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Cardona\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(ED KY, Jan. 9, 2025), a Kentucky federal district court issued a vacatur order invalidating\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/04\/doe-issues-new-rules-under-title-ix.html\"\u003Erules under Title IX\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;adopted by the Department of Education last April. Plaintiffs challenged provisions that extended sex discrimination bans to discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the Final Rule and its corresponding regulations exceed the Department’s authority under Title IX, violate the Constitution, and are the result of arbitrary and capricious agency action, the plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment will be granted....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [T]he Final Rule’s definitions of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment, combined with the\u003Ci\u003E de minimis\u003C\/i\u003E harm standard, require Title IX recipients, including teachers, to use names and pronouns associated with a student’s asserted gender identity....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe plaintiffs reasonably fear that teachers’ (and others’) speech concerning gender issues or their failure to use gender-identity-based pronouns would constitute harassment under the Final Rule.\u0026nbsp; Put simply, the First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Final Rule also is vague and overbroad. ....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [A] vacatur order “takes the unlawful agency action ‘off the books’”—“an entirely appropriate response when a plaintiff successfully establishes that the agency’s conduct violates the law.”...\u0026nbsp; Vacatur operates on the rule itself and prevents the rule’s “application to all who would otherwise be subject to its operation.” ... See Kentucky, 728 F. Supp. 3d at 522 (quoting East Bay\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the Court has discretion to craft a different remedy, there is no reason to do so here.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/state-tennessee-v-cardona\"\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\/7566207806066991080"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/7566207806066991080"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/court-invalidates-new-title-ix-rules.html","title":"Court Invalidates New Title IX Rules That Protected Transgender Students"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-2493027374090225525"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-10T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-10T07:00:00.593-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baptist"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defamation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ecclesiastical abstention"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tennessee"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine Does Not Apply To Pastor's Defamation Suit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tncourts.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/OpinionsPDFVersion\/Preston%20Garner%20Et%20Al.%20v.%20Southern%20Baptist%20Convention%20Et%20Al.%20Opinion.pdf\"\u003EGarner v. Southern Baptist Convention\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(TN App., Jan. 8. 2025), a Tennessee state appellate court held that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine does not apply to a defamation suit brought by a Baptist pastor against the Southern Baptist Convention and various of its officials and staff. At issue are oral conversations and a letter from an SBC staff member suggesting that allegations of sexual misconduct had been made against Preston Garner, a pastor at Everett Hills Baptist Church. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conduct at issue is the Appellants’ purported publication of written and oral statements that Mr. Garner was “an individual with an alleged history of abuse” and that the allegation was credible, while failing to also state that “the allegation[ was] made through an anonymous online portal” and that the Appellants “had not made any inquiry into the veracity of the anonymous report, or that no evidence supported the anonymous report.”\u0026nbsp; ... [T]he Appellants in this case have not raised any argument that their conduct resulted from the application or interpretation of any religious canon.\u0026nbsp; Moreover, any argument by the Appellants that the Letter was sent as part of a pastoral disciplinary process is undercut by the concession of the SBC and the Credentials Committee that “[t]he Credentials Committee does not ‘investigate what occurred or judge the culpability of an accused individual,’ but rather only reviews ‘how the SBC church responded to sexual abuse allegations and make[s] recommendations as to whether those actions or inactions are consistent with the SBC’s beliefs regarding sexual abuse.’”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [C]onsidering the Garners’ claims will not require the trial court to resolve any religious disputes or to rely on religious doctrine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court also concluded that the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/casetext.com\/statute\/tennessee-code\/title-20-civil-procedure\/chapter-17-tennessee-public-participation-act\/section-20-17-105-burden-of-proof-dismissal-of-legal-action\"\u003ETennessee Public Participation Act\u003C\/a\u003E applies to the lawsuit, but that plaintiffs had carried their burden of proof needed to avoid early dismissal of the case.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2493027374090225525"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/2493027374090225525"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/ecclesiastical-abstention-doctrine-does.html","title":"Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine Does Not Apply To Pastor's Defamation Suit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5553130389931656357"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-09T14:37:00.005-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-09T14:55:43.194-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Congress"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Religious Affiliations of Members of 119th Congress Are Reported"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Pew Research Center has published a study of the religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress which began last week. In an article titled \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/religion\/2025\/01\/02\/faith-on-the-hill-2025\/\"\u003EFaith on the Hill\u003C\/a\u003E, Pew reports that 86.7% of the voting members of the Senate and House combined are Christian.\u0026nbsp; 55.5% are Protestant and 28.2% are Catholic. The largest Protestant denomination represented is Baptist.\u0026nbsp; Other Christian denominations represented are Latter Day Saints (1.7%), Orthodox Christians (1.1%) and Messianic Jewish (0.2%).\u0026nbsp; 6% of the new Congress is Jewish. Other religious groups represented by 4 or fewer members (less than 1%) each are Muslim (4), Hindu (4), Buddhist (3), Unitarian Universalist (3) and Humanist (1).\u0026nbsp; 3 members report that they are unaffiliated. Affiliation of 21 members (3.9%) is unknown.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5553130389931656357"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5553130389931656357"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/religious-affiliations-of-members-of.html","title":"The Religious Affiliations of Members of 119th Congress Are Reported"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1289660543950120903"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-09T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-09T07:05:00.122-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free speech"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Parental rights"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Privacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Public Schools"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transgender"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Challenges to School Policy on Disclosure of Gender Identity Change May Move Ahead"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/california\/casdce\/3:2023cv00768\/757886\/194\/0.pdf?ts=1736333533\"\u003EMirabelli v. Olson\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(SD CA, Jan. 7, 2025), a California federal district court denied motions to dismiss a suit brought by teachers and parents challenging a policy of the state board of education that schools are not to disclose a student's announced change of gender identity to the student's parents without the student's consent. The policy is intended to protect student privacy.\u0026nbsp; Among other challenges, plaintiffs claimed that the policy violates their 1st Amendment free exercise and free speech rights. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the Complaint, the policies force parents to accede to a school’s plan to neither acknowledge nor disclose information about their child’s gender dysphoria.\u0026nbsp; By concealing a child’s gender health issues from the parents, parents are precluded from exercising their religious obligations to raise and care for their child at a time when it may be highly significant, because they are kept uninformed of the need for their child’s religious guidance.\u0026nbsp; “....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Teachers do not completely forfeit their First Amendment rights in exchange for public school employment.\u0026nbsp; To the extent that teachers allege (as they do here) that EUSD has hired their speech to speak falsely or deceptively to parents of students, the teachers make out a plausible claim for relief under the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause.