A billboard sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Harrisburg, Pa. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (RNS) — An atheist relief organization has sued the Internal Revenue Service, claiming its tax-exempt status was unfairly revoked. IRS officials say the group failed to file required annual information to the agency…
Two cakes, two courts, two countries: Same result for Christian bakers
Ashers Bakery owners Amy and Daniel McArthur outside the Supreme Court in London, on Oct. 10, 2018. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP) LONDON (RNS) — On both sides of the Atlantic, a drama set in a bakery has pitted freedom of religion against LGBT civil rights and Exhibit A has been…
How do we get past politics and unite behind religious freedom?
Ambassador Sam Brownback delivers a speech about religious freedown during the 25th annual International Law and Religion Symposium at in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. Qiling Wang, Deseret News (courtesy) It shouldn’t sound as difficult as it does. During his recent visit to Provo, Utah to speak…
Read the full 20 recommendations from the religious freedom review
Fairfax Media’s exclusive report on Wednesday detailing sections of the religious freedom review commissioned by the Coalition government has triggered a political furore. The report by former attorney-general Philip Ruddock, which was ordered by Malcolm Turnbull in the wake of last year’s same-sex marriage victory, was delivered to the government…
Why America’s religious freedom ambassador thinks everyone can help ‘fight’ for this ‘foundational’ right
PROVO — Sam Brownback is a diplomat, chosen by the Trump administration to travel the world promoting religious freedom. But he sometimes describes himself as a salesman, and he thinks he’s got a great deal for global leaders. If they’ll agree to strengthen religious freedom protections in their countries, to…
LIFE ISSUES Bowing to the goddess of abortion law reform: the pseudo-religion of radical feminism
In October 2008, the Victorian Parliament passed legislation to remove abortion from the Crimes Act after roughly 40 years of campaigning from militant radical feminists. Reflecting on that legislation, DLP MP Peter Kavanagh remarked: “It’s hard to imagine a worse bill and a worse model, and indeed that’s partly why…
Scott Reeder: Sadly, Bible diminishing as a reference source
SPRINGFIELD — Imagine a classroom full of bright, inquisitive college students who have no idea who Pontius Pilate was or never heard the story of Noah’s Ark. That’s what Gwen Jordan, an associate professor of legal studies at the University of Illinois-Springfield, has experienced. More than 10 years ago, […]…
PM flags extension of anti-discrimination laws to cover religious beliefs
The prime minister has revived the religious freedom issue months after a review was handed to his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given his clearest indication yet that his government would change anti-discrimination laws so that religious beliefs were protected – just as race, gender or […]…
China mulls censoring online religious content
The new online rules would only allow members of officially licensed organisations to post certain kinds of religious content (AFP Photo/Johannes EISELE) Beijing (AFP) – Chinese authorities have drafted sweeping new regulations that would severely restrict religious content online, including images or even descriptions of religious activities from praying […]…
Explainer: What is the ‘religious freedom’ debate about, and why are we having it?
One of the loudest voices calling for better protection of religious freedoms in recent years has been the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. But what exactly is religious freedom, and why are we having this debate now? Who follows what religion in Australia? Christianity remains the dominant religious group in […]…
China wages war on Jesus
News Modal Trigger BEIJING — China’s government is ratcheting up a crackdown on Christian congregations in Beijing and several provinces, destroying crosses, burning Bibles, shutting churches and ordering followers to sign papers renouncing their faith, according to pastors and a group that monitors religion in China. The campaign corresponds […]…
Judge rules that Judaism is not a race but Jewish people can be targeted for racism. Here’s why that matters.
