Jordan Journalists Oppose Proposed Law Against Villifying Religion

The Jordan Press Association yesterday passed a resolution opposing a proposed new press and publication law that would allow imprisonment of journalists for "defamation, vilification or abuse of religion". Today's Kahleej Times reports that the lower house of Jordan's Parliament is currently considering the proposed bill.

Saudi Virtue Commission Offical Defends Its Work

Arab News today reports on an interview with the director of the Madinah branch of Saudi Arabia's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Sheikh Suleyman Tuwaijri outlined five roles for the Commission: preventing "the growth of deeds and ideologies that pollute the pristine Islamic religious faith"..., "maintaining the practice of religious rites in society"..., "maintaining a sense of morality among people and protecting the honor of women by protecting them from being violated or harassed..., protecting the sanity and soundness of the human mind and intellect by preventing the manufacture and circulation of narcotics and intoxicants..., [and] protecting the cultural and ideological identity of society by [keeping] ... deviant ... publications ... and material from the reach of the public."

Tuwaijri rejected the allegation that the Commission denies women their rights. He said that the Commission "strongly intervenes when men try to harass [women] or tempts them to gratify their undignified impulses. The commission gives utmost importance to protect women’s rights and freedom that are accorded to them by the Shariah." He added, however that there are some things, which "are mistakenly claimed to be part of women’s freedom such as the immodest exhibition of their body and some other activities considered beyond the permissible limits of moral regulations fixed by Saudi society and the Shariah." He said that these "are in fact violations of the rights of other members of society who want to live in a morally chaste and unpolluted environment."

Suspended Christian Group Sues Georgia College

A college Christian outreach group, Commissioned II Love (C2L), has filed suit (text of complaint) in a Georgia federal court against Savannah State University claiming that the University violated the group's rights of speech, assembly, association and religion when it revoked its official recognition as a student organization for violating University rules. (Press release by ADF and NLF.) The University alleges that the group engaged in hazing, particularly by badgering members of fraternities and sororities. C2L claims that Greek letter groups violate Christian principles because they are founded on occult traditions, and generally encourage excessive drinking and premarital sex. It encourages students not to join Greek letter organizations or to deactivate if they are already members. The University also charged C2L with hazing because of its practice of having current members wash the feet of new members, as a symbol of Jesus' washing of his apostles' feet.

Proposal Would Amend Missouri Constitution to Permit School Prayer

HJR 19 has been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly. It proposes a state constitutional amendment that would "ensure public school students their right to free exercise of religious expression without interference, as long as such prayer or other expression is private and voluntary, whether individually or corporately, and in a manner that is not disruptive nor in violation of other policies, rules, or standards, and as long as such prayers or expressions abide within the same parameters placed upon any other free speech under similar circumstances". The proposed amendment also requires "that all free public schools receiving state appropriations ... display, in a conspicuous and legible manner, the text of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States".

Last Wednesday, the House Special Committee on General Laws heard testimony on the proposal. Saturday's issue of The Maneater reports that at the hearings, Rep. Beth Low argued that the amendment is unnecessary and would not accomplish its goals.

British Magistrate Denied Right To Opt Out Of Gay Adoption Cases

In Britain, the city of Sheffield’s Employment Tribunal has rejected a religious discrimination claim by a Justice of the Peace sitting as a magistrate in the Sheffield Magistrates' Court . The magistrate claimed that his Christian religious beliefs were violated when he was not permitted to opt out of overseeing cases involving adoptions by same-sex couples. The Employment Tribunal's decision prevents Magistrate Andrew McClintock from serving on the Family Panel, whose jurisdiction includes adoptions. BosNewsLife reported Saturday that the Tribunal ruled that "personal opinions" needed to be set aside in exercising the functions of public office. The Evangelical Alliance disagreed with the ruling, saying the case has to do with the need to make reasonable accommodation to religious conscience. Journal Chritien has additional background on the case.

California Christian School Loses RLUIPA Claim

On Friday, a jury in a California federal court ruled that Alameda County (CA) did not violate the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when it denied Redwood Christian Schools a permit to construct a new building. The San Francisco Chronicle says that the jury—after nearly a week of deliberations—decided that the county rejected the school’s request because of the need to keep land for agricultural use and open spaces. The jury rejected a claim that an earlier grant of a permit to a private non-religious school showed discrimination against Redwood. The non-religious school was building in an already developed area and was constructing a smaller building. Redwood Christian plans an appeal.