\u0026nbsp; Likewise, to the extent teachers allege (as they do here) that EUSD’s curriculum includes what the teachers sincerely believe to be lies and deceptions for communications with school parents and that such prevarications are religiously or morally offensive, the teachers make out a plausible claim for relief under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.\u0026nbsp; EUSD contends that it is not a lie to not answer a question.\u0026nbsp; That the teachers sincerely held religious beliefs to the contrary cannot be simply dismissed....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are no controlling decisions that would compel this Court to limit or infringe parental rights, notwithstanding the State’s laudable goals of protecting children.\u0026nbsp; This Court concludes that, in a collision of rights as between parents and child, the long-recognized federal constitutional rights of parents must eclipse the state rights of the child.\u0026nbsp; Therefore, the Court finds that the Plaintiffs have stated plausible claims upon which relief can be granted and the motions to dismiss are denied.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1289660543950120903"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1289660543950120903"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/challenges-to-school-policy-on.html","title":"Challenges to School Policy on Disclosure of Gender Identity Change May Move Ahead"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-952125491855540557"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-09T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-09T07:00:00.126-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"1st Circuit Hears Oral Arguments in Religious Schools' Challenge to Anti-Discrimination Provisions"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Maine cannot exclude parochial schools from participating in its program that pays tuition for certain out-of-district students. While that litigation was pending, the Maine legislature amended state law to provide that schools receiving state funds cannot discriminate on the basis of religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. This had the effect of excluding Catholic and certain other Christian schools.\u0026nbsp; On Monday, the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in two cases challenging that anti-discrimination law on free exercise grounds:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne case was\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ESt. Dominic Academy v Makin\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ca1.uscourts.gov\/sites\/ca1\/files\/oralargs\/24-1739_20250107.mp3\"\u003Eaudio of full oral argument\u003C\/a\u003E). In the case,\u0026nbsp;a Maine federal district refused to preliminarily enjoin enforcement of Maine's educational and employment antidiscrimination laws in a suit brought by a Catholic diocese, a Catholic school and a Catholic family. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/de-facto-exclusion-of-catholic-schools.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) Becket issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/becketfund.org\/media\/parents-catholic-school-take-state-to-court-for-punishing-faith-based-education\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;giving additional background.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second case was\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ECrosspoint Church v Makin\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ca1.uscourts.gov\/sites\/ca1\/files\/oralargs\/24-1590_20250107.mp3\"\u003Eaudio of full oral argument\u003C\/a\u003E). In the case,\u0026nbsp;a Maine federal district court refused to enjoin application of the state's educational antidiscrimination laws against a private Christian school. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/court-upholds-maines-law-barring-lgbtq.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) First Liberty Institute issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/media\/court-hears-argument-challenging-maine-law-preventing-religious-school-participation-in-school-choice-program\/\"\u003Epress release\u003C\/a\u003E giving additional background.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/952125491855540557"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/952125491855540557"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/1st-circuit-hears-oral-arguments-in.html","title":"1st Circuit Hears Oral Arguments in Religious Schools' Challenge to Anti-Discrimination Provisions"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8386084492692569124"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-08T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-08T07:05:00.120-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"4th Circuit: Covid Vaccine Religious Accommodation Suit Should Not Have Been Dismissed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ca4.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/241271.P.pdf\"\u003EBarnett v. INOVA Health Care Services\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(4th Cir., Jan. 7, 2025), the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of Title VII and state law claims by a former registered nurse who was denied a religious exemption or accommodation from her employer's Covid vaccine mandate. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBarnett has sufficiently alleged her beliefs are religious in nature.\u0026nbsp; Specifically, Barnett alleged, amongst other things:\u0026nbsp; (1) “it would be sinful for her to engage with a product such as the vaccination after having been instructed by God to abstain from it”; (2) her “religious reasons for declining the covid vaccinations. . . were based on her ‘study and understanding of the Bible and personally directed by the true and living God’”; and (3) receiving the vaccine would be sinning against her body, which is a temple of God, and against God himself....\u0026nbsp; At this stage, these allegations are sufficient to show that Barnett’s “belief is an essential part of a religious faith” that “must be given great weight[,]” ... and are plausibly connected with her refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8386084492692569124"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8386084492692569124"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/4th-circuit-covid-vaccine-religious.html","title":"4th Circuit: Covid Vaccine Religious Accommodation Suit Should Not Have Been Dismissed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5401829763488503902"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-08T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-08T07:00:00.119-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Antisemitism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defamation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Standing"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2nd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Louis Farrakhan's Suit Against ADL"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov\/decisions\/isysquery\/f53c69d6-b732-48e7-b462-e03296177174\/2\/doc\/(24-1237_so.pdf\"\u003EFarrakhan v. Anti-Defamation League\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(2nd Cir., Jan. 3, 2025), the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/04\/louis-farrakhans-suit-against-adl.html\"\u003Edismissal of a suit\u003C\/a\u003E brought against the Anti-Defamation League by Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam that alleged free speech and defamation claims. Upholding the trial court's dismissal of the First Amendment claims for lack of standing, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo the extent plaintiffs assert claims against defendants because third parties—Morgan State University and Vimeo—denied or rescinded plaintiffs’ access to speech platforms, those alleged First Amendment injuries are not fairly traceable to the defendants’ actions....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs’ remaining First Amendment claims do not state any injuries in fact....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs to the defamation claims, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs challenge a number of defendants’ statements that label plaintiffs in various ways as “anti-Semitic.”\u0026nbsp; Under New York law, these statements are nonactionable opinions....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs also challenge statements made by defendants interpreting Farrakhan’s own statements.\u0026nbsp; The challenged statements were either accompanied by disclosures of Farrakhan’s actual statements or were based on Farrakhan’s statements that were widely reported by the media....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, plaintiffs challenge certain of defendants’ factual statements.\u0026nbsp; On de novo review, we agree with the district court that the SAC fails to sufficiently allege the falsity of those statements.