Click here to view full article at www.nbcnews.com Judaism is not a race. But Jewish people can be targeted for racism. That may seem like a contradiction. But a recent ruling by U.S. Magistrate Mark Hornsby of Louisiana updated anti-discrimination laws in the state. In doing so, Hornsby has potentially…
Freedom From Religion Foundation Sues to Stop City Council Members From Opening Public Meetings With Lord’s Prayer
Click here to view full article at christiannews.net PARKERSBURG, W. Va. — One of the nation’s most conspicuous Church-State separation groups has filed a lawsuit against a city in West Virginia in an effort to stop city council members from opening public meetings with the Lord’s Prayer. The Wisconsin-based Freedom…
More answers to readers’ comments and queries – July
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com More answers to readers’ queries and comments Below is a further compilation of “Quick Answers” to questions which have arisen from searches of, or comments during July, providing links to our blog posts addressing these issues. As before, the topics covered in…
Court Rules In Favor of Atheist to Exhume Daughter
Click here to view full article at www.worldreligionnews.com Natalie Maynro is licensed under CC BY-2.0 The judge granted the request on genuine mistake grounds Judge Lyndsey de Mestre, QC, the Deputy Chancellor of Diocese of St, Albans, has given permission to Mrs. Beverley Wilson and Michael Hugill, her ex-husband, parents…
Appeals Court Rules Against Proselytizing School Board in Chino Valley (CA)
Click here to view full article at www.patheos.com In a unanimous decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today, the judges ruled that the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Directors (in California) was indeed violating the Establishment Clause by promoting Christianity at meetings. This is a huge…
Religious freedom
Click here to view full article at idahostatejournal.com Portneuf Valley Interfaith Fellowship Religious freedom is a basic human right that gives our lives dignity and meaning and enables all of us to think, act upon, and express what we deeply believe. It’s recognized in constitutions and declarations the world over.…
Judge: Jewish heritage can be basis for race discrimination
Click here to view full article at religionnews.com Entrance to Louisiana College in Pineville, LA. Photo by Billy Hathorn/Creative Commons (AP) — Jewish people are protected by a law against racial discrimination in employment decisions, a federal magistrate judge has concluded in siding with a football coach suing a private…
Law and religion round-up – 15th July
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com So it’s goodbye from him – and it’s goodbye from him… Brexit Last week, Boris Johnson resigned as Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and David Davis as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. Johnson was replaced by Jeremy Hunt, who campaigned…
Law and religion round-up – 8th July
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com A fairly quiet week – though not for Mrs May… Leicester City Council and criticism of Israel In R (Jewish Rights Watch, t/a Jewish Human Rights Watch) v Leicester City Council [2018] EWCA Civ 1551 , the Court of Appeal ruled unanimously…
Canada’s Supreme Court Relegates Religious Beliefs to Second-Tier Status. America, Be Warned.
Click here to view full article at www.dailysignal.com Emilie Kao is director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation. Canada’s Supreme Court recently ruled 7-2 against Trinity Western University, prioritizing sexual orientation over the free exercise of religion. This ruling should…
A holy mess: Walgreens case shows it’s time to get God out of the workplace
Click here to view full article at www.latimes.com I feel about people with strongly held religious convictions pretty much the the same way I feel about people who can juggle machetes and lit torches: I’m impressed and maybe a little envious, but please be careful around others. That’s been on…
Pensions, gender reassignment, religion and marriage: MB
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com The CJEU has ruled in MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2018] Case C‑451/16 , that the previous position in the United Kingdom under which the acquired gender of a transsexual person was not recognised for the purpose of…
Des Moines diocese defends legality of school grants
Click here to view full article at www.catholicnewsagency.com Des Moines, Iowa, Jun 22, 2018 / 10:49 am ( CNA/EWTN News ).- After reviewing $844,000 worth of grants that were given by Polk County, Iowa to local Catholic schools a few years back, the Diocese of Des Moines said that it…
Jordan Peterson Warns Canadian Christians Their Religious Freedom Rights Are Eroding
Click here to view full article at www.christianpost.com (Screenshot: YouTube/The Bridgehead)Jordan Peterson in an interview with Canadian author and activist Faytene Grassechi uploaded on June 20, 2018. Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychologist, author, and free-speech advocate, has warned Canadian Christians that they must make a "great leap forward" because religious…