians from performing gender reassignment surgery or prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers to minors. It also prohibits transgender women from participating on women's athletic teams in schools that participate in interscholastic athletics and in public and private colleges. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/12\/ohio-governor-vetoes-ban-on-gender.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nbc4i.com\/news\/politics\/ohio-senate-expected-to-vote-on-overriding-gov-dewines-veto-of-trans-athlete-healthcare-bill\/\"\u003EWCMH News\u003C\/a\u003E reports on the Senate's vote and says that a court challenge to the legislation is expected.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5954131909697645116"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5954131909697645116"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/ohio-legislature-overrides-governors.html","title":"Ohio Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto of Bill on Transgender Health Care and Sports Participation"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-701278969084141293"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-25T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-25T07:00:00.239-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Arkansas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Election Campaigns"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"State constitutions"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Arkansas AG Certifies Abortion Amendment Proposal; Signature Collection May Begin"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter rejecting two prior proposals as being unclear or misleading (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ag-opinions.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2023-121.pdf\"\u003E1\u003C\/a\u003E , \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ag-opinions.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2023-121.pdf\"\u003E2 \u003C\/a\u003E) on Tuesday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin certified the popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment that, if adopted by voters, will liberalize abortion rules in Arkansas.\u0026nbsp; The ballot proposal describes the changes as follows in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [T]his amendment changes Arkansas law by amending the Arkansas Constitution to provide that the government of the State of Arkansas, its officers, or its political subdivisions shall not prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion services (1) in cases of rape, (2) in cases of incest, (3) in the event of a fatal fetal anomaly, or (4) when, in a physician’s good-faith medical judgment, abortion services are needed to protect a pregnant female’s life or to protect a pregnant female from a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury; to provide that the government of the State of Arkansas, its officers, or its political subdivisions shall not prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion services within 18 weeks of fertilization....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs reported by the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.arkansasonline.com\/news\/2024\/jan\/23\/arkansas-attorney-general-certifies-ballot\/\"\u003EArkansas Democrat Gazette\u003C\/a\u003E, the Attorney General's approval allows proponents to begin to collect 90,704 signatures needed to get the proposal on the November 2024 ballot.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/701278969084141293"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/701278969084141293"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/arkansas-ag-certifies-abortion.html","title":"Arkansas AG Certifies Abortion Amendment Proposal; Signature Collection May Begin"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4853409310735095461"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-24T07:05:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-24T21:43:10.187-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Contraceptives"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"White House"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"White House Fact Sheet Focuses on Administration's Protection of Access to Reproductive Health Care"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Monday, which was the 51st anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in \u003Ci\u003ERoe v. Wade, \u003C\/i\u003Ethe White House issued a Fact Sheet (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2024\/01\/22\/fact-sheet-white-house-task-force-on-reproductive-healthcare-access-announces-new-actions-and-marks-the-51st-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) announcing new actions to protect access to reproductive health care. According to the Whtie House, these include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) are issuing \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/files\/document\/faqs-part-64.pdf\"\u003Enew guidance\u003C\/a\u003E to clarify standards and support expanded coverage of a broader range of FDA-approved contraceptives at no cost under the Affordable Care Act....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Secretary of HHS is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/about\/news\/2024\/01\/22\/hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-announces-new-actions-increase-contraceptive-care-coverage-51st-anniversary-roe-v-wade.html\"\u003Eissuing a letter\u003C\/a\u003E to private health insurers, state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and Medicare plans about their obligations to cover contraception for those they serve....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... The Administration is committed to helping ensure all patients, including women who are experiencing pregnancy loss and other pregnancy-related emergencies, have access to emergency medical care required under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). The Administration has long taken the position that the required emergency care can, in some circumstances, include abortion care. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is defending that interpretation of the law before the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule by June.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo increase awareness of EMTALA and improve the procedures for ensuring that patients facing all types of medical emergencies receive the care to which they are entitled, HHS is announcing today \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/cms-announces-new-actions-help-hospitals-meet-obligations-under-emtala\"\u003Ea comprehensive plan\u003C\/a\u003E to educate all patients about their rights and to help ensure hospitals meet their obligations under federal law....\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Fact Sheet went on to outline at length steps the Administration has taken to protect access to abortion, including medication abortion, and to contraception. The Fact Sheet comes as the White House is convening the fourth meeting of its Task Force on Reproductive Health Care.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4853409310735095461"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4853409310735095461"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/whtie-house-fact-sheet-focuses-on.html","title":"White House Fact Sheet Focuses on Administration's Protection of Access to Reproductive Health Care"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3371405661972289049"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-24T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-24T07:00:00.255-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Catholic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Conscientious objection"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Contraceptives"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Florida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Medical providers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reasonable accommodation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Nurse Sues Clinic for Refusing to Accommodate Her Objection to Prescribing Contraceptives"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EA religious discrimination lawsuit was filed last week in a Florida federal district court by a nurse-practitioner who was fired from her position at a Florida CVS MinuteClinic. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2024-01-18-Complaint-Gunna-Kristofersdottir.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EKristofersdottir v. CVS Health Corp.\u003C\/i\u003E, (SD FL, filed 1\/18\/2024), alleges that CVS revoked all religious accommodations that allowed employees to refuse to prescribe contraceptives, including the accommodation it had given to plaintiff for more than 7 years.\u0026nbsp; Plaintiff, a Roman Catholic, objected to prescribing hormonal contraceptives for patients. According to the complaint:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECVS corporate culture changed around 2021. Instead of protecting religious freedom, CVS began to treat religious practice as a source of \"privilege.\"...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECVS never discussed possible accommodation options with Ms. Kristofersdottir even though CVS had numerous ways to provide a reasonable accommodation without undue hardship on the business.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Florida subsequently passed a law protecting conscience-based objections by employees, CVS offered plaintiff her job back, but she declined the offer. The complaint alleges violations of Title VII and the Florida Civil Rights Act.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst Liberty issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/media\/another-nurse-practitioner-sues-cvs-health-for-denying-religious-accommodation-for-prescribing-contraception\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the filing of the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3371405661972289049"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3371405661972289049"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/nurse-sues-clinic-for-refusing-to.html","title":"Nurse Sues Clinic for Refusing to Accommodate Her Objection to Prescribing Contraceptives"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3920014555803596430"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:15:00.129-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Catholic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious liberty"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Catholic Bishops Issue Report on Religious Liberty In the United States"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ELast week, the Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its Annual Report on \u003Ci\u003EThe State of Religious Liberty in the United States\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/usccb.cld.bz\/Religious-Liberty-Annual-Report\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.usccb.org\/committees\/religious-liberty\/2024-annual-report\"\u003Eexecutive summary\u003C\/a\u003E). The 48-page Report reviews developments at the national level in Congress, the Supreme Court and the Executive Branch.\u0026nbsp; It goes on to examine national trends in politics, culture and law. It forecasts important issues for 2024 and identifies what its authors see as the top 5 threats to religious liberty in the coming year.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3920014555803596430"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3920014555803596430"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/catholic-bishops-issue-report-on.html","title":"Catholic Bishops Issue Report on Religious Liberty In the United States"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8060218052239867893"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:10:00.007-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:10:00.138-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"EEOC"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"EEOC Religious Discrimination Suit Against Hospital That Refused Vaccine Exemption Settled For $50,000"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe EEOC \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/newsroom\/trinity-health-michigan-pay-50000-settle-eeoc-religious-discrimination-lawsuit\"\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;yesterday that Trinity Health Grand Rapids, a Michigan hospital, has agreed to pay $50,000 in damages to settle a Title VII religious discrimination lawsuit brought on behalf of a job applicant whose job offer was rescinded when the applicant applied for a religious exemption to the requirement that employees receive a flu shot. The applicant had received a conditional offer for a position as business office coordinator. The consent decree also enjoins the hospital from refusing to hire applicants because of their sincerely held religious beliefs opposing taking flu vaccine, or denying religious exemptions from vaccination in the future, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. It also calls for compliance training of personnel.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8060218052239867893"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8060218052239867893"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/eeoc-religious-discrimination-suit.html","title":"EEOC Religious Discrimination Suit Against Hospital That Refused Vaccine Exemption Settled For $50,000"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2351953311337178691"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:05:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-23T21:24:20.112-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fair Housing Act"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Homelessness"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ohio"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RLUIPA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Church Sues City Over Operation of Ministry for Homeless"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed yesterday in an Ohio federal district court seeking to enjoin the city of Bryan, Ohio from enforcing its zoning ordinances in an attempt to prevent a Christian church that ministers to the homeless from remaining open 24-hours a day. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/DadsPlaceMotion_TRO.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EDad's Place of Bryan, Ohio v. City of Bryan,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ND OH, filed 1\/22\/2024), contends that the city has begun \"a coordinated effort to exclude ministries from operating downtown.\" The city has charged the church's pastor with 18 criminal counts for allowing homeless to reside on the property for an extended amount of time in violation of zoning rules. The Church in its complaint contends that the city has violated the 1st and 14th Amendments, RLUIPA, the Fair Housing Act and the Ohio Constitution. First Liberty Institute issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/media\/dads-place-church-sues-bryan-ohio-hoping-to-end-months-of-harassment-by-city-officials\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the filing of the lawsuit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUPDATE: \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.friendlyatheist.com\/p\/an-ohio-pastor-was-punished-for-opening\"\u003EFriendly Atheist\u003C\/a\u003E has additional background on the city's concerns regarding the church's activities.