Anti-Jewish Remark Forces Candidate Out Of Mayoral Race

The Indiana Republican Party has asked Bob Parker not to file as a candidate for mayor of Indianapolis after Parker made a statement that was seen as reinforcing stereotyping of Jews. JTA reports today that Parker said: "I personally see Israel going into Iran and Syria in the next couple of months... It’s mainly because of the Jewish faction inside the Democratic Party. Most Jewish people are Democrats, and they bring that wealth."

Azeri Journalists On Trial For Insulting Muhammad

Interfax reported yesterday that a criminal trial of two journalists accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad has begun in a court in Azerbaijan. The editor and a correspondent for Semet were charged with spreading ethnic, racial or religious hatred by publishing an article that allegedly insulted Islam.

UPDATE: The International Herald Tribune reported on Monday that the trial has been postponed as the court ordered a change of venue to the district where the newspaper offices are located instead of where the defendants live.

Kuwait Will Drop Religious Freedom From High School Curriculum

MEMRI today reports that Kuwait's education ministry plans to remove teaching about Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the high school curriculum. Provision, which guarantees freedom of religion, including the right to change one's religion, is seen as contrary to Islamic law. In response, Kuwaiti reformist and intellectual Dr. Ahmad Al-Baghdadi has published two articles critical of Arab education and the mixing of religion into the teaching of secular subjects.

Registration Difficult To Obtan Under Serbia's Religion Law

Forum 18 yesterday gave an update on the status of religious freedom under Serbia's controversial Religion Law enacted last year. (See prior postings 1, 2 .) Only the Seventh Day Adventist and United Methodist churches and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been officially registered under the law. Many smaller religious groups have had their applications stalled. Some groups have decided not to apply for registration. Other groups are being sent by the Religion Ministry to register as an Association of Citizens with the Public Administration Ministry. But that ministry often sends them back to the Religion Ministry.

Controversial Chaplain Finally Discharged

On Tuesday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its previously issued injunction, clearing the way for the Navy to discharge Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt. The Chaplain has been in a long-running dispute with the Navy over use of sectarian prayers outside of religious services. A September court martial found that he had disobeyed orders in wearing his uniform at a press conference challenging the Navy policy. More recently, the Navy refused to accept a change of endorsing organizations for Klingenschmitt's chaplaincy, and decided he should be discharged. The Associated Press reports that Klingenschmitt signed his final separation papers yesterday, but said that he will pursue his lawsuit seeking reinstatement

Mennonnites Leave Missouri Over Drivers' Licence Requirement

The Mennonite community in Randolph County, Missouri is moving to Arkansas because Missouri's 2004 drivers' license law requires them to be photographed in violation of their religious beliefs. Yesterday's Columbia (MO) Tribune reports that the move comes because of a change in Missouri law made in anticipation of the requirements of the federal Real ID Act. Under prior law, Mennonites could obtain a complete religious exemption from the photo requirement. Now they can get a personal drivers' licence without a photo on it, but they are still required to have a picture on file with the state. Arkansas may well move to the same photo requirement when the federal requirements become effective in 2008. But as of now the Mennonites can get a 6-year Arkansas license with a full religious exemption from photos. Mennonite Frank Christner explained: "We can either stay here and struggle or move to Arkansas and have at least six years to drive and work."

Agency Finds Discrimination Against Catholic Priest At NIH

Last week the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board decided Heffernan v. Department of Health and Human Services, (Feb. 23, 2007), concurring with EEOC findings that a Roman Catholic chaplain at an NIH clinical center had been discriminated against on the basis of his religion. (Press release.) The EEOC decision, Heffernin v. Leavitt, (Jan. 26, 2007), found that Father Heffernan had been removed from his chaplain's position in retaliation for his objections to the NIH's multi-faith chaplaincy that required him to lead religious services of other faiths as well as his own. It concluded that while the priest's discharge was said to be for failure to comply with training certification requirement, in fact that was a pretext for discrimination and retaliatory animus. The EEOC decision found a number of instances of expressed animosity toward Catholics by Heffernan's supervisor at NIH.

Indonesia Moves Toward Sharia

Yesterday's International Herald Tribune carries an article titled Islamic Hard-Liners Chip Away at Indonesia's Secular Traditions. It reports: "Women are jailed for being on the street alone after dark in parts of Indonesia, long held up as a beacon of moderate Islam. Gamblers are caned as punishment, Christian schoolchildren are forced to wear headscarves and a proposed law would sentence thieves to amputation of the hands." The developments are the result of a determined group of conservatives pressing for Islamic laws, and liberal Muslim leaders not engaging in public debate on the developments.

