Veterans Challenge VA Hospital's Policy Change On Chapel Furnishings

In Fayetteville, NC, two veterans, with the help of the Rutherford Institute, are challenging a local hospital's interpretation of VA regulations regarding hospital chapels. Today's Fayetteville Observer reports that until earlier this year, the chapel at Fayetteville's Veterans Affairs Medical Center had a cross and Bible on permanent display, which were removed only when other faiths used the chapel for services. However earlier this year, hospital officials decided that VA regulations requiring that chapels be kept open for meditation and prayer for all faiths meant that the Bible and cross need to be removed when Christian religious services are not in progress in order to keep the chapel religiously neutral. Two veterans, Joseph Kinney and Laud Pitt Jr., argue that the chapel should be kept as a Christian place of worship and that the hospital should open a separate meditation room for use by members of other faiths. They say that the hospital is suppressing Christians' freedom of religion in removing the Bible and cross.

Amish Object To NY Town's Proposal That Builders Have Insurance

In Locke, New York, town officials are considering an ordinance that would require contractors seeking building permits to demonstrate proof that they have liability insurance to protect against homeowners from being sued when a worker is injured on the job. However, according to yesterday's Syracuse Post-Standard, the proposal is raising objections from Amish families who have recently moved to the area and whose religious beliefs preclude their acquiring insurance. Last week's Post-Standard carried a long article on the tensions that have arisen as eleven Old Order Amish families have moved to areas in Cayuga County, New York. Locke had already been insisting contractors seeking building permits have insurance when it was discovered that there was no legal basis for the requirement. Locke also requires proof that contractors have worker's compensation, a requirement that Amish likewise reject.

Saudi Religious Police Acquitted In Death of Suspect

AFP reports that yesterday, a court in Saudi Arabia acquitted two members of the Saudi religious police (Muttawa) who had been charged in the death of 28-year old Suleiman Al-Huraisi. As described in the US Dept. of State Religious Freedom Report 2007, in May 2007, members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice raided Al-Huraisi's home and arrested him, along with others, on suspicion of alcohol production. They beat Al-Huraisi, who later fell unconscious and died. The Commission's lawyer yesterday said defendants were acquitted because it was not demonstrated conclusively that Al-Huraisi's death was caused by the beating he received from religious police. A confusing fight during the raid left the possibility that Al-Huraisi was killed by a blow from a family member resisting the religious police. (See prior related posting.)

Developments In Sudan's Arrest of British School Teacher On Charges of Insulting Islam [UPDATED]

Yesterday's Khaleej Times reports that British school teacher Gillian Gibbons will be formally charged by a Sudanese court today with insulting the religious beliefs of Muslims by having her class name a teddy bear "Mohammed". (See prior posting.) ThisIsLondon today says that Gibbons technically faces three separate charges-- insulting Islam, inciting religious hatred and contempt for religious beliefs - each of which carries a maximum penalty of 40 lashes and a year in jail. However, she will likely be tried only on one of the charges. The prosecutor said she will get a swift and fair trial. As Gibbons was brought to court this morning, security was tight out of fear that militants might attempt to kidnap her.

The case has turned into a full-blown diplomatic incident as British Foreign Secretary David Miliband summoned Sudan's ambassador for urgent talks. (Australia's Herald Sun, 11/29). The AP reports that Sudan's top clerical leaders, known as the Assembly of the Ulemas, issued a statement on Wednesday calling the incident part of a broader Western plot against Muslims, and comparing it to insults against the Prophet Muhammad by author Salman Rushdie. Future develoopments may turn on how imams deal with the case in their messages at Friday prayers this week. The Muslim Council of Britain said it was "appalled" at the actions of Sudan.

Today's Times of London says that British diplomats are trying to prevent the incident from interfering with peace making efforts in Darfur. A possible compromise would be for Gibbons-- who has already spent four days in jail-- to be tried, but then expelled from the country, or pardoned, instead of being punished. The Times describes Unity High School-- the school at which Gibbons taught-- as "an exclusive British-run school favoured by the Sudanese elite."

