Click here to view full article at sobserver.ws Re: Church opposes tax law I do not support this law by the Samoa government. It is NOT RIGHT and it has many bad consequences if enforced. First of all the money donated by the parishioners or members of a congregation to…
Australian bishops call for religious freedom laws to be updated after government receives report
Click here to view full article at catholicleader.com.au Religious freedom: Jesuit Father Frank Brennan, former attorney general Philip Ruddock and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. THE Federal Government has received a report into religious freedom in Australia, but it could be weeks before the findings are made public. Prime Minister Malcolm…
Readers’ recent queries and comments – late May
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 the past couple of weeks, providing links to our blog posts addressing these issues. As before,…
Readers’ recent queries and comments – late May
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 the past couple of weeks, providing links to our blog posts addressing these issues. As before,…
Hironimus-Wendt on religion and free speech in schools, May 23, 2018
Click here to view full article at www.teutopolispress.com Dear Editor, This past week in my little community, graduation took on deep significance. One of our favorite sons, our “Valedictorian,” was told that he could not give a speech he had lovingly prepared. Mr. Blackledge wanted to acknowledge his Christian faith…
Judge rules Christian baker does not have to make gay ‘wedding’ cake
Click here to view full article at www.lifesitenews.com Cathy Miller of Tastries Bakery BAKERSFIELD, California, May 23, 2018 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A California judge has issued his final judgment in favor of a Christian baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex “wedding,” ruling that cakes celebrating…
US education secretary attacks separation of church and state
Click here to view full article at www.wsws.org US Education Secretary billionaire Betsy DeVos. Credit: Gage Skidmore On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made her first official visit to New York City. She declined to visit the nation’s largest public school district and instead…
Australia needs a better conversation about religious freedom
Click here to view full article at theconversation.com We must protect people from harmful speech. But the cause of freedom must exceed the creation of religious exemptions. Tomorrow, the Ruddock inquiry is due to release its findings on whether Australian law adequately protects the right to freedom of religion. The…
Pensacola Bayview Park cross: Appeals court hears arguments, ruling may come in summer
Click here to view full article at www.pnj.com Buy Photo The fate of Pensacola’s Bayview Park cross now rests with three federal judges after oral arguments were held Wednesday morning in Atlanta in the appeal of last year’s lower federal court ruling ordering the cross be removed from the public…
Agreement limits religious expression
Click here to view full article at press-herald.com ACLU declares victory in case The Webster Parish School Board and the American Civil Liberties Union have reached the first stage of a settlement in their religious promotion lawsuit, a settlement which includes judgment in favor of the ACLU. A consent decree…
Fight over cross at Florida public park resumes before appeals court
Click here to view full article at www.nola.com A federal appeals court in Atlanta will hear arguments Wednesday on whether this cross should be removed from Bayview Park in Pensacola. (AL.com/Image courtesy of Becket) A 34-foot Christian cross at a public park in Pensacola, Fla., will be the subject of…
Congressman Johnson, leading religious freedom defenders issue letter on SB 512
Click here to view full article at bossierpress.com This joint letter is being submitted in response to questions that have been raised by members of the Louisiana Legislature concerning the legality and feasibility of (Senate Bill 512 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature). We write today to…
Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine Requires Dismissal of Priest’s Defamation Suit
Click here to view full article at religionclause.blogspot.com In Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc. v. Gallagher , (FL App., May 9, 2018), a Florida state appellate court held that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine requires dismissal of a defamation suit brought by a Catholic priest against the diocese in which he…
University of Michigan Sued Over Anti-Bias Rules
Click here to view full article at religionclause.blogspot.com A lawsuit was filed yesterday in Michigan federal district court against the University of Michigan challenging provisions in its disciplinary code prohibiting harassment, bullying and bias-related conduct, and enforcement of these provisions by the University’s Bias Response Team. The lawsuit contends that…
ACLU, others file brief urging court to force cross off Lehigh County seal
Click here to view full article at www.mcall.com The Lehigh County seal (Contributed Photo / THE MORNING CALL) A group of 20 religious and civil rights organizations have filed a brief supporting a federal court’s ruling against Lehigh County, arguing the county seal is unconstitutional because features a cross .…
ACLU, others file brief urging court to force cross off Lehigh County seal
Click here to view full article at www.mcall.com The Lehigh County seal (Contributed Photo / THE MORNING CALL) A group of 20 religious and civil rights organizations have filed a brief supporting a federal court’s ruling against Lehigh County, arguing the county seal is unconstitutional because features a cross .…
EEOC: Medical plan provider forced employees to partake in religious ceremonies
Click here to view full article at legalnewsline.com NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 26 that United Health Program of America Inc., a discount medical plan provider, and parent company Cost Containment Group Inc. (CCG), will pay $5.1 million after allegedly coercing…
EEOC: Medical plan provider forced employees to partake in religious ceremonies
Click here to view full article at legalnewsline.com NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced April 26 that United Health Program of America Inc., a discount medical plan provider, and parent company Cost Containment Group Inc. (CCG), will pay $5.1 million after allegedly coercing…
ACLU, others file brief urging court to force cross off Lehigh County seal
Click here to view full article at www.mcall.com The Lehigh County seal (Contributed Photo / THE MORNING CALL) A group of 20 religious and civil rights organizations have filed a brief supporting a federal court’s ruling against Lehigh County, arguing the county seal is unconstitutional because features a cross .…
ACLU, others file brief urging court to force cross off Lehigh County seal
Click here to view full article at www.mcall.com The Lehigh County seal (Contributed Photo / THE MORNING CALL) A group of 20 religious and civil rights organizations have filed a brief supporting a federal court’s ruling against Lehigh County, arguing the county seal is unconstitutional because features a cross .…
European Court of Justice limits employment policies of religious organisations
Click here to view full article at evangelicalfocus.com European Court of Justice. In recent years, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the American Supreme Court have taken some decisions regarding the hiring of religious employees. For example, in 2012 a teacher laid off from a school linked to…
Court Admonishes Village for Adopting Laws with a Discriminatory Purpose
Click here to view full article at www.jdsupra.com Local governments in New York may regulate land use within their borders directly through their zoning codes and indirectly by adopting a variety of other statutes and regulations. There are, however, limits to their power. Municipalities, of course, must not discriminate on…
Kirkpatrick: The First Amendment protects religion from the state, not the other way around
Click here to view full article at www.greeleytribune.com Kirkpatrick, R. Craig Recently, a series of letters have appeared on the editorial page of The Tribune addressing the issue of religious practice within our public square. One writer offered an opinion of those who argue that teaching the Bible should be…
Law and religion round-up – 6th May
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com Local elections apart, such a quiet week that on Saturday The Sun led with the story that a bloke was buying a suit… …and the newspaper both created and solved the Church Mystery: Grave of woman who died in 2011 mysteriously appears…
Law and religion round-up – 11th March
IICSA begins hearings on the Church of England, Ireland clears the way for a referendum on abortion and the President of the Supreme Court tackles the vexed question of niqabs in court. Lady Hale on religious dress The Supreme Court website has posted the text of Lady Hale’s Sultan Azlan…