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2351953311337178691"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2351953311337178691"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/church-sues-city-over-operation-of.html","title":"Church Sues City Over Operation of Ministry for Homeless"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4074005888423486006"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-23T07:00:00.152-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Election Campaigns"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Montana"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"State constitutions"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Montana AG Says Abortion Rights Initiative Cannot Go on Ballot"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a Memorandum dated January 16, Montana's Attorney General has ruled that proponents of an abortion rights amendment to the Montana Constitution may not begin to collect signatures to get the proposal on the ballot because the proposal is legally insufficient. (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2024.01.15_Ballot_Measure_14_Legal_Sufficiency_Final.pdf\"\u003EFull text of AG's ruling\u003C\/a\u003E.) Montana's Supreme Court in \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/mt-supreme-court\/1489482.html\"\u003EArmstrong v. State\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(1999) has previously held that the state Constitution's privacy provisions protect the right to pre-viability abortion. The proposed Amendment as \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sosmt.gov\/elections\/ballot_issues\/proposed-2024-ballot-issues\/#:~:text=This%20constitutional%20amendment%20prevents%20the,reproductive%20care%2C%20including%20abortion%20care.\u0026amp;text=Status:%20Attorney%20General%20determined%20that%20the%20ballot%20issue%20is%20legally%20insufficient.\"\u003Esummarized\u003C\/a\u003E by the Secretary of State would explicitly protect that right, would assure the right to abortion even post-viability when necessary to protect the pregnant person's life or health, and would prohibit the state from taking adverse action against patients, healthcare providers or anyone assisting someone in obtaining reproductive care. The Attorney General's Memorandum concludes that the proposed Amendment \"logrolls multiple distinct political choices into a single initiative,\" in violation of the separate-vote provision of the state Constitution. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2024\/01\/17\/montana-attorney-general-blocks-constitutional-abortion-proposal\/\"\u003EMontana Free Press\u003C\/a\u003E reporting on the Attorney General's action, says that Amendment proponents plan to challenge the Attorney General's action in court. \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E[Thanks to Thomas Rutledge for the lead.]\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4074005888423486006"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4074005888423486006"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/montana-ag-says-abortion-rights.html","title":"Montana AG Says Abortion Rights Initiative Cannot Go on Ballot"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6133143172679292839"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-22T07:05:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-22T17:32:35.216-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hindu"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Muslim"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Controversial Hindu Temple Dedication Takes Place In India"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the Indian holy city of Ayodhya, the politically and religiously controversial dedication of the Ram Mandir, a Hindu Temple, took place this morning. An article last week in \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6564070\/india-modi-temple-ram\/\"\u003ETime explains\u003C\/a\u003E the significance of the event. Here are excerpts:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA decades-long flashpoint in India’s sectarian politics is poised to reach a climax next week. The Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple, will be consecrated Jan 22. on a contested holy site once home to a mosque in India’s northern city of Ayodhya. The special ceremony for the temple, which is still in construction, has been a decades-long effort in the making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Hindus, site marks the birthplace of Lord Ram, one of the most revered deities in the Hindu faith. But the site is also revered by Muslims for having once housed the 16th century Babri Mosque, a monument of faith for Indian Muslims that stood on the site for centuries before it was razed by a Hindu nationalist mob in 1992. Sectarian riots ensued, killing thousands of people....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Hindu-nationalist government has overseen a steady rise in violence against Muslims and other religious minorities, will play a key role in the ceremony—one observers say will mark the unofficial start of his campaign to win a third consecutive term when Indians go to the polls in the spring....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2019, India's Supreme Court awarded the site to the Hindu community. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2019\/11\/indias-supreme-court-awards-disputed.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.).\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6133143172679292839"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6133143172679292839"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/controversial-hindu-temple-dedication.html","title":"Controversial Hindu Temple Dedication Takes Place In India"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6516492884100968995"},"published":{"$t":"2024-01-22T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-01-22T07:00:00.140-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Maryland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Planned Parenthood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sign Ordinance Restricting Anti-Abortion Protester Does Not Violate 1st Amendment "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/maryland\/mddce\/1:2022cv02587\/521605\/35\/0.pdf?ts=1705768402\"\u003ERoswell v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D MD, Jan.19, 2024), a Maryland federal district court dismissed a suit by an anti-abortion sidewalk counselor who communicates with women entering and exiting a Planned Parenthood Clinic. A city ordinance prevented plaintiff from using A-frame signs in front of the clinic to communicate his religious convictions about abortions as well as information about alternatives to abortion. A permit to erect such signs can be obtained only by the owner of the property or an agent of the owner. Finding that the city ordinance did not violate plaintiff's free speech rights, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiff asks this Court to find that zoning ordinances cannot distinguish between the owners and tenants of adjacent properties utilizing A-frame signs for non-residential uses and those with no such property interest without running afoul of First Amendment principles. Fatal to Roswell’s position is the simple fact that the regulations do not “target speech based on its communicative content.” ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court also rejected plaintiff's free exercise of religion challenge, saying in part:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, the challenged ordinances are unconcerned with religious exercise. They neither prohibit nor compel religious conduct. And even if the ordinances did burden religious exercise, a law that “incidentally burden[s] religion” does not violate the Free Exercise Clause if it is “neutral and generally applicable.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6516492884100968995"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6516492884100968995"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/01\/sign-ordinance-restricting-anti.html","title":"Sign Ordinance Restricting Anti-Abortion Protester Does Not Violate 1st Amendment "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]}]}});