UPDATE: AP reports that on Thursday in Sudan, teacher Gillian Gibbons was convicted of insulting Islam, and sentenced to 15 days in prison, to be followed by deportation. The quick verdict after a 7-hour trial appeared to be designed to end the case before Friday prayers and the possible incitement of worshipers over the matter. (Times of London.) A senior government official told the AP that clerics had been ordered not to deliver inflammatory sermons about the case on Friday.

UPDATE: BBC News on Thursday carries an article discussing differing views among Muslims about assigning the name Muhammad to pets and toys.

UPDATE: CNN reported on Tuesday that Gillian Gibbons arrived back in London and said her experience should not deter peoople from visiting Sudan which she said was an "extremely beautiful place."

Buddhist Priest Offers Invocation At Pennsylvania Senate Session

On Tuesday, for the first time ever the invocation opening the session of the Pennsylvania Senate was delivered by a Buddhist priest. Yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that the Senate is attempting to show that it has diverse religious leaders offer opening prayers, in an effort to persuade Americans United for Separation of Church and State not to file suit challenging its prayer policy. In the past, most of the invocations were offered by Protestant, Catholic or Jewish clergy.

Wisconsin Bill Would Restore Name of State Christmas Tree

A committee of the Wisconsin legislature held a hearing yesterday on a proposal to rename the holiday tree that is put up each year in the state Capitol. The Assembly State Affairs Committee is considering a bill to rename the tree the Wisconsin State Christmas Tree. (Wheeler News Service, 11/26). According to yesterday's Green Bay Press Gazette, bill sponsor Rep. Marlin Schneider at the hearing decried the political correctness that led the state in 1985 to change the name from Christmas tree to holiday tree. Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation opposed the proposed change.

Religion Clause Nominated In Best 100 By ABA

Editors of the ABA Journal today announced they have selected Religion Clause as one of the top 100 best "blawgs" by lawyers, for lawyers. An icon on this page's sidebar allows you to narrow the selections down even more by voting for the best blog in each of a dozen categories. Religion Clause is among ten blogs in the ABA's category "Black Letter Law". Voting ends January 2.

Texas Court Rejects Plea To Bar Autopsies of Two Muslim Men

In Fort Worth, Texas, a judge yesterday refused to stop an autopsy on two men killed in a traffic accident on Sunday night, despite pleas from their families that the autopsies violated the Muslim beliefs of the deceased. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports today that state District Judge Bob McGrath denied a TRO after the medical examiner and district attorney's office said that state law mandates the autopsies in order to determine the cause of death beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant District Attorney Ann Diamond said that the medical examiner would perform as limited an autopsy as possible.

British Humanists' Report Criticizes Faith-Based Services In UK

The British Humanist Association today announced the release of a new report titled Quality and Equality: Human Rights, Public Services and Religious Organisations (full text) (Executive Summary). The report focuses on BHA's concern about the increasing use of religious organizations in Britain to supply social services under contract with the government. In its press release, BHA described its conclusions:

The report’s findings demonstrate that there is no evidence that religious organisations offer any distinctive benefits to the supply and provision of public services and actually that the Government’s clear policy objective of expanding the role of religious organisations within the public services runs the risk of lowering standards, increasing inequalities, introducing ‘parallel services’ and damaging social cohesion.

The research warns of the dangers of discrimination against staff not protected by Employment Equality Regulations pertaining to religion or belief or sexual orientation because of the exemptions that religious organisations have from equality legislation, and of potential barriers to accessing public services for the general public.

Insurance Company Sued Under Fair Housing Act On "FaithGuard" Policy

In Ohio, the National Fair Housing Alliance has filed a religious discrimination suit against GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co. alleging that its "FaithGuard" homeowners' insurance policies violate the federal Fair Housing Act. The complaint (full text) in National Fair Housing Alliance, Inc. v. GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co., (ND OH, filed 11.26/07), points to provisions in the policies that waive the insurance deductible if there is a loss to personal property while it held by the insured's church; a provision that pays church tithes or donations up to $750 if the insured suffers loss of income from certain accidental injuries; and the policy's doubling medical limits for an injury incurred at an activity hosted at the home of the insured on behalf of the insured's church. The complaint says that these benefits are not available to individuals who suffer losses while engaged in similar non-religious activities. The suit also alleges that GuideOne offers preferential treatment for Christians in its marketing and advertising. A fact sheet on the case is also available.

