Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
NH Federal Court Holds Prison Anti-Violence Program Is Secular
Malaysian and South African Muslims Warned Not to Use Botox
Recent Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Wesley v. Muhammad, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6248 (SD NY, Jan. 28, 2008), a New York federal district judge accepted a magistrate's recommendation in a case in which a Muslim inmate challenged the selling of pork-based products in a prison's commissary without clearly labeling which products comply with Muslim dietary restrictions. The court dismissed claims against officers who merely worked at the commisary, but permitted them to go forward against supervisory officials. Plaintiff had objected to dismissal of the commissary workers, arguing that they were "like Nazi concentration camp guards, relying on a defense that they followed the orders of superiors to avoid liability...." The court said that argument reflected both a lack of any sense of proportion, and the weakness of plaintiff's case.
In Joseph v. Arpaio, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6227 (D AZ, Jan. 28 2008), an Arizona federal district court dismissed a claim by a Muslim inmate that he was being given pork products in his meals. Defendants demonstrated that he was receiving a no-pork diet.
In Grissom v. Cole, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7169 (D AK, Jan. 30, 2008), an Arkansas federal magistrate judge found that there were factual disputes that prevented dismissal of a prisoner's claim that defendants denied him the right to bring his Bible into the day room at the Clay County Detention Center.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
SMU Siting of Bush Institute Sparks United Methodist Church Procedural Wrangle
Romney's Attendance At Mormon Leader's Funeral Analyzed
The death of Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley renews attention on Mitt Romney's little-known religion — yet rather than being reluctant to discuss it, he's making a public embrace that shows some shifting political attitudes....
The death of Hinckley, and Romney's decision to attend his funeral on Saturday, underscores his connection to and stature within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a pivotal time for him: He is reaching out to conservatives for their support after a series of high-profile wins and endorsements have boosted rival John McCain's campaign.
The difference now is that Romney approaches both his ongoing campaign and the funeral rites with less tension over his religion. Contests in Iowa and South Carolina, which both have significant evangelical voting blocs, are behind him.
India Arrests Two Sikh Separatist Leaders
Friday, February 01, 2008
Russian Authorities Ban Moderate Islamic Text As Extremist
British Lawsuit Claims Definition of Who Is A Jew Amounts To Racial Discrimination
1st Circuit Rejects Parents' Objections To Books Depicting Gay Couples
Large Church Super Bowl Parties Violate Copyright Law
School District Sued For Refusing Student Group's Announcement of Prayer Meeting
British Groups Challenge Mention of "God" In Scout Oath
Penn State Settles Suit: Will Permit Biblical Reference On Alumni Brick
New York Court Finds Synagogue With Clergy Residence Is Tax Exempt
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Brooklyn Anglican Church Settles Lawsuit; Keeps Building For Below-Market Price
First Lady Marks Catholic Schools Week
White House Marks 7th Anniversary of Faith-Based Initiative
Unfortunately, in some instances where there was an interface with government, people were told that in order to interface you have to take the cross off the wall, or take down the Star of David. In other words, you had to abandon the very principle by which you existed in the first place. And it made no sense. If a program was effective because they were willing to recognize a higher power, if a program was effective because people responded because they felt a call from a higher power, than to deny the higher power really reduced the effectiveness of the program.
The White House yeterday also released a Fact Sheet on the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]
California College Trustee Attacks Islam In Her Opposition To Course Proposal
Faculty and student groups are calling for Wood's resignation.We know all we need to know about Arabs and Islam. They are our enemies pure and simple. There is no getting away from that. They have declared war on the United States and they are committed to our destruction.... Instead of trying to understand our sworn enemies, we need to teach our people about this country. Muslims have over the century invaded other countries and forced their religion by killing, plundering and ravaging. This is nothing new, [this course] is just a new way of invading. They are invading Christian countries of the world from the inside, one method being through our schools and universities.... If you want to give yourselves to Islam, I have no problem with that,you have the right and the freedom to do that, but don't give my country to them.
Massachusetts Church Seeks Tax Funds for Roof Repairs
Turkey's Headscarf Proposal Faces Fierce Opposition
[T]he head scarf has become an issue that is threatening to split Turkey in two. The bill received an explosive response yesterday from Turkey's secular establishment, who see it as a menacing incursion of Islam into a country that has kept religion at bay since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's democratic revolution in 1925. "Turkey is headed step by step toward becoming a theocratic state," one MP, Onur Oymen, said during the parliamentary debate. The head of Turkey's army issued a veiled threat yesterday. "All segments of Turkish society know very well the position of the military on this issue," General Yasar Buyakanit told reporters, somewhat cryptically.