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/jonathanturley.org\/2025\/01\/07\/farrakhan-and-nation-of-islam-lose-major-defamation-case\/\"\u003EJonathan Turley\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\/5401829763488503902"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5401829763488503902"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/2nd-circuit-affirms-dismissal-of-louis.html","title":"2nd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Louis Farrakhan's Suit Against ADL"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-5543983407023070342"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-07T13:21:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-07T13:21:42.004-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christmas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Orthodox"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"President Biden Sends Greetings on Orthodox Christmas"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a Statement released today (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2025\/01\/07\/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-orthodox-christmas-2\/\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E), President Biden and Jill Biden sent greetings to Orthodox Christians who are celebrating Christmas today. The Statement says in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, we pray for Orthodox Christians who are suffering around the world due to war, conflict, deprivation, and oppression. They, like all human beings, are created in the image of God, and deserve safety and security, dignity and respect. We will continue to advocate for these core principles, including religious freedom, and on this day, we keep these communities close to our hearts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5543983407023070342"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/5543983407023070342"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/president-biden-sends-greetings-on.html","title":"President Biden Sends Greetings on Orthodox Christmas"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6791445833416739887"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-07T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-07T07:00:00.141-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Equal Protection"},{"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":"New York"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Title VII"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Suit Challenges Museum's Diversity Policy as Violative of Employee's Religious Beliefs"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ESuit was filed last week in a New York federal district court by an employee of the Genesee Country Museum who was fired from her managerial position because her religious beliefs were inconsistent with the Museum's Diversity, Equity, Acceptance and Inclusion Policy. The complaint (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lc.org\/PDFs\/010325Complaint-asFiled1-2-24.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) in \u003Ci\u003EBerkemeir v. Genesee County Museum,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(WD NY, filed 1\/2\/2025), alleges that plaintiff's dismissal violates her free exercise and free speech rights, the Equal Protection Clause, and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as well as other statutes. The complaint specifically focuses on requirements to address individuals by their preferred pronouns, but also sets out broader objections, stating in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E80. Plaintiff also has the sincerely held religious belief, compelled by Scripture, that she is to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,” but to “expose them.”...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E81. Plaintiff also has the sincerely held religious belief, compelled by Scripture, that silence in the face of evil is evil itself....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E84. Plaintiff also has the sincerely held religious belief that for her to fail to speak out against things she knows are wrong results in the eternal condemnation of her soul....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E228. Plaintiff’s sincerely held religious beliefs that compelled her to view all people as created by God in His image and equally deserving of respect did not comport with Defendants’ newly minted program of requiring all employees to view white people as “born oppressors” and somehow undeserving of identical respect and treatment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiberty Counsel issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lc.org\/newsroom\/details\/010325-new-york-gender-expression-law-is-unconstitutional\"\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\/6791445833416739887"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6791445833416739887"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/suit-challenges-museums-diversity.html","title":"Suit Challenges Museum's Diversity Policy as Violative of Employee's Religious Beliefs"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8296217051288007070"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-06T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-06T07:05:00.121-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Louisiana"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Public Schools"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ten Commandments"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Louisiana AG Issues Guidance to Schools on Posting the Ten Commandments in Classrooms"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003ELast week, Louisiana Attorney General\u0026nbsp;Liz Murrill issued Guidance (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.state.la.us\/Page\/HB71\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) to public schools on implementing the state's\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/05\/louisiana-legislature-requires-posting.html\"\u003E new Ten Commandments Law\u003C\/a\u003E that requires display of the Ten Commandments in each public-school classroom. The Guidance requires posting only if the displays themselves or funding for the displays are donated.\u0026nbsp;The Guidance includes four separate thematic posters that pair the Ten Commandments with other pictures or texts.\u0026nbsp; The Attorney General says that these assure the constitutionality of the displays. Schools may choose any of the posters. The themes of the posters are \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.state.la.us\/Files\/Shared\/Images\/TheHouseofRepresentativesTheLawgivers.png\"\u003EThe House of Representatives \u0026amp; the Lawgivers\u003C\/a\u003E; \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.state.la.us\/Files\/Shared\/Images\/TheSupremeCourtTheLawgivers.png\"\u003EThe Supreme Court \u0026amp; the Lawgivers\u003C\/a\u003E; \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.state.la.us\/Files\/Shared\/Images\/ReligionsRoleinAmericanPublicEducation.png\"\u003EReligion's Role in American Public Education\u003C\/a\u003E; and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.state.la.us\/Files\/Shared\/Images\/TheSupremeCourtTheReligionClauses.png\"\u003EThe Supreme Court \u0026amp; the Religion Clauses of the Constitution\u003C\/a\u003E. Reporting on the new Guidance, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lailluminator.com\/briefs\/louisiana-issues-guidance-as-law-requiring-ten-commandments-in-classrooms-goes-into-effect\/\"\u003ELouisiana Illuminator\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;points out that \"The new law does not include any punishment for not posting the display in classrooms.\" A federal district court has enjoined five Parishes from implementing the new law. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/11\/louisiana-federal-court-enjoins.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) The state is appealing that decision to the Fifth Circuit. \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E[Thanks to Scott Mange 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\/8296217051288007070"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8296217051288007070"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/louisiana-ag-issues-guidance-to-schools.html","title":"Louisiana AG Issues Guidance to Schools on Posting the Ten Commandments in Classrooms"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1062793464370070275"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-06T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-06T07:00:00.226-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Florida"},{"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":"Public Schools"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Satanists"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Church of Satanology's Suit to Display Banner in Schools Moves Ahead"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/USCOURTS-flsd-0_24-cv-61926\/pdf\/USCOURTS-flsd-0_24-cv-61926-0.pdf\"\u003EStevens v. School Board of Broward County, Florida\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SD FL, Jan. 2, 2025), a Florida federal district court refused to dismiss free exercise, free speech and Establishment Clause claims brought by a minister of The Church of Satanology and Perpetual Soiree whose request to display a religious banner at a high school and a middle school were denied. Schools had permitted other churches to display banners, but refused plaintiff's request to display a banner reading \"Satan Loves the First Amendment\". The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Reverend Stevens has adequately alleged that he “has engaged in the exercise of religion.”... The school board’s arguments as to the lack of evidence regarding the Church’s tenets are better addressed on a motion for summary judgment or at trial, not on a motion to dismiss. And by preventing Reverend Stevens from displaying these banners, the school board has allegedly “substantially burdened this religious exercise.”...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Court concludes that Reverend Stevens has stated a claim for viewpoint discrimination.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe school board has arguably created a limited public forum at its schools by allowing some advertisements to be displayed on school grounds. ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo the extent that Reverend Stevens’s First Amendment claim is brought as an Establishment Clause claim, rather than a Free Exercise Clause claim, the school board has not established that it should be dismissed....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1062793464370070275"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1062793464370070275"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/church-of-satanologys-suit-to-display.html","title":"Church of Satanology's Suit to Display Banner in Schools Moves Ahead"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-852985758652828142"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-03T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-03T07:05:00.126-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Employment discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New York"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ban on Firing Employee Because of Reproductive Health Decision May Violate Religious Employer's Expressive Association Rights"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/CompassCareRuling.pdf\"\u003ECompassCare v. Hochul\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(2nd Cir., Jan. 2, 2025), anti-abortion pregnancy centers and a Baptist Church challenge a New York statute which prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee based on any reproductive health care decision made by the employee or a dependent. Reviewing plaintiffs' expressive association claim, the court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[A]n entity like CompassCare, or another mission-based organization that advocates for a particular cause or set of beliefs, could plausibly allege that the compelled retention of a specific employee would impair its ability to express its message....