Religion & Law

German Government Adopts Suggestions For Muslim Accommodation In Schools

Posted on June 26, 2009
Reuters yesterday reported that the German government has reached agreement at the German Islam Conference with the country's largest Muslim community on recommendations for accommodating Muslim religious practices in public schools. Implementation is up to each of the German states...

In Dispute With Defecting Church, Assemblies of God Held To Be Hierarchical

Posted on June 26, 2009
In Leach v. Johnson, (MI Ct. App., June 18, 2009), a Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's decision holding that the Assemblies of God is an hierarchical religious organization and its decision to assert control over the property of the break-away Gospel Lighthouse Church in Warren, Michigan is binding upon the courts...

Report Says FBI Will Use ISNA As Contact Point With US Muslim Community

Posted on June 26, 2009
IPT News yesterday reported that the FBI has decided to rely upon the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) as its official point of contact with the American Muslim community. The move comes after the FBI earlier this year broke its ties with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) that had previously been its contact...

Court Says Revenue Bonds For Religious College OK Under Establishment Clause

Posted on June 26, 2009
In Gillam v. Harding University, (ED AK, June 24, 2009), an Arkansas federal district court held that the city of Searcy, Arkansas did not violate the Establishment Clause when it issued tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance construction of facilities at Harding University...

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Court Finds No Jurisidiction Over Defamation Claim By Priest

Posted on June 26, 2009
In Stepek v. Doe, (IL App., June 10, 2009), an Illinois Appellate Court held that civil courts have no jurisdiction over a suit brought by a Catholic priest alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The allegedly false statements were made only to Chicago Archdiocese personnel in connection with the Church's formal investigation of alleged sexual abuse by plaintiff...

AU Wants Justice Department To Revoke or Modify Questionable Grants

Posted on June 25, 2009
Americans United yesterday released a letter (full text) that it has sent to Attorney General Eric Holder challenging nine separate Juvenile Justice and Byrne Law Enforcement Assistance grants that were funded by the Department of Justice through Congressional earmarks in fiscal 2008...

Hindu Leader's Attempt To Modify Bail Conditions Rejected By Court

Posted on June 25, 2009
In Ex parte Prakashandand Saraswati, (TX Ct. App., June 24, 2009), a Texas appellate court rejected petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by a prominent Hindu spiritual master and teacher who was attempting to obtain a modification of conditions imposed when he was released on bail after being charged with 20 counts of indecency with a child by contact...

In Kenya, Evangelicals Oppose Proposal For Separate Kadhi Court System

Posted on June 25, 2009
Kenya's Daily Nation yesterday reported that the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) has threatened to mobilize its Pentecostal members to vote against the country's draft constitution when it is put to a referendum, if drafters move ahead with plans to provide in the constitution for a separate set of Kadhi Courts for Muslims...

Orthodox Church Will Aid Russian Authorities In Pursuing Debtors

Posted on June 25, 2009
AFP reported yesterday that Russia's Federal Bailiffs' Service is working with the Russian Orthodox Church to shame debtors and those delinquent in their alimony payments into paying up. On Sunday, the Church and FBS signed an agreement under which priests will use their "spiritual influence" to convince debtors that not paying back what is owed is equivalent to theft...

Rubashkin-- On Bail-- Can Leave Iowa For Trip To Mark Rebbe's Death

Posted on June 25, 2009
In January, an Iowa federal district court judge released Agriprocessors kosher meat packing executive Sholom Rubashkin on bail. However he was to remain in Allamakee County, Iowa, until his trial on a 142-count federal indictment charging him with harboring illegal workers, bank fraud and money laundering...

Gov. Sanford's Press Conference and Wife's Response Contain Extensive Religious References

Posted on June 25, 2009
As a posting today at Get Religion points out, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's press conference yesterday confessing to an extra-marital affair (transcript) and his wife's statement reacting to it (full text) include extensive religious references...

ACLU Sues Federal Prison To Get More Group Prayer Times for Muslim Inmates

Posted on June 24, 2009
Last week, the ACLU filed suit in an Indiana federal district court challenging the policy at a federal prison unit in Terre Haute (IN) that limits group prayer by Muslim inmates to one hour per week on Fridays. AP reported yesterday that the lawsuit, brought under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, focuses on the high security Communications Management Unit where 30 of the prison's 40 Muslim inmates are housed to control their contacts with outsiders...

South Bend Bus System Bans Future Ads Promoting Churches

Posted on June 24, 2009
Last month, the South Bend, Indiana bus system, Transpo, agreed to accept an ad from the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign. The bus ad read: ""You Can Be Good Without God." (See prior related posting.) Now that the month long contract to run that ad has expired, Transpo's board of directors on Monday adopted a new policy on acceptable ads...

Obama Urged To Raise Human Rights, Religious Freedom At Russian Summit

Posted on June 24, 2009
President Barack Obama will travel to Moscow on July 6 to 8 for a summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. A White House announcement of the trip released last month indicated that it will focus on arms control, as well as business ties between the countries...

Village and Church Settle Litigation Over Rental Fees For Municpal Building Room

Posted on June 24, 2009
A consent decree (full text) has been entered settling Forest Area Bible Church v. Fife Lake Village Council, (WD MI, June 23, 2009). In the case, a local church challenged the rental fee schedule imposed by the village of Fife Lake (MI) for use of a meeting room in its Municipal Building...

