House Praises Christmas Tree Industry

Back from its break for the November elections, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed H.J. Res. 96 recognizing the important contribution of the live-cut Christmas tree industry to the United States economy.

U.N. Day Of Tolerance Brings Out Star Wars Fans

Yesterday was the United Nations International Day of Tolerance. Secretary General Kofi Annan released a message (full text) calling for countries to combat religious intolerance through both law and education. Meanwhile in England, two Star Wars film fans marched on the UN's London headquarters asking for the international body to recognize the Jedi Knights as one of the world's religions. One of the protesters, John Wilkinson called on the UN Association to change November 16 — the International Day of Tolerance — to the Interstellar Day of Tolerance. Reporting on this, The Sun says that in the 2001 United Kingdom census, 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi Knights. This would make it the fourth largest religious group in Britain. The U.N.'s response to all of this was that they are not in the business of certifying religions. (The Raw Story).

First Muslim Congressman Gets Attention

The Houston Chronicle today says that newly elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is quickly becoming a national symbol in the Muslim community. As the first Muslim member of Congress, he is also receiving international attention. Ellison, who was born a Catholic, converted to become a Sunni Muslim while he was a student at Wayne State University in Detroit.

The State of Religious Freedom In Turkey Reviewed

Catholic News Service yesterday distributed a long article on the state of religious freedom in Turkey. The country's constitution guarantees religious freedom and a 1923 treaty guarantees religious minorities can operate religious and charitable institutions. However minority religious communities are not recognized as legal entities that can hold property, and restrictions on private religious higher education prevent opening of seminaries in Turkey. In order to maintain secularism in the country, the government exerts extensive control over Islam. It builds and funds mosques, hires Muslim prayer leaders, controls religious education and bans religious head coverings in public offices and universities. Pope Benedict XVI will visit Turkey at the end of this month, and it is expected that he will press for greater religious freedom for minority religions.

Mexican President's Visit To Bishop's Conference Is Controversial

Mexico's President Vincente Fox made an unprecedented visit yesterday to the plenary assembly of the episcopal conference of Catholic bishops being held in Lago de Guadalupe. Zenit reports that the bishops, responding to media criticism of the visit, issued a statement saying they wished to be of service to all of Mexico. Zenit says that another milestone in Church-state relations in Mexico will occur when President-elect Felipe Calderón talks with the bishops on Friday.

Bill To Mandate Teaching About Religion Introduced In Russia's Duma

In Russia, amendments to the Freedom of Conscience Act were introduced in the State Duma yesterday by Alexander Krutov, deputy of the Rodina (Motherland) faction. Kommersant today reports that the bill seeks to mandate the teaching of a course in Russian schools on the essentials of Orthodox culture. Russia's Education and Science Ministry opposes making the course mandatory. The course is now widely offered as an elective. (See prior postings 1, 2.)

Objector To License Photo Requirement May Sue For Injunction

In Martin v. State of Oklahoma, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83015 (ED OK, Nov. 14, 2006), an Orthodox Jew who objected on religious grounds to having his photo taken sued for monetary and injunctive relief after the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety refused to renew his non-photo commercial drivers license. The court dismissed a number of the claims on 11th Amendment and qualified immunity grounds, but allowed plaintiff to proceed with his claim for prospective injunctive relief.

Religious Freedom Issues In Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan

In recent days, a number of stories have surfaced regarding the state of religious freedom in republics of the Former Soviet Union. In Azerbaijan, as representatives of the Muslim community participated in a conference to celebrate the country's commitment to religious tolerance (Today.az), Pravo reported that women studying at Sumgait State University were told that they would not be allowed into classes if they insisted on wearing headscarfs.

In Kazakhstan, authorities want to evict a cultural center belonging to the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). According to IndianMuslims.info, at a recent meeting held in Almaty the deputy director of the Kazakh government Religion Committee said that Hindus do not have a place in Kazakhstan.

Forum18 reports on two other incidents in Kazakhstan. One report says that fines are being imposed on members of the Tabligh Jama'at, an international Islamic missionary organization, for preaching in mosques that are not registered with the state. Another report says that a Presbyterian pastor in Kyzyl-Orda has been unable to renew his visa. The South Korean pastor who led a congregation for eight years was forced to leave the country because he conducted missionary work without registration.