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo sustain their challenge to the Act, each Plaintiff must adequately allege (and eventually prove) that the Act threatens “the very mission of its organization.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, the court rejected the claim that this provision violates free speech and free exercise rights.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court also concluded that the law's notice provision which requires employee handbooks to include information on employees' rights under the New York labor law is subject only to rational basis review. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERequiring Plaintiffs to include among these wide-ranging provisions a notice informing employees of their available rights and remedies under a valid statute is not akin to requiring a crisis pregnancy center to distribute a notice about state-sponsored reproductive health services “at the same time [the centers] try to dissuade women from choosing that option.”...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe conclude that the required notification does not interfere with Plaintiffs’ greater message and mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADF issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/case\/compasscare-v-hochul\"\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\/852985758652828142"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/852985758652828142"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/ban-on-firing-employee-because-of.html","title":"Ban on Firing Employee Because of Reproductive Health Decision May Violate Religious Employer's Expressive Association Rights"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4413426403448574424"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-03T07:00:00.006-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-03T07:00:00.120-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Church disputes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Church property"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ecclesiastical abstention"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Methodist"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Church's Claims Against Parent Body Can Largely Be Decided on Neutral Principles of Secular Law"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/appellate.nccourts.org\/opinions\/?c=2\u0026amp;pdf=43317\"\u003EFifth Avenue United Methodist Church of Wilmington v. North Carolina Conference, Southeastern Jurisdiction, of the United Methodist Church, Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(NC App., Dec. 31, 2024), a North Carolina appellate court, in a 2-1 decision, held that the trial court had improperly dismissed a number of claims by a church whose parent body closed its down and seized its property while the church was seeking to disaffiliate from the parent body. The majority said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Fifth Avenue contends that the trial court has subject matter jurisdiction to consider its property and trust claims because there remains a genuine, secular question of whether it was in a connectional relationship with the UMC concerning the Property.\u0026nbsp; Fifth Avenue maintains as such because none of the deeds pertaining to the Property refer to the trust clauses contained in the BOD [Book of Discipline], “save one green space parcel conveyed in 1986.”\u0026nbsp; After carefully considering our precedents resolving similar disputes, we agree....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFifth Avenue next argues that even if the Property is subject to a trust under the BOD, the trial court erred in dismissing its claim arising from its right to disaffiliate and retain the Property free of the trust clause under paragraph 2553.\u0026nbsp; Fifth Avenue contends that its breach of contract claim survives dismissal at this stage because it does not require a determination of ecclesiastical issues and can be settled by neutral principles of contract law.\u0026nbsp; Fifth Avenue maintains that Defendants failed to follow the disaffiliation procedures set out in paragraph 2553 by not allowing a church conference vote within 120 days...\u0026nbsp; [W]e agree and hold that the trial court committed error by dismissing Fifth Avenue’s breach of contract claim because determining whether Defendants “acted within the scope of their authority” and “observed the organization’s own organic forms and rules is founded in neutral principles of secular law.” ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFifth Avenue next submits that the trial court committed error by dismissing its claims for fraud and constructive fraud because they do not require the court to examine or determine ecclesiastical issues.\u0026nbsp; More precisely, Fifth Avenue contends that whether Defendants colluded to take the Property “under the guise of legitimate action can be determined without delving into the validity of the reasons” provided for closure.\u0026nbsp; After scrutinizing the record and applicable law, we agree....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Judge Arrowood filed an opinion dissenting from much of the majority's holdings, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI believe the trial court is permitted to assess whether Fifth Avenue is contractually entitled to disaffiliate following closure, as this can be decided under neutral principles of law.\u0026nbsp; However, I respectfully dissent from the remainder of the majority opinion.\u0026nbsp; I believe the First Amendment church doctrine warrants dismissal of Fifth Avenue’s claims apart from the breach of contract claim and would affirm the trial court’s judgment in those respects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4413426403448574424"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4413426403448574424"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/churchs-claims-against-parent-body-can.html","title":"Church's Claims Against Parent Body Can Largely Be Decided on Neutral Principles of Secular Law"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1473289164760202541"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-02T07:00:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-02T07:00:00.118-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pullman abstention"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious exemption"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Vaccination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"West Virginia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"4th Circuit: Abstention Doctrine Does Not Apply in Challenge to No Religious Exemption in Vaccination Law"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ca4.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/231887.P.pdf\"\u003EWest Virginia Parents for Religious Freedom v. Christiansen\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(4th Cir., Dec. 31, 2024), the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision held that a West Virginia federal district court erred in applying the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abstention_doctrine#Pullman_abstention\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPullman\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;abstention doctrine\u003C\/a\u003E in a suit challenging the constitutionality of West Virginia's vaccine mandate for school children. Plaintiffs contended that the absence of a religious exemption in the mandate violates the 1st Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. The majority said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPullman\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eabstention is typically reserved for a situation where the state law being presented is unclear and could be interpreted in a way that avoids the federal constitutional issue....\u0026nbsp; And \u003Ci\u003EPullman\u003C\/i\u003E abstention is not applicable if the state law is not subject to an interpretation that would render unnecessary the adjudication of a federal constitutional question....\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;... [T]he only state law presented for decision here is the Vaccination Mandate.\u0026nbsp; On the other hand, the only state law identified as being unclear is the recently adopted [Equal Protection for Religion Act].\u0026nbsp; And the Plaintiffs are not challenging the Vaccination Mandate under EPRA.\u0026nbsp; Rather, the Plaintiffs pursue their Free Exercise claim solely under the Free Exercise Clause....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... “[A]bstention cannot be ordered simply to give state courts the first opportunity to vindicate the federal claim.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJudge Berner filed a dissenting opinion, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn several cases ..., this court and the Supreme Court have found abstention proper because the challenged law’s relationship with a different state law or constitutional provision was unsettled....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the relationship between the Vaccination Mandate and the EPRA is unsettled, this case satisfies the first \u003Ci\u003EPullman\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;requirement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis case also meets the second \u003Ci\u003EPullman\u003C\/i\u003E precondition.... There is no requirement that the resolution of the state law issue \u003Ci\u003Enecessarily\u003C\/i\u003E moot the federal constitutional issue. Instead, it is enough that questions of state law “\u003Ci\u003Emay\u003C\/i\u003E dispose of the case and avoid the need for deciding the constitutional question.”