Civic

Commentary on RLUIPA and Religious Freedom by Charles Haynes

June 12, 2005

Source: First Amendment Center Press Release

http://www.fac.org/commentary.aspx?id=15411

On June 12, 2005 a First Amendment Center Press Release reported, "for all nine justices of the current U.S. Supreme Court to agree on anything is rare enough. But when the topic is religion, a unanimous decision borders on the miraculous. Well, prepare to say 'amen.' On May 31, the Court ruled 9-0 that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) does not violate the...

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Opinion: Religious Hatred Bill Would Threaten Artists' Freedom of Expression

June 11, 2005

Source: The Scotsman

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=641712005

On June 11, 2005 The Scotsman ran an opinion piece by Joyce McMillan on the proposed religious hatred bill in the U.K. legislature. McMillan writes about the law's potential effect on the arts: "In the Birmingham case [of the Sikh boycott of the play 'Dishonor'], and in many others, the police apparently felt unable or unwilling to defend the theatres involved against the threat of...

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Opinion: Anti-Hate Bill Will Promote, Not Prevent, Hatred

June 10, 2005

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,1503474,00.html

On June 10, 2005 The Guardian ran an opinion piece by Polly Toynbee on the re-introduced religious hatred bill in the U.K. legislature. Toynbee writes, "This bill is not 'closing a loophole' as Labour claims, but marches right into dangerous new terrain. Here is an example: it is now illegal to describe an ethnic group as feeble-minded. But under this law I couldn't call...

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Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies Looks to the Future of Interreligious Dialogue

June 10, 2005

Source: The Tidings Corporation

http://www.the-tidings.com/2005/0610/buddhist.htm

On June 10, 2005 The Tidings Corporation reported, "interreligious dialogue nurtured by Pope John Paul II must continue to evolve under Pope Benedict XVI's papacy or global ethnic and religious conflicts will escalate, said Buddhist and Christian leaders attending an international religious conference at Loyola Marymount University June 3-8. As one of the first major interreligious...

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"One Table, Many Voices" and the Interfaith Efforts Against Hunger

June 10, 2005

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_2795937

On June 10, 2005 Religion News Service reported, "Religious leaders from around the country and across the political spectrum have launched a widespread political campaign to end hunger in the United States. They are calling on Congress to pass a hunger-related bill and demanding President Bush not cut federal funding of poverty and hunger programs.  'Arguably it is...

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Home Office Explains that Anti-Hate Bill Protects Religious Minorities

June 9, 2005

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,1503008,00.html

On June 9, 2005 The Guardian reported, "The controversial bill against incitement to religious hatred would protect Satanists, pagans and atheists as well as followers of more mainstream religions, the Home Office said today.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins said the legislation, published today, would protect people against being victimised for 'any religious...

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Advocacy Group Accuses Judicial Nominee of Subverting Religious Pluralism

June 9, 2005

Source: Americans United for Separation of Church and State press release

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/nominations/details.cfm?id=32172

On June 9, 2005 an Americans United for Separation of Church and State press release reported, "the Bush administration's crusade to pack the federal courts with extremists scored another victory today with the Senate's confirmation of William Pryor, said Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Quickly...

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Religious Hatred Bill Reintroduced

June 9, 2005

Source: 4NI

http://www.4ni.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=41389

On June 9, 2005 4NI reported, "The government has published a bill aimed at protecting individuals from religious hatred. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, which is being reintroduced to Parliament today, would protect members of all faiths from incited hatred. The Bill would create a new offence of Incitement to Religious Hatred, which would carry a maximum penalty of seven years in jail. The government says...

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Orange County Public School Graduation Moved from Megachurch After Complaints

June 8, 2005

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-saddleback8jun08,1,2612556.story?coll=la-news-state

On June 8, 2005 the Los Angeles Times reported, "two Orange County public schools canceled this month's graduation ceremonies at a Lake Forest church after complaints they were violating the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state. Marc Lipoff, a senior at Northwood High School...

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Tulsa Zoo Exhibit Adds Creation Display Near Image of Ganesh

June 8, 2005

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/168/story_16811_1.html

On June 8, 2005 The Associated Press reported, "the Tulsa Zoo will add a display featuring the biblical account of creation following complaints to a city board about other displays with religious significance, including a Hindu elephant statue.

The Tulsa Park and Recreation Board voted 3-1 on Tuesday in favor of a display depicting God's creation of the world in six days and...

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New Vermont Interfaith Group Will Address Social Issues

June 8, 2005

Source: Times Argus

Wire Service: AP

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050608/NEWS/506080321/1003/NEWS02

On June 8, 2005 the Associated Press reported, "A number of Vermont religious groups are planning to work together on social issues such as health care and affordable housing. The Vermont Interfaith Action group, now made up of religious leaders from the Chittenden County area,...

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At the National Cathedral, an Interfaith Event Calls for the End of Hunger

June 7, 2005

Source: National Council of Churches News Service

http://www.ncccusa.org/news/050608EndHunger.html

On June 7, 2005 the National Council of Churches News Service reported, "With fervor and conviction, religious leaders from Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist traditions, urged more than 1,000 participants in yesterday’s first Interfaith Convocation on Hunger at the Washington National Cathedral to advocate for the end of hunger in the...

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WCC Conference Aimed at Translating Interreligious Dialogue into Action

June 6, 2005

Source: The Christian Post

http://www.christianpost.com/article/church/2107/section/translating.inter-religious.dialogue.into.action/1.htm

On June 6, 2005 The Christian Post reported, "Representatives from the major faith communities will gather in Geneva, Switzerland this week for a Critical Moment Conference that will address the difficulties facing interreligious relations in the globalized world....

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