How Far Can Professional Sports Go In Accommodating Religious Practices?

New York's Jewish Week today carries a long story about Benjamin Rubin, a 17 year old Orthodox Jewish hockey player for the Quebec Remparts. He made the team with an understanding that he would not play or practice on the Sabbath or Jewish holidays. This means that the left-winger will miss about half of the team's games this season. The article explores at length whether it is possible for professional sports teams to make the kind of accommodations required by practicing Jews like Rubin.

Lower House Of Pakistan Parliament Approves Change In Hudood Ordinance

Reuters yesterday reported that the lower house of Pakistan's Parliament has finally approved the Women's Protection Bill that places the crime of rape under the civil penal code, instead of solely under Islamic law. This means that it will no longer require testimony of four male witnesses to prove rape. In a concession to conservatives, the bill also imposes punishment of up to five years in prison for extra-marital sex. However, Islamist lawmakers walked out of Parliament before the vote on the amendments was taken, arguing that this change to the Hudood Ordinances will encourage free sex in the country. The upper house of Pakistan's Parliament must still approve the bill. Human rights activists in Pakistan have been pressing for total repeal of these laws, not just for their amendment. Spero News furnishes extensive background. (See prior related postings: 1, 2, 3. )

Church's Proposed Charter School Stirs Controversy

Today's Willamette Week Online reports on an interesting dispute in North Portland, Oregon over an application by Mount Olivet Baptist Church to create a publicly supported charter school, the Academy of Character and Ethics. Portland Board of Education leaders are concerned about the proposed school's financing, the sustainability of its leadership and the originality of its proposed curriculum. A number of parents, however have different kinds of concerns-- how the church's religious beliefs will influence the school's curriculum and atmosphere. The church's leaders have been known for their active opposition to gay marriage. School backers, however, say they will integrate character lessons into the curriculum in a completely secular manner. A school board subcommittee hearing on the charter application is scheduled for today.

En Banc Appeal Sought In Boise Homeless Shelter Case

The city of Boise, Idaho has petitioned for en banc review by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals of a recent panel decision holding that the Boise Rescue Mission cannot conduct religious services at the homeless shelter that it operates on city-owned property. (See prior posting.) The panel also found that BRM's men-only policy for its shelter is facially discriminatory and likely violates the Fair Housing Act. Yesterday, KBCI News reported that critics say that the mayor and city council are making the homeless crisis worse by pursuing the appeal. They urge the city to operate a secular shelter for families in order to solve the problem.

Court Grants Churches Exemption From Minnesota Concealed Carry Law

Hennepin County, Minnesota District Judge William Howard on Tuesday issued a permanent injunction permitting churches to ban firearms from their property used for religious purposes, including parking lots and space leased to tenants, without complying with the elaborate notice requirements applicable to commercial establishments under Minnesota' concealed carry firearms law. The permanent injunction extends a temporary injuction issued by another judge last year. The decision says that freedom of conscience and association provisions in the state and U.S. Constitutions exempt churches from the statutory requirement to either post a specifically worded sign or give individual notice to people entering the building in order to exclude firearms. Instead churches can notify individuals of the ban in any way they wish to. This will allow Edina's Community Lutheran Church to continue to bar firearms with signs reading: "Blessed are the peacemakers. Firearms are prohibited in this place of sanctuary" instead of the language required in the statute. Reports by the Associated Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune give details on the decision.

Arrests Made In Religious Worker Visa Scam

USA Today reports on the arrest of 29 immigrants, mostly Pakistanis, who are charged with posing as Muslim religious workers to qualify for special visas to enter the United States. The arrests in a number of eastern U.S. cities are part of an investigation into organizations that posed as religious groups and allegedly filed false visa applications for immigrants under the Religious Worker Program. That program permits religious organizations to sponsor immigrants with specific religious training and experience. Last July, the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services said the Religious Worker Program was "historically considered to have a high fraud rate." This morning's Boston Globe reports that two imams from Boston-area mosques were arrested on charges of involvement with the visa scheme. Local Muslims expressed skepticism about the charges, suggesting that many of the immigrants were probably religious workers who had taken on additional outside employment to supplement their low salary as religious scholars.