\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1473289164760202541"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1473289164760202541"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/4th-circuit-abstention-doctrine-does.html","title":"4th Circuit: Abstention Doctrine Does Not Apply in Challenge to No Religious Exemption in Vaccination Law"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1512247922731237554"},"published":{"$t":"2025-01-01T00:05:00.007-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2025-01-01T21:37:40.837-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religion Clause blog"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Happy New Year 2025!"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EDear Religion Clause Readers:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHappy New Year 2025!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hope that you continue to find Religion Clause a valuable source of information on the intersection of law, religion and public policy. Recently the total number of posts since Religion Clause began publication in 2005 broke the 25,000 mark .\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt has been a busy year for those of us who follow legal developments impacting free exercise rights and church-state separation.\u0026nbsp; As political, cultural and health care issues have increasingly taken on religious significance for many individuals, deciding which developments qualify as ones of religious concern has become a more difficult project. I have generally treated all legislative and judicial developments relating to reproductive rights as ones that I should cover.\u0026nbsp; It has been more difficult to decide which developments regarding transgender rights are ones that implicate religious views.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother coverage challenge has been created by the explosion in the number of court decisions on denial of religious exemptions from Covid vaccine mandates during the height of the pandemic.\u0026nbsp; Many of these decisions are repetitive in their legal analysis. I have generally moved to covering only appellate court decisions in this area or the rare trial court decision that has a unique twist to it. (This is the same standard that I have applied for a number of years in covering prisoner free exercise cases.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReligion Clause has always been a niche blog which has particularly attracted lawyers, social scientists, advocacy organization personnel, law school faculty, journalists, clergy, legislative and executive branch staff, students and others working professionally or avocationally interested in church-state relations and religious liberty issues.\u0026nbsp; I invite your feedback on the continued effectiveness of the current format.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Religion Clause website is the most effective way of accessing posts, ad-free.\u0026nbsp; However, Religion Clause posts are also available through e-mail subscriptions, through X (formerly known as Twitter) and through Facebook, though the format, accompanying advertising, and availability of posts through these channels are handled by third parties over whom I have no control. Hopefully the technical issues that earlier this year interfered with access through Facebook and X are now resolved.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs always, I have attempted to retain Religion Clause's objectivity and its policy of linking to extensive primary source material. I hope that the blog continues to have a reputation for reliability at a time when the objectivity of social media is increasingly called into question.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI also urge you to look at the blog's Sidebar which has dozens of links to useful sites. Scroll down and you will also find resources to subscribe for e-mails giving you access to the latest posts, and access to the X (Twitter) account.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThank you to all who are loyal readers of Religion Clause-- both those who have followed it for many years and those who have only recently discovered it. I hope you will continue to follow Religion Clause in 2025. Please recommend the blog to colleagues, students and friends who may find it useful and interesting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI want to extend a special thanks to those of you who have sent me leads to developments of interest.\u0026nbsp; I have tried to acknowledge them in the posts that they generate. To all my readers, feel free to contact me by e-mail (religionclause@gmail.com) in response to this post or throughout the year with comments or suggestions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBest wishes for a New Year that is more peaceful and tolerant than the past year,\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHoward Friedman\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1512247922731237554"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1512247922731237554"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2025\/01\/happy-new-year-2025.html","title":"Happy New Year 2025!"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1692038659944110930"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-31T07:05:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-31T07:05:00.139-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jimmy Carter"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Separation of Church and State"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"President Jimmy Carter's Views on Religion"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EJimmy Carter, 39th President of the United Staes, passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. The White House issued a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/presidential-actions\/2024\/12\/29\/proclamation-announcing-the-death-of-james-earl-carter-jr\/\"\u003EProclamation\u003C\/a\u003E from President Biden formally announcing Carter's death. Religion played an extremely important role in Carter's life. In October 1976, just a month before the election in which he narrowly defeated Gerald Ford, Carter gave a lengthy interview (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.presidency.ucsb.edu\/documents\/interview-with-leaders-national-religious-broadcasters-and-world-religious-news\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E) with leaders of \"National Religious Broadcasters\" and \"World Religious News\" that set out his personal views on religion as well as on separation of church and state. Here are a few excerpts:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ. Mr. Carter, ... can you tell us what Jesus Christ means to you, and to what extent you have dedicated your life to Him?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGovernor Carter. The most important thing in my life is Jesus Christ....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI had my deepest and most personal turning to Christ about 10 years ago. 1966 or 1967, when I realized that in spite of the achievement within my church circle, as chairman of the board of deacons, superintendent of the Sunday School, and so forth, that there was an absence of a deep, constant personal relationship with Christ I went to some other states to witness among those who had no church affiliation. During the trips, I felt very personally present to the Holy Spirit and began to be able to testify for the first time with complete sincerity about what Christ meant to me. I found it easy to pray without a special extra effort; it became part of my consciousness, and I felt a sense of peace and security that I had never felt before....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ. How does your Christian commitment affect political decisions you have made and will make in the future?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGovernor Carter. As a Baptist I believe very strongly in the principle of separation of church and state....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs far as my decisions as a political leader, they are affected very heavily by my Christian beliefs. I spent more time on my knees as governor of Georgia than I had spent all the rest of my life put together because I felt the responsibility of many other people's lives. I cling to the principles of the Judeo-Christian ethic. Honesty, integrity, compassion, love, hope, charity, humility are integral parts of any person's life, no matter what his position in life may be. But when someone is elected and trusted by others to help determine one's own life quality, it puts an additional responsibility on the pastor or the schoolteacher or someone who has a public life. So, the Christian or the religious commitment is one that's especially useful tome....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Not too long ago, I taught a Sunday school lesson about how Paul and Peter reacted to the laws or government of that day. Their admonition was to obey the law and to obey the chosen rulers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf there was a violation of God's laws by the civil law, to obey God's law is to be willing to accept the punishment administered by the civil law and to try to work to make sure the civil law was compatible with God's law.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ. In the past, much has been discussed concerning prayer and Bible reading in public schools. In the event you become the President of the United States, what proposals or plans would you have concerning this particular area?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGovernor Carter. I don't favor the state, through the public schools, requiring a certain kind of prayer or worship. I believe that ought to be a decision made by the individual student. There ought not to be any prohibition against any self-initiated worship. But the requirement of conformity of worship is something that is contrary to my own beliefs....