Yesterday's Akron Beacon Journal , reporting on the case, quotes GuideOne that says its product is ''available to everyone — whether they attend church or not and without regard to religion or denomination. No one has ever been denied the product based on church membership or attendance. There are no religion-related underwriting eligibility guidelines to obtain the product, and the company does not consider whether someone is a churchgoer before issuing a policy."

3rd Circuit Interprets RLUIPA's "Equal Terms" Provision

Yesterday the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals issued a lengthy opinion interpreting the anti-discrimination provision of RLUIPA. The section prohibits land use regulations that treat religious institutions "on less than equal terms" than nonreligious ones. In The Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch, (3d Cir., Nov. 27, 2007), the court, in a 2-1 decision, held that Long Branch, NJ did not violate the section when under a redevelopment plan it excluded churches and religious assemblies from an area zoned for entertainment and recreation.

The court held that the "equal terms" provision does not require a church to show that a "substantial burden" has been been placed on its religious exercise. However, it does require plaintiff to show that it was treated less well than a secular organization that has a similar negative impact on the aims of the challenged land-use regulation. Churches are not similarly situated because New Jersey law prohibits the issuance of a liquor license to establishments located within 200 feet of a church. The court also rejected plaintiff Lighthouse's claim under the First Amendment's Free Exercise clause, finding that its exclusion from a small area of the city did not burden its religious exercise, and that the redevelopment plan was a neutral regulation of general applicability. The court did however permit an award of damages under RLUPA for previous injury caused by a now-superseded zoning ordinance.

Judge Jordan, dissenting in part, argued that the "equal terms" provision of RLUIPA is violated when a zoning ordinance categorically excludes churches from an area where secular assemblies are permitted, without the church being required show that it is similarly situated in regard to the regulation's purpose. (See prior related posting.) [Thanks to How Appealing via Alliance Alert for the lead.]

City Council In Michigan Rejects Opening Prayer Policy

In Davison, Michigan, city council on Monday night defeated a proposal to open each meeting with a prayer. Yesterday's Flint Journal reports that the idea, proposed by Davison's new mayor, Fred "Mac" Fortner, was defeated by a 3-2 vote after Council member Joy Murray raised church-state objections. She apparently assumed that the proposal envisioned a consistently Christian invocation. Murray said she could support a moment of silence or a rotating schedule of prayers from many different religions.

California's Ban on GLBT Discrimination In Schools Challenged By Christian Groups

The AP reports that yesterday two Christian groups filed suit in a California federal district court on behalf of several teachers and a student challenging the constitutionality of California's new Student Civil Rights Act that assures equal rights in schools regardless of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The complaint (full text) in California Education Committee, LLC v. Schwarzenegger, (SD CA, filed 11/27/07), alleges that the new law is void for vagueness and violate provisions of the California Constitution that guarantee safety and privacy.

2nd Circuit's Invalidation of Student Fee Plan Protects Christian Student Groups

Alliance Defense Fund said last week that Christian student groups are among the beneficiaries of a recent ruling by the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals invalidating the use of an advisory referendum as a basis for allocating funds to recognized student organizations at SUNY Albany. In Amidon v. Student Ass’n of the State University of New York, (2d Cir., Nov. 20, 2007), the court held that the use of a referendum to impact the amount of student fees allocated to various groups amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.

New Rules Permit Menorah Lighting At Rhode Island Town Hall

In Barrington, Rhode Island this year for the first time a menorah lighting will take place in front of Town Hall during Hanukkah. This, and a Dec. 2 tree lighting ceremony, both take plce under new policies adopted earlier this month by the Town Council, according to EastBayRI.com. One policy requires that the town's holiday display be secular. The second allows individuals or non-profit, religious, fraternal or veterans' groups to obtain a permit to conduct a "temporary" event on Town Hall property. A temporary event must be taken down at night and put up the next day. The Menorah will be taken down daily to meet this requirement according to Rabbi Moshe Laufer, director of the Chabad of Barrington, sponsor of the event.

