News from around the world. Curated by Mark McDowell. Posts do not constitute agreement or endorsement.
Row over Australia plan to let faith schools reject gay students GAY students and teachers could be rejected by religious schools under changes to anti-discrimination laws being recommended by a federal review into religious freedom. ‘We will protect religious freedom, and get the balance right. In the federal sphere, senator…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 Morrison is just starting to tell Australians about who he is and what he stands for. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison does not hesitate when asked if Australia needs new laws to protect religious freedom . “Yes,” he says. He is yet to set out exactly […]…
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, […]…
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act could provide a shield for liberal businesses seeking to support undocumented immigrants, much the same way the law has allowed conservative companies to challenge enforcement of health care and anti-discrimination laws, a researcher from Oregon State University suggests in a new paper. “We’re seeing […]…
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 […]…
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 […]…
Noted columnist and commentator E.J. Dionne, Jr. (left) will present a public lecture Sept. 27 on American religion, inequality and populism, the culmination of a day of events honoring Candler emeritus professor Jon P. Gunnemann (right). Noted columnist and commentator E.J. Dionne, Jr. will give a public lecture titled, […]…
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 […]…
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 […]…
Attorneys for the city of Phoenix submitted this place card to the Arizona Supreme Court as a sample of the kind of place cards that Brush & Nib Studios would make for heterosexual couples, but refuse to produce for a same-sex wedding. (Courtesy) PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix […]…
For years, discussion over the public display of the Ten Commandments has animated Alabama’s political landscape. The issue is so energizing, it seems, that many politicians frame their own races through the lens of this battle––that support for their candidacy is a vote for the Ten Commandments. Even so, […]…
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…
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…
Click here to view full article at sputniknews.com US currency A federal appeals court shot down on Tuesday a lawsuit challenging the use of the US national motto on printed money. The phrase, “In God We Trust,” has long been a point of contention for secular Americans. The 8th Circuit…
Click here to view full article at www1.cbn.com Parents in Maine who want to use school choice funds to send their children to religious schools aren’t being allowed to participate in the state’s school tuition program. Since 1873, Maine has paid for parents in small towns to send their children…
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…
Click here to view full article at www.lawandreligionuk.com The Supreme Court has ruled that it is no longer necessary for NHS Trusts to seek the permission of the Court of Protection in order to withdraw Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) from a patient who has a prolonged disorder of…
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…
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…