En Banc Review Sought In 10 Commandments Case

Posted on June 24, 2009
Yesterday's Tulsa World reports that Haskell County, Oklahoma commissioners are asking the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to grant en banc review in Green v. Haskell County Board of Commissioners. A 3-judge panel of the 10th Circuit in the case earlier this month held that display of a Ten Commandments monument on the lawn of the county courthouse in Stigler, Oklahoma, violates the Establishment Clause...

New Indian Goverment Reportedly Will Move To Repeal Anti-Conversion Laws

Posted on June 24, 2009
Last month, Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the new prime minister of India. Yesterday's Christian Post reports that the new government has pledged it will repeal anti-conversion laws currently in effect in five states. Home Minister P. Chidambaram will review existing legislation and make recommendations for future action...

New Nixon Tapes Reveal Comments About Anti-Semitism

Posted on June 24, 2009
The New York Times reports that yesterday the Nixon Presidential Library released an additional 150 hours of tapes and 30,000 pages of documents. Among the audio tapes was a 1973 Nixon telephone conversation with Rev. Billy Graham. (MP3 file of conversation...

Germany's Interior Ministry Surveys Muslims

Posted on June 23, 2009
Germany's Interior Ministry yesterday released a survey of Muslims that it has recently funded. According to M&C, the study shows that approximately 4 million individuals (5% of Germany's population) are Muslim. About 45% of these individuals hold German citizenship...

Group Complains About Use Policy of Navy Website

Posted on June 23, 2009
Yesterday Liberty Counsel released a letter (full text) it has sent to Navy Secretary Ray Malbus complaining about restrictions imposed by the administrator of a website, Navy for Moms. The website, which includes discussion forums, was set up by the Navy-- through an outside contractor-- to provide support and interactive communication for mothers of those in the Navy and those considering enlisting...

Ski Resort Settles Religious Discrimination Charges By EEOC

Posted on June 23, 2009
The EEOC announced yesterday that Vail Corp., a ski resort, has settled a religious and gender discrimination lawsuit. Under the settlement, the company will pay former employee Lisa Marie Cornwell, $80,000 in damages, and will provide training for its employees on religious accommodation, harassment and retaliation...

Library Room Use Policy Violates Establishment Clause

Posted on June 23, 2009
In Faith Center Church Evangelistic Ministries v. Glover, (ND CA, June 18, 2009), a California federal district court held that a policy of Contra Costa County (CA), that opens county library meeting rooms for use for many educational, cultural and community activities, but not for religious services, violates the Establishment Clause...

"Prayer Station" Inside City Hall Is Questioned

Posted on June 22, 2009
In Warren, Michigan, The Tabernacle, a Church of God congregation, has set up a "Prayer Station" inside city hall. The city makes space inside the building available to any non-profit free-of-charge. Similar stations have been set up elsewhere around the city...

Australian Sikh Files Complaint Over Helmet Requirement To Take Motorcycle License Test

Posted on June 22, 2009
In Australia, a 21-year old Sikh man, Mandeep Singh, has filed a complaint with the Western Australia Equal Opportunity Commission because he was not allowed to take the state test for a motorcycle license without wearing a helmet. Today's West Australian reports that the state's Department of Planning and Infrastructure no longer exempts Sikhs from the helmet requirement...

In Israel, Court Hears Suit By Messianic Congregation Against Beersheba's Chief Rabbi

Posted on June 22, 2009
Today's Jerusalem Post reports on a trial held Sunday in Israel in the Beersheba Magistrate's Court in a suit by a Messianic Jewish congregation against Beersheba's chief rabbi and the Jewish anti-missionary group, Yad L'Achim. The Nachlat Yeshua Messianic Congregation said that in 2007, hundreds of Orthodox Jews held a demonstration without a permit, broke into their church compound, attacked worshipers, broke furniture and held their own prayer service, until police removed the demonstrators three hours later...

Recent and Forthcoming University Press Books of Interest

Posted on June 22, 2009
U.S. Religious History and Politics:Winnifred F. Sullivan, Prison Religion: Faith-Based Reform and the Constitution , (Princeton Univ. Press, 2009).James M. O'Toole, The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America, (Belknap Press, Nov. 2009).Moshik Temkin, The Sacco-Vanzetti Affair: America on Trial, (Yale University Press, April 2009)...

Mousavi Letter Includes Analysis of Relation of Islam To Democracy

Posted on June 22, 2009
In Iran on Saturday, opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi published a letter to the Iranian people on his website, continuing to challenge the results of last week's presidential election. (Full text of letter in translation from Juan Cole's Informed Comment blog...

School District Incurs High Legal Fees In Unsuccessful Defense of Prayer Lawsuit

Posted on June 21, 2009
Today's Pensacola (FL) News Journal reports that the Santa Rosa County (FL) School District ran up nearly $200,000 in legal fees defending a lawsuit against it challenging prayer and religious activities in the schools. The lawsuit was settled in March, with the school district agreeing to give up the practices...

Paper Publishes Long Expose On Tactics Used By Church of Scientology

Posted on June 21, 2009
Today's St. Petersburg (FL) Times runs the first of a 3-part series on the Church of Scientology, revealing significant new insights into the organization's operations. The series is based on interviews with four former executives of the Church who later defected...

Nigerian Court Asked To Enjoin Rival From Forcing Plaintiff To Swear An Oath

Posted on June 21, 2009
In Nigeria, a merchant, Ugochukwu Ugwoegbu, has filed an unusual case in the Ikeja High Court. According to a report yesterday in Next, Ugwoegbu claims that after serving as an apprentice with Ojimba Nnanna for nine years, he left and started his own business...

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