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1692038659944110930"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1692038659944110930"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/president-jimmy-carters-views-on.html","title":"President Jimmy Carter's Views on Religion"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8274817386633727731"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-31T07:00:00.006-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-31T07:00:00.138-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fraud"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Jewish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Kosher"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ministerial exception"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"9th Circuit: Ministerial Exception Bars Claim by Mashgiach for Wages and Promotion"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2024\/12\/30\/23-55088.pdf\"\u003EMarkel v. Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(9th Cir., Dec. 30, 2024), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the ministerial exception requires dismissal of a suit alleging wage and hour violations as well as fraud and misrepresentation brought by a \u003Ci\u003Emashgiach\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(kosher food inspector) against the kosher certification agency that employed him. Plaintiff alleged that he never received a promotion and raise that were promised to him and certain compensation for overtime. The court concluded that defendant, the Orthodox Union, is a religious organization and that plaintiff Markel is a \"minister.\" saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [I]f OU is a religious organization and Markel is its minister, the exception applies to Markel’s claims, which are all employment related.\u0026nbsp; We address each in turn....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause only observant Orthodox Jews can serve as a \u003Ci\u003Emashgiach\u003C\/i\u003E for the OU, and because they are necessary to carrying out OU’s religious mission of “ensuring the wide availability of kosher food,” a \u003Ci\u003Emashgiach \u003C\/i\u003Eis a minister for purposes of the ministerial exception....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Markel invites us to create a rule that if a religious purpose did not animate the relevant employment decisions, then the ministerial exception should not apply, and the case should be allowed to proceed to discovery....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarkel’s argument raises two separate, but related issues.\u0026nbsp; First, can issues involving a religious institution ever be bifurcated into being either “religious” or “non-religious?”\u0026nbsp; And second, does a religious institution need to identify a “religious” justification for its employment related decisions to invoke the ministerial exception?\u0026nbsp; The answer to both questions is no....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... Since the same constitutional harm looms regardless of whether an employee-plaintiff’s employment-related claims are against the religious organization or its leaders, we hold that the ministerial exception protects both....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EJudge Sanchez filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/litigation\/jewish-group-shielded-kosher-inspectors-work-related-lawsuit-us-court-says-2024-12-30\/\"\u003EReuters\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\/8274817386633727731"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8274817386633727731"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/9th-circuit-ministerial-exception-bars.html","title":"9th Circuit: Ministerial Exception Bars Claim by Mashgiach for Wages and Promotion"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3030749897100870694"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-30T07:05:00.005-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-30T07:05:00.122-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fair Housing Act"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Free exercise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Minnesota"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mosques"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"RLUIPA"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Zoning"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against Moratorium Delaying Building of Mosque"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/cases.justia.com\/federal\/district-courts\/minnesota\/mndce\/0:2024cv03721\/220241\/42\/0.pdf?ts=1735296828\"\u003EZikar Holdings, LLC v. Ruhland\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(D MN, Dec. 26, 2024), a Minnesota federal district court refused to issue a preliminary injunction to enjoin the city of Lino Lakes from enforcing a one-year moratorium on development of an area of the city where plaintiffs had proposed to build a housing development that included a mosque. Plaintiffs contended that the moratorium was motivated by discriminatory intent in violation of the free exercise clause, RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, Plaintiffs are likely to show that the Moratorium might have delayed Plaintiffs’ ability to build a place of worship and potential future residences near it in the northwest corner of Lino Lakes.\u0026nbsp; The language of the Moratorium, however, places no permanent restrictions on Plaintiff’s ability to build anything and, perhaps more importantly, it places no restriction on Plaintiff’s ability to seek development of a mosque elsewhere in the City or to worship elsewhere in the City.\u0026nbsp; Plaintiffs have therefore not shown that they are likely to prove the Moratorium was a “substantial burden” on their ability to practice Islam....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn this evidence, the Court believes a reasonable juror could infer that the Moratorium was pretextual.\u0026nbsp; However, the evidence presented at this stage, prior to discovery, is not so strong that it satisfies the heightened \u003Ci\u003ERounds \u003C\/i\u003Estandard.\u0026nbsp; The motives and beliefs of the council members, as well as the basis for the timing of the Moratorium decision remain unknown at this stage, and absent additional circumstantial evidence of discriminatory intent, a reasonable fact-finder could conclude that supporting the Moratorium reflected the importance of complying with the 2040 Plan and prudent infrastructure and resource planning.\u0026nbsp; Thus, the Court concludes that this factor is neutral, weighing neither in favor of nor against granting Plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction motion.....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3030749897100870694"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3030749897100870694"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/court-denies-preliminary-injunction.html","title":"Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against Moratorium Delaying Building of Mosque"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-8080413049358687993"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-30T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-30T07:00:00.121-05:00"},"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\u003ERaphael Cohen-Almagor, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5054367\"\u003EIs Israel a Liberal Democracy?\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(The Cairo Review of Global Affairs (December 2024)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESyed Khalid Mohiuddin \u0026amp; Danish Ahmed Siddiqui, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4959641\"\u003EThe Development of the Maqasid Al Shariah Index to Assess the Sharia Compatibility Performance of Islamic Industry Including Other Industry and Financial Industry \u0026amp; Banks\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E(September 18, 2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETaisu Zhang, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5067463\"\u003E\"Natural Hierarchies\"\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, Volume 36 (forthcoming 2025)).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFrom \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/libguides.heinonline.org\/current-index-to-legal-periodicals\/smartcilp\"\u003ESmartCILP\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETheresa Glennon, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ilj\/files\/2024\/08\/42.1.1-Glennon_Acknowledgement.pdf\"\u003EBook Review. Acknowledgement: Restoring Human Rights and Dignity. Redress: Ireland's Institutions and Transitional Justice, edited by Katherine O'Donnell, Maeve O'Rourke, James M. Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, 42 Boston University International Law Journal 1-26 (2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJulie F. Kay, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4601715\"\u003EPrioritizing Children's Educational Interests When One Parent Leaves an Ultra-Orthodox Community\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E57 Family Law Quarterly 231-264 (2023-2024).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8080413049358687993"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/8080413049358687993"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/recent-articles-of-interest_01149117109.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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-4573352756050398841"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-28T20:43:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-28T20:43:59.975-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Islamophobia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Religious discrimination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"White House"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"White House Releases National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this month (Dec. 12), the White House \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2024\/12\/12\/biden-harris-administration-releases-first-ever-u-s-national-strategy-to-counter-islamophobia-and-anti-arab-hate\/\"\u003Ereleased\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;a \u003Ci\u003EU.