In A First, Nigerian Islamic Court Sentences Man For Adultery

Reuters today reports that for the first time since 2000 when twelve northern states in Nigeria began strict enforcement of Islamic law, a man was convicted of adultery. Mahmud Hamisu, who confessed, was sentenced to one year in prison and 100 lashes under Nigerian sharia law. The lashes were administered shortly after his conviction. Since 2000, six pregnant unmarried women were sentenced to death for adultery by these courts, but all their sentences were overturned on appeal.

Cert. Denied In Two Church-State Cases

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari (Order List) in two church-state cases. One was Harris County, TX v. Staley (Docket Nos. 07-100 and 07-286), involving the display of a Bible in a monument on the grounds of the Harris County, Texas court house. The district court, as well as a 5th Circuit panel's decision, found that the display violated the Establishment Clause. Ultimately the 5th Circuit en banc refused to reach the merits because of subsequent mootness. However it left the district court decision in place and ordered defendants to pay attorneys' fees. (See prior posting.) Yesterday's Houston Chronicle covered the cert denial. In another article, the Chronicle reports that some county officials still hope the monument and Bible can be installed elsewhere on county property.

The second case in which cert was denied was Teen Ranch, Inc. v. Udow, (Docket No. 07-362). In the case, the 6th Circuit had upheld the decision of Michigan's Family Independence Agency to stop placing abused, neglected and delinquent children with Teen Ranch because the faith-based organization coerces religious participation by youths in their programs. (See prior posting.) Today's Detroit News reports on the denial of cert. [Thanks to Steven C. Sheinberg for the leads.]

Annapolis Conference Begins With Religiously-Compliant Dinner Menu

Last night, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted a dinner in Washington for participants in the Annapolis Middle East Peace Conference. President Bush attended and spoke of his commitment to the peace process. The AP reports that the dinner menu was planned to carefully comply with both Jewish and Muslim dietary restrictions. The world leaders offered a toast using non-alcoholic beverages. Entree choices were either red and yellow beet salad with mango and curried mango dressing, or honey-soy glazed sea bass with cabbage, snow peas and mushrooms. Last week the AP reported that attendees who wish to explore the city of Annapolis will find little in the way of kosher food, and only a bit more that is Halal-compliant. Annapolis has no kosher or halal markets.

2nd Circuit OK's Border Policy Targeting Attendees At Muslim Conference

In Tabbaa v. Chertoff, (2d Cir., Nov. 26, 2007), the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge brought by several Muslim U.S. citizens to the border inspection policy implemented by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Plaintiffs had attended a Reviving Islamic Spirit (RIS) Conference in Canada and, upon their return to the U.S., had been detained for several hours, questioned, searched and photographed. The court rejected plaintiffs' claims that their religious freedom rights under the First Amendment and RFRA were violated by the CBP policy, and that their associational rights were violated by CBP's targeting of individuals who attended the RIS Conference. The court concluded that the searches and detention of plaintiffs furthered a compelling governmental interest in preventing terrorism, and the fingerprinting and photographing involved were the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. The court also rejected arguments that CBP had exceeded its statutory authority and had violated the 4th Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures. (See prior related posting.) The AP yesterday reported on the decision. [Thanks to Steven C. Sheinberg for the lead.]

Retrial Opens In Vermont In Sexual Abuse Case Against Church

Today's Burlington (VT) Free Press reports on the start of the retrial in a case of James Turner who claims that Vermont's Roman Catholic Diocese failed to protect him from sexual molestation by a priest in 1977. The incident occurred after a ceremony for Turner's brother who was about to become a priest. A mistrial was declared in June in the first trial of the case because of objectionable questioning of Turner by diocesan lawyers. Turner's lawyer, Jerome O'Neill, in his opening statement argued that the diocese systematically hired priests with questionable backgrounds, ignored warning signs and covered up misconduct to protect against lawsuits.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Judge Matthew Katz who is hearing the case ruled that while the claim for compensatory damages for negligent supervision may go to the jury, no award of punitive damages against the Diocese will be permitted because plaintiff did not prove that the Diocese knew of Rev. Alfred Willis' prior history of molesting children. (Rutland Herald).