Injunction Lets College Christian Group Keep Recognition While Issue Is Litigated

On Monday, a temporary injunction while litigation proceeds was issued by consent of the parties in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship-UW Superior v. The Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, (WD WI, Nov. 13, 2006). The order allows IVCF, while the lawsuit is still in court, to use religious criteria in selecting its leaders, and to impose religious-based rules of conduct on those leaders, without losing the benefits available to recognized student groups. Yesterday the Alliance Defense Fund issued a release discussing this development. (Also see prior posting.)

10th Circuit Hears Arguments In "Seven Aphorisms" Cases

Yesterday, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals heard consolidated oral arguments in five cases in which the Summum church has sued the cities of Duchesne and Pleasant Grove, Utah, claiming that the church should be able to put up a monument containing its Seven Aphorisms next to Ten Commandment monuments in city parks. Summum v. Duchesne City was an appeal of a 2004 Utah federal district court decision (LEXIS) rejecting Summum's requests. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Summum attorney Brian Barnard argued that city officials violated the church's First Amendment rights by favoring one form of speech over another. Subsequently however the city transferred the land on which the 10 Commandments monument stands to a private owner. The city says that now it has no authority to permit Summum to place a display on the property.

The Deseret News reports that a second case under review involved a similar refusal by the City of Pleasant Grove. (See prior posting.) Attorney Barnard said Pleasant Grove has allowed the Boy Scouts to put up a monument to fallen 9/11 firefighters near the Ten Commandments in the city park, but has rejected Summum's request.

New Jersey Teacher Brings Christian Views Into History Class

In Newark, New Jersey, a high school student has taped his history classes to show that teacher David Paszkiewicz, who is also a Baptist preacher, is using class to promote his Christian religious beliefs. Today's Newark Star-Ledger reports that Kearny High School junior Matthew LaClair has complained to school administrators about the class. CD recordings reveal Paszkiewicz telling students that if they do not accept Jesus, they belong in Hell. He has emphasized creationism and dismissed evolution and the "Big Bang" as unscientific. Paszkiewicz also told his students that dinosaurs were on Noah's ark. School Superintendent Robert Mooney said Paszkiewicz is "a wonderful teacher". He said he was aware of the issues raised by LaClair and that corrective action would be taken.

Christian Invocation At Florida City Council Again On Agenda

In Crystal River, Florida, Mayor Ron Kitchen opens every session of city council with an explicitly Christian prayer. Last June, two city council members who wanted to stop the practice and instead begin with merely a moment of silence were outvoted. But now, according to today's St. Petersburg Times, with a change in membership on City Council, the issue is again on the agenda for December's Council meeting.

Washington Think Tank Will Promote Science, Oppose Religion In Public Policy

Today's Washington Post reports that a group of scientists and supporters of church-state separation have announced the creation of a new Washington Office of Public Policy created by the Center For Inquiry Transnational. The office will act as a think tank supporting science-based decision making and humanistic values in U.S. public policy decision making. It will also become involved in litigation on issues of interest to it. At its press conference yesterday, the nonpartisan group was particularly critical of Bush administration policies on stem cell research, global warming, abstinence-only sex education and the teaching of intelligent design. The new office is part of an existing organization whose website describe its purpose as promoting and defending reason, science and freedom of inquiry. It is "interested in providing rational ethical alternatives to the reigning paranormal and religious systems of belief..."

Seminarian Wins Preliminary Injunction Permitting Picketing of Wal-Mart

Yesterday's Shreveport Times reported that on Monday a Louisiana federal district court granted a preliminary injunction barring the enforcement of three Natchitoches, LA ordinances against Edwin Crayton, a Christian seminary student who opposes gay marriage on religious grounds. Crayton wished to picket a Wal-Mart store in Natchitoches, believing that Wal-Mart supports gay marriage rights. However he was told that he needed a permit from the mayor and police chief in order to protest on a public sidewalk in front of the store. His lawsuit alleges (full text of complaint) that the city's permit ordinances are unconstitutional because they grant excessive discretion to the mayor and police chief, they are not narrowly tailored to further a legitimate governmental interest, and, in any event, he did not engage in a public gathering or open-air meeting-- the activities covered by the ordinances. The case is Crayton v. City of Natchitoches, Civ. Action No. 06-1946-A (WD LA, Nov. 13, 2006).

Today's 365 Gay reports that other Christian groups have also criticized Wal-Mart's LGBT diversity program, including its definition of an employee's "immediate family" to include a same-sex partner.