San Diego Diocese Files For Bankruptcy Reorganization

Just before midnight on Feb. 27, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, California became the fifth Catholic Diocese to file for bankruptcy reorganization in the face of lawsuits seeking damages for past priest sexual abuse. Catholic Online reported yesterday that the filing was made just hours before the trial was to begin in the first of 140 lawsuits seeking damages for abuse by priests. (See prior related posting.) Bishop Robert Brom posted a letter on the Diocese website explaining the decision to file. It said in part: "We have decided against litigating our cases because of the length of time the process could take and, more importantly, because early trial judgments in favor of some victims could so deplete diocesan and insurance resources that there would be nothing left for other victims."

City Land Swap Challenged As Unconstitutional

In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a proposed land swap between the city and the Salvation Army is being criticized as unconstitutional by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Coeur d'Alene Spokesman Review today reports that the swap will be carried out through the city's Parks Foundation. Land valued at $1 million will be given to the Salvation Army in exchange for a different parcel of nearly equal value. The Salvation Army will use the land to construct a $30 million community center that will house athletic facilities and a 400-seat chapel. The city will also spend $3 million to prepare the land for construction.

Pressure For Evolution, Creationism In Curriculum Continues

Controversy on the teaching of evolution-- or its alternatives-- in public schools continues. In Idaho, science teachers have approved a policy that favors teaching evolution as understood by the scientific community. Fox12 News reported yesterday that the Idaho Science Teachers Association is now officially on record against teaching intelligent design in the science classroom.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press on Tuesday reported on a fascinating resolution aimed at placing the Tennessee state education commissioner on the spot. State Sen. Raymond Finney has introduced SR 17 in the Tennessee state Senate. The resolution is worth being quoted at length:

BE IT RESOLVED ... that the commissioner of the department of education ... is hereby respectfully requested by this body to respond to the following questions:

(1) Is the Universe and all that is within it, including human beings, created through purposeful, intelligent design by a Supreme Being, that is a Creator?

Understand that this question does not ask that the Creator be given a name. To name the Creator is a matter of faith. The question simply asks whether the Universe has been created or has merely happened by random, unplanned, and purposeless occurrences.

Further understand that this question asks that the latest advances in multiple scientific disciplines –such as physics, astronomy, molecular biology, DNA studies, physiology, paleontology, mathematics, and statistics – be considered, rather than relying solely on descriptive and hypothetical suppositions.

If the answer to Question 1 is “Yes,” please answer Question 2:
(2) Since the Universe, including human beings, is created by a Supreme Being (a Creator), why is creationism not taught in Tennessee public schools?

If the answer to Question 1 is "This question cannot be proved or disproved," please answer Question 3:

(3) Since it cannot be determined whether the Universe, including human beings, is created by a Supreme Being (a Creator), why is creationism not taught as an alternative concept, explanation, or theory, along with the theory of evolution in Tennessee public schools?

If the answer to Question 1 is "No" please accept the General Assembly’s admiration for being able to decide conclusively a question that has long perplexed and occupied the attention of scientists, philosophers, theologians, educators, and others....

Bill sponsor, Sen. Finney, a retired physician, lives some 60 miles from the town of Dayton, TN where the famous 1925 Tennessee Scopes Monkey Trial was held.

Montana Senate Keeps Child Health Contraceptive Payments Ban

The Great Falls Tribune reports that on Tuesday the Montana state Senate approved Senate Bill 500 by a vote of 25-24. However, a day later the result was reversed when, on its third reading, the vote was 25- to 25. The bill would have removed a ban on payment for contraceptives by the Children's Health Insurance Program. The program provides medical insurance to children from low income families. State Sen. Roy Brown illustrates the opposition: "This is going to take general fund dollars and put it in a program that to some portion of our society is against their religion."

Iran Universities Continue Discrimination Against Baha'is

The Baha'i World News Service yesterday reported that Baha'is in Iran continue to suffer discrimination in higher education. Last fall, the government removed a question about the applicant's religion from entrance examination papers, and for the first time in 25 years, a significant number of Baha'i students were admitted to Iranian universities. But now, at least 70 of the 178 who were admitted have been expelled as their religion becomes known. Baha'is are the largest religious minority in Iran, but have faced systematic discrimination since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Worcester City Council Backs Invocations

Yesterday's Worcester (MA) Telegram & Gazette reported that Worcester City Council voted 6-5 to block Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes from seeking a legal opinion from the city solicitor on the legality of opening Council meetings with sectarian invocations. The issue was raised after Council's Dec. 5 meeting at which a local minister led an invocation that included "remember what Christmas is all about – it's about Jesus, in whose name we pray". That prayer led the Massachusetts Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State to request that invocations be eliminated entirely from Council meetings.