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate\u003C\/i\u003E (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/National-Strategy-Doc.pdf\"\u003Efull text\u003C\/a\u003E). The 67-page document says in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIslamophobia is hatred, discrimination, or bias directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim. It can have a profound negative impact on people of all ages and backgrounds, threatening their personal safety and their ability to fully exercise their constitutional rights. This Strategy also seeks to counter hate targeting Arab Americans because they are Arab. It is important not to conflate Muslims with Arabs and Sikhs, who also often experience unique forms of hate, bias, and discrimination because of who they are, not because they are perceived to be Muslims.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Strategy sets forth actions to counter hate, discrimination, and bias affecting these communities, remaining mindful of their unique experiences. We have listened to community and civil society leaders, as well as subject matter experts from various backgrounds throughout the development of this Strategy, and they have shared both their common and distinctive concerns.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor far too long, it has been common to conflate Arabs and Muslims. As we note in this Strategy, the majority of Arab Americans are not Muslim, and the vast majority of Muslim Americans are not Arab. Arab Americans practice a number of religions, including Christianity and Islam, and they are ethnically and racially diverse. Throughout this Strategy, we identify unique challenges facing Arab Americans and emphasize the importance of avoiding conflation with other communities, even as we put forward a number of common strategies to address many forms of hatred.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-strategy-to-counter-islamophobia-e0ec5d9c9bf01cc6e257f6add87e916f\"\u003EAP reported\u003C\/a\u003E on the release of the National Strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4573352756050398841"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/4573352756050398841"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/white-house-releases-national-strategy.html","title":"White House Releases National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-3102693804532099558"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-27T07:00:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-27T07:00:00.118-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"COVID-19"},{"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":"Vaccination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"EEOC Sues Employer for Refusal to Grant Religious Accommodation to Covid Vaccine Mandate"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EThe EEOC \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/newsroom\/eeoc-sues-rex-healthcare-inc-religious-discrimination\"\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E yesterday that it had filed a Title VII lawsuit against the North Carolina-based Rex Healthcare, Inc. for refusing to grant a religious accommodation to an employee who objected to receiving the Covid vaccination.\u0026nbsp; According to the EEOC:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[I]n 2021 Rex Healthcare implemented a policy mandating that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination unless they were granted an exemption because of their religious beliefs or a disability. The charging party in the EEOC’s suit, who worked remotely, requested a religious exemption in accordance with the policy. Even though the employee had previously been granted an exemption from being required to take the flu vaccination based on her religious beliefs, the request for an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination was denied.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe employee submitted multiple follow up requests with additional explanations of her religious beliefs in support of her request. Despite the employee articulating a sincerely held religious belief, Rex Healthcare denied the employee’s accommodation requests and subsequently fired her for failing to comply with the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3102693804532099558"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/3102693804532099558"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/eeoc-sues-employer-for-refusal-to-grant.html","title":"EEOC Sues Employer for Refusal to Grant Religious Accommodation to Covid Vaccine Mandate"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-6808611690185149420"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-26T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-26T07:00:00.116-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Top stories"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Top 10 Religious Liberty and Church-State Developments of 2024"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EEach year in December, I attempt to pick the most important church-state and religious liberty developments of the past year.\u0026nbsp; My choices are based on the importance of the pick to law or policy, regardless of whether the development has garnered significant media attention. With each pick, I link to one or a few of numerous postings on the topic. The selection of top stories obviously involves a good deal of subjective judgment. Indeed, as religion, culture and politics increasingly overlap, there are even questions about whether certain developments should be seen as \"religion\" stories at all. I welcome e-mail comment at religionclause@gmail.com on my choices. Here are my Top Ten picks:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1. Title VI \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/title-vi-claims-against-universities.html\"\u003Einvestigations by the Department of Education\u003C\/a\u003E and Title VI \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/court-dismisses-title-vi-suit-claiming.html\"\u003Elawsuits by Jewish students\u003C\/a\u003E proliferate as the continuing Gaza war triggers antisemitic and anti-Zionist demonstrations on campuses across the country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2. States increasingly \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/supreme-court-will-hear-arguments-today.html\"\u003Eban gender-affirming care\u003C\/a\u003E for minors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E3. Voters in 7 states approve \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/11\/abortion-rights-proposals-approved-by.html\"\u003Eabortion rights ballot measures\u003C\/a\u003E;\u0026nbsp;proposals lose in 3 states.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E4. Religion in public schools roars back as an issue: \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/10\/suit-challenges-oklahoma-bible.html\"\u003EBibles\u003C\/a\u003E in the classroom, school \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2023\/05\/texas-legislature-approves-chaplains-in.html\"\u003Echaplains\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/11\/louisiana-federal-court-enjoins.html\"\u003E10 Commandments\u003C\/a\u003E in classrooms, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/06\/oklahoma-legislature-enacts-bill.html\"\u003Ereleased time\u003C\/a\u003E programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E5. Supreme Court punts on two sensitive issues: FDA approval of abortion pills (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/06\/supreme-court-says-plaintiffs-lack.html\"\u003Elack of standing\u003C\/a\u003E), and whether federal law on emergency room care pre-empts state abortion bans (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/06\/supreme-court-backs-off-deciding.html\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ecert.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;improvidently granted\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E6. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/05\/accommodating-teachers-anti-transgender.html\"\u003EMixed\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/08\/using-students-preferred-pronouns-is.html\"\u003Eresults\u003C\/a\u003E in suits by teachers who claim religious right to refuse to call students by their preferred pronouns as courts\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/06\/6-more-states-fend-off-enforcement-of.html\"\u003Eenjoin Title IX rules\u003C\/a\u003E that protect transgender students from discrimination in schools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E7. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/06\/oklahoma-supreme-court-says-creation-of.html\"\u003EOklahoma Supreme Court\u003C\/a\u003E says religious charter school is unconstitutional.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E8. Indiana \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/indiana-supreme-court-lets-preliminary.html\"\u003Eappellate courts say\u003C\/a\u003E state's Religious Freedom law is violated when women are prohibited by from obtaining an abortion that their religious beliefs direct them to obtain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E9. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/02\/alabama-supreme-court-wrongful-death.html\"\u003EAlabama Supreme Court\u003C\/a\u003E says wrongful death statute covers destruction of frozen embryos. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/03\/alabama-passes-law-protecting-ivf.html\"\u003ELegislature\u003C\/a\u003E quickly reverses that result.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E10.\u0026nbsp; Dozens of cases brought by employees who were \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/11\/court-examines-sincerity-and.html\"\u003Edenied religious exemptions\u003C\/a\u003E to Covid vaccine mandate continue to work their way through the courts with mixed results.