Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Australian Court Is Asked To Order Police Investigation of Religious Group
Massachusetts High Court Lets Rastafarian Go To Trial Against Jiffy Lube
Cuba Improves Relations With Vatican As Castro Attends Beatification Mass
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Religion Clause Nominated As One of "100 Best" By ABA For Second Year
Limitation on Church Attendance Does Not Violate Parolee's Free Exercise Rights
The limitation placed on Mr. Burchett by the stipulated Agreement did not represent a substantial burden on the observation of a central religious belief or practice, and cannot be considered anything more than an inconvenience. Mr. Burchett could still attend church if he so desired; he merely had to seek permission before doing so.... The government has a compelling interest in making sure the community is protected from pedophile sex offenders.
Anti-Religion Sign Is Next To Creche In Capitol Under Open Forum Rules
Marijuana Conviction Upheld; Religious Freedom Defense Rejected
Zimbabwe Court Protects Apostolic Sect From Local Chief
Wyoming Prisons Will Accommodate Muslim Prisoner Meal Times
Mumbai Muslim Cemetery Refuses To Bury Terrorists; Police Seeking Alternatives
Monday, December 01, 2008
President Bush Talks About Faith In His Life
Q What role does faith play in your day-to-day life?
THE PRESIDENT: I've been in the Bible every day since I've been the President, and I have been affected by people's prayers a lot. I have found that faith is comforting, faith is strengthening, faith has been important....I would advise politicians, however, to be careful about faith in the public arena. ...In other words, politicians should not be judgmental people based upon their faith. They should recognize -- as least I have recognized I am a lowly sinner seeking redemption, and therefore have been very careful about saying (accept) my faith or you're bad. In other words, if you don't accept what I believe, you're a bad person.
And the greatness of America -- it really is -- is that you can worship or not worship and be equally American. And it doesn't matter how you choose to worship; you're equally American. And it's very important for any President to jealously protect, guard, and strengthen that freedom.
Pope To Visit Israel In May To Ease Catholic-Jewish Tensions
Recent Articles and Book of Interest
- Frederick Mark Gedicks, Indeterminacy and the Establishment Clause, (Constitutional Commentary, 2009).
- Mark DeForrest, The Use and Scope of Extrinsic Evidence in Evaluating Establishment Clause Cases in Light of the Lemon Test's Secular Purpose Requirement, 20 Regent University Law Review 201-255 (2007-2008).
- Gary S. Gildin, Book Review: The Protection of Free Exercise of Religion for Minority Faiths, (Reviewing Bruce Ledewitz, American Religious Democracy), 14 Widener Law Review 255-264 (2008).
- The Role of Religion in Public Debate. Introduction by Hon. Diane S. Sykes; articles by James W. Skillen, Robert Audi and Hon. Michael W. McConnell; response by Kent Greenawalt. 20 Regent U. L. Rev. 301-335 (2007-2008).
Recent Book:
- Phillip F. Lawler, The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston’s Catholic Culture, (Encounter Books, Feb. 2008), reviewed on PowerBlog.
Religious Coalition Presses For New Policies On Mortgage Foreclosures
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Infringing Confession's Confidentiality OK Under Australia's Free Exercise Clause
Assault Charge To Be Retried Under Parent Discipline Defense
Recently Available Prisoner Free Exercise Cases
In Abobkr v. Mills, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95973 (D MS, Nov. 17, 2008), a Mississippi federal magistrate judge recommended dismissal of claims by a Muslim inmate that he was not allowed to lead Muslim prayer services and was forced to pray behind another less knowledgeable prisoner, and that on two occasions he was prevented from praying in the law library.
In two opinions in Foster v. Ouachita Correctional Center, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96513 (WD LA, Sept. 22, 2008) and 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96523 (WD LA, Oct. 30, 2008), a Louisiana federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing complaints by a Muslim prisoner that prison officials refused to "provide assistance" to Muslim inmates in their obligation to fast and read scripture during Ramadan; refused to set up a worship program for Muslims; and refused to furnish Muslims a non-pork diet. He also alleged that during Ramadan Muslims were required to attend Christian programs.