Article IV of the Agreement of 3 January 1979 (“the Agreement”) between the Spanish State and the Holy See concerning financial matters provides that: “1. The Holy See, the Bishops’ Conference, dioceses, parishes and other territorial units, religious orders and congregations and ‘institutes of consecrated life’ and their provinces […]…
Vatican-Approved Article Criticizes Conservative Catholic Support of U.S. Evangelical Political Agenda
The Washington Post today reports that an article in the influential Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica– whose content is approved by the Vatican Secretariat of State– is critical of conservative Catholic support for the evangelical political agenda in the United States. The article is authored by the journal’s editor […]…
Court Enjoins Illinois Law Requiring Referrals Out For Abortions
In National Institute of Family Life Advocates v. Rauner , (ND IL, July 19, 2017), an Illinois federal district court granted a preliminary injunction to plaintiffs, a group of pro-life health care facilities and medical personnel, who object to Illinois SB 1564 . The statute, as a condition of […]…
Suit Challenges Hawaii’s Notice Mandate For Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
A suit was filed last week in Hawaii federal district court challenging Hawaii’s SB 501 enacted earlier this year that requires “limited service pregnancy centers” to disseminate on-site to patients a notice that says: Hawaii has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning […]…
Is Christian school in trouble over non-conformity with LGBTQ rules? Alberta gvmt won’t say
Alberta Education Minister David Eggen EDMONTON, Alberta, March 21, 2017 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Alberta New Democratic Government has been sitting for four months on a report about how to deal with an independent Christian school society that is apparently violating legislation requiring all provincial schools to offer […]…
In Unusual Church Autonomy Dispute, Catholic School Can Require Immunization of All Students
In a case with an unusual twist, a Florida state appeals court yesterday upheld the policy of a Catholic school requiring immunization of all students, even when a parent has religious objections to immunization. In Flynn v. Estevez , (FL App., June 27, 2017), the appeals court held that […]…
Christian clubs can’t be forced to accept non-Christian leaders under new Kentucky law
An attack on ‘all comers’ mandates Tucked into a new Kentucky law that protects religious expression in public schools are provisions that protect college students’ freedom of speech and association. The so-called Charlie Brown law was prompted by a public school excising a Bible verse from its production of […]…
Articles and Books of Interest on religion and law (religion clause)
From SSRN: Joseph William Singer, Property and Sovereignty Imbricated: Why Religion Is Not an Excuse to Discriminate in Public Accommodations , (18 Theoretical Inquiries in Law 521 (2017)). Steven Douglas Smith, Against ‘Civil Rights’ Simplism: How Not to Accommodate Competing Legal Commitments , (San Diego Legal Studies Paper) and more.…
Law and religion round-up – 16th July
A quiet week, apart from… … not the Great Repeal Bill On Thursday, the Government published the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill . We noted it here and the Parliament page on the Bill is here . In Public Law for Everyone , Professor Mark Elliott’s post looks in some […]…
Another Great Irish Bake Off: Dublin’s own “gay cake” case
The sexuality of cakes has become an issue yet again: this time in Dublin rather than Belfast. In May 2016, an unnamed man placed an order with a bakery in Dublin for a cake decorated with the (slightly garbled) words: “BY THE GRACE OF THE GOOD LORD, I (name […]…
Abortion, street preaching, and more from Law and Religion Roundup
From Hung Parliament to Bung Parliament… Abortion in Northern Ireland Street preaching News from Trumpton: Trinity Lutheran An ecumenical matter AMiE and the missionary’s position Cardinal charged with sexual abuse To lose one Cardinal Prefect may be regarded as unfortunate, to lose two… Islamic finance Click here to view…
Court Rules Kentucky Print Shop Has Right to Avoid Making Gay Pride T-shirts
A Kentucky appellate court on Friday ruled that the Christian owner of a printing shop in Lexington had the right to refuse to make T-shirts promoting a local gay pride festival. The dispute represents the latest court fight testing the limits of antidiscrimination protections for gays and lesbians following […]…
Judge dismisses LGBT case against Christian pro-family advocate