\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6808611690185149420"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/6808611690185149420"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/top-10-religious-liberty-and-church.html","title":"Top 10 Religious Liberty and Church-State Developments of 2024"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1988540485043550129"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-25T07:00:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-25T07:00:00.121-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Britain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christmas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Joe Biden"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Christmas Greetings from National Leaders"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EPresident Biden yesterday issued \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/POTUS\/status\/1739043272280990035\"\u003EChristmas greetings\u003C\/a\u003E on X (formerly Twitter), saying:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Christmas Eve, my wish for you and your family is that you take a few moments of quiet reflection and find that stillness that's at the center of the Christmas story.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMay you find peace in this silent night. And warmth from those surrounding you.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also issued \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pm.gc.ca\/en\/news\/statements\/2024\/12\/24\/statement-prime-minister-christmas\"\u003EChristmas greetings\u003C\/a\u003E yesterday, saying in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs we reflect on the past year and look to the future, let us continue to show love and kindness – to ourselves and to those in need. Let us also take a moment to thank those who give so much of themselves to make Canada the place we are proud to call home, including the brave members of our Canadian Armed Forces, the dedicated first responders and essential workers, and the countless volunteers. Thank you, to all of you.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere is United Kingdom Prime Minister\u0026nbsp;Keir Starmer's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/prime-minister-keir-starmers-christmas-message-24-december-2024#\"\u003EChristmas message\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in which he said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Christmas story reminds all of us to reach out to one another. To care for one another. And to look after those around us.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis Christmas, I will be hoping for peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI’ll be looking towards a better, brighter future for every person and celebrating the joy and wonder that Christmas brings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1988540485043550129"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1988540485043550129"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/christmas-greetings-from-national.html","title":"Christmas Greetings from National Leaders"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-1925194418098356360"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-24T07:05:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-24T07:05:00.142-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Abortion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Child abuse"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Health Care"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"HHS"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Privacy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Texas"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"HIPPA Rule Barring Reporting of Legal Abortions to Out-of-State Enforcement Authorities Is Preliminarily Enjoined"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn April of this year, the Department of Health and Human Services adopted new privacy rules under HIPPA designed to protect women (and those who assist them) who travel out of state for an abortion that is not legal in their state of residence. The rules prohibit doctors, clinics and insurance companies from disclosing information about patients' reproductive health care that is lawful where provided when the information is sought by the patient's home state for the purpose of an investigation that may lead to civil or criminal liability there. (See \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/04\/new-hippa-rules-protect-against.html\"\u003Eprior posting\u003C\/a\u003E.) In \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net\/files\/PurlDistrictOpinion.pdf\"\u003EPurl v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003E(ND TX, Dec. 22, 2024), a Texas federal district court issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the rule against the physician and the clinic that are plaintiffs in the suit. The court held that the HHS rule violates a provision of HIPPA protecting state rules requiring reporting of child abuse. The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongress mandated that HIPPA cannot be \"construed to invalidate or limit the authority, power, or procedures established under \u003Ci\u003Eany law\u003C\/i\u003E providing for the reporting of disease or injury, child abuse, birth, or death, public health surveillance, or public health investigation or intervention.\" ...\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlaintiffs argue that the 2024 Rule \"unlawfully \u003Ci\u003Elimits\u003C\/i\u003E disclosures about child abuse\" to states like Texas..... They aver HHS \u003Ci\u003Elimits\u003C\/i\u003E such disclosures by curtailing doctors' ability to freely report suspected \"child abuse\" and instead forces them into a \"labyrinth of criteria\" to determine what can and cannot be disclosed....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2024 Rule \"limits\" practitioners from reporting \"child abuse\" in several ways. It requires \"covered entities\" to determine whether the relevant \"reproductive healthcare\" was \"lawful\" under the circumstances it was acquired....\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut, of course, many \"covered entities\" are not prepared or equipped to make nuanced legal judgments....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAgain, even if a more nuanced reading of the 2024 Rule allowed child-abuse reporting to Texas CPS, a nonlawyer licensed physician is not equipped to navigate these intersecting legal labyrinths. And it is precisely such restraints and impediments that Congress forbade when it comes to child-abuse reporting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1925194418098356360"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/1925194418098356360"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/hippa-rule-barring-reporting-of-legal.html","title":"HIPPA Rule Barring Reporting of Legal Abortions to Out-of-State Enforcement Authorities Is Preliminarily Enjoined"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Howard Friedman"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14382656960754783109"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12206391.post-345722575531076838"},"published":{"$t":"2024-12-24T07:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2024-12-24T07:00:00.140-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ministerial exception"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy discrimination"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ministerial Exception Doctrine to Development Director's Suit Against Holocaust Education Organization"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/25469613-lavy-v-soc-for-yad-vashem\/\"\u003ELavy v. American Society for Yad Vashem\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(CD CA, Dec. 19, 2024), a California federal district court refused to find that the ministerial exception doctrine requires dismissal of a pregnancy discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Holocaust victims.\u0026nbsp; The court said in part:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E... [T]he record does not support a finding that Plaintiff is a “minister” within the meaning of the ministerial exception. The record does not show that Plaintiff’s job duties required her to be of any specific faith, to educate anyone on a particular religion’s customs or laws, to spread a religious message, or to oversee or participate in any religious ceremonies. Plaintiff’s primary job duty throughout her employment with Defendant was fundraising development....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDefendant does not provide either evidence or legal authority demonstrating that its mission of historical education and memorialization moves it under the broad umbrella of “religious institutions” for purposes of the ministerial exception. Rather, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has raised a genuine dispute that Defendant operates primarily as a fundraising organization. For example, Defendant has not offered any evidence that its bylaws or certificate of incorporation set forth any religious purpose....\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe court similarly found that defendant did not show that it qualifies for the religious corporation exemption from California's anti-discrimination law.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/345722575531076838"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/12206391\/posts\/default\/345722575531076838"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/religionclause.blogspot.com\/2024\/12\/ministerial-exception-doctrine-to.html","title":"Ministerial Exception Doctrine to Development Director's Suit Against Holocaust Education Organization"}],"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":"24","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtAx9Yprxb4Kv4GraQrOn-vybr7C2kTczcyYPTlAV0BasP0dS-ht-GrpXNy_YCTLZYe-jySZNFiVgrFLn1-XiqB39-iFYBNDFym6gkA3Uo5tHOOEYAWGOZDyBWb462Xk4\/s113\/130813-175600.jpg"}}]}]}});