A U.S. federal district judge has dismissed an LGBT case five years after the lawsuit was filed against a Christian pro-family advocate who was charged with “crimes against humanity” for aiding faith leaders and fighting the LGBTQ agenda in Uganda. On June 5, Massachusetts District Judge Michael Ponsor dismissed the…
Christian virtue doesn’t come from the law
Some decades ago, the famous Christian scholar Harry Emerson Fosdick was invited to speak to the American University student body in Beirut, Lebanon. His listeners represented at least 27 different religious affiliations. Fosdick silently studied his audience and then asked them all: “What is your religion doing for your character?”…
Texas adoption bill OK’s rejection of non-Christian parents
Texas adoption bill OK’s rejection of non-Christian parents Many state-funded Texas adoption agencies routinely deny non-Christian, gay, and unmarried applicants on religious grounds — and now they are backing legislation being considered Tuesday by the state House designed to protect them from potential lawsuits. The private organizations, which are paid…
Printing T-Shirts and Religious Freedom
The decision in Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission v. Hands On Originals (Ky CA, No 2015-CA-000745-MR; 12 May, 2017) was an appeal from an earlier decision discussed in a previous post, “Cakes, t-shirts and religious freedom- an update” (28 April, 2015). To quote the previous summary: [A] printer of…
Kentucky governor signs bill to safeguard Christian students’ religious liberty
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has signed into law a bill known as the “Charlie Brown law” which safeguards the freedom of religious expression of Christian students in public schools. Senate Bill 17, which protects a public school student’s freedom to express religious viewpoints and wear religious clothing without fear of…
Law and religion round-up – 21st May
From Law and Religon Roundup: General Election 2017 The three main UK parties’ manifestos are now published: Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat. Unsurprisingly, there is little about “religion” in any of them; however, the Lib Dems have said that, if elected, they will introduce opposite-sex civil partnerships, while the Tories…
Education Minister David Eggen issues order for Christian schools to accommodate LGBTQ students
An outside adviser has urged the education minister to close a “significant gap” in law that sets different expectations for public and private schools’ accommodation of LGBTQ students and staff. Education Minister David Eggen issued a ministerial order Thursday based on the adviser’s report, telling two defiant Edmonton-area Christian private…
Law and religion round-up – 14th May
A few items from Law and Religion UK: “Reciprocal heresy trials”, an episcopus vagans and Matthew 6:3 Humanist marriage in Northern Ireland Ireland, blasphemy and Stephen Fry Swiss canton says “no” to burqa ban Ritual slaughter, infant circumcision, hijabs and burkinis – again Ecclesiastical Law Journal Read these and more…
Jesus Christ and the case for Deific Law
Sharon Hofisi Legal Matters — For the purpose of precision, let me, with alacrity, begin by considering the basic definition of law. Professor Lovemore Madhuku, who is doubtlessly one of the best legal thinkers who can demystify the law, defines law simply as “rules and regulations that govern human conduct…
Arkansas Mass Executions And Christian Nonviolence
Arkansas is set for a mass execution of eight people within a 10 day period, starting April 17. The rush to kill exists because one lethal injection drug — which has caused multiple botched executions — is about to expire. Replacing these weapons has become challenging since drug companies have…
Supreme Court of Canada to review congregational expulsion: Highwood Congregation v Wall
In Wall v Judicial Committee of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses 2016 ABCA 255 (CanLII), Mr Wall had sought judicial review of his expulsion from the Highwood Congregation. A chambers judge had concluded that the Court of Queen’s Bench had jurisdiction to hear the application and the Court of…
Church of Scotland Theological Forum reports on same-sex marriage
The Theological Forum of the Church of Scotland has produced a report, An Approach to the Theology of Same-Sex Marriage, in advance of next month’s General Assembly. The report examines three overlapping kinds of argument in some detail: arguments based on understandings of human rights; analogical arguments which try to…
Law and religion round-up – 23rd April
From Law and religion round-up – 23rd April …the General Election, June 2017 Manchester Gorton by-election Lobbying: a reminder to third-party campaigners Other election issues The Church of Scotland and same-sex marriage Church of Scotland General Assembly 2017 Polygamy on trial in Canada Shergill v Khaira yet again News from…