- new2 New USCIRF Appointments Announced
According to a press release issued on Thursday by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom two new appointments to the 9-member Commission have recently been made. On May 11, President Obama announced his appointment of the Reverend W…
- 7 hours ago, 20 May 12, 2:07am -
- Contribution To Church Denied Deductibility For Inadequate Receipt
In Durden v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, (T.C., May 17, 2012), the U.S. Tax Court denied a $25,171 tax deduction for contributions to the Nevertheless Community Church made in 2007 by David and Veronda Durden. While the taxpayers produced reco…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 6:00pm -
- Court Rejects Compelled Religious Speech Challenge To Oklahoma License Plates
In Cressman v. Thompson, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68236 (WD OK, May 16, 2012), and Oklahoma federal district court rejected a claim by an Oklahoma driver that the picture on the state's standard license plates compel him to express a message contrary t…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 11:40am -
- European Court Upholds Spain's Firing of Married Priest As Teacher
In Fernández Martínez v. Spain, (ECHR, May 15 2012), (opinion in French, English press release) the European Court of Human Rights in a Chamber judgment (which is appealable to the Grand Chamber) upheld the decision not to renew the contract of a…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 11:15am -
- Kuwait's Emir Blocks Proposed Constitutional Amendment Requiring Islamic Law
According to a report today in The Peninsula, the Emir of Kuwait-- whose approval is needed for any constitutional change-- has blocked a proposal to amend the constitution to require all Kuwaiti legislation to comply with Islamic law. The amendme…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 11:10am -
- 2nd Circuit Creates Fact-Specific Test For Constitutionality of Prayer At City Council Meetings
In Galloway v. Town of Greece, (2d Cir., May 17, 2012), the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, in a case of first impression for it, created an extremely fact-dependent test for determining the constitutionality of opening meetings of legislative bo…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 11:05am -
- Professor Sues Over University's Reaction To His Criticism of Muslims
AP reported yesterday on a lawsuit filed on May 10 in an Indiana state court by an Orthodox Jewish professor, Maurice Eisenstein, who claims that other faculty and administrators at Purdue University Calumet conspired to ruin his reputation over comm…
- 2 days ago, 18 May 12, 11:00am -
- Israeli Council To Recommend Memorial Day Reading Omit "God"
Haaretz reports today that in Israel, the Public Council for Soldiers' Commemoration will recommend to Defense Minister Ehud Barak that in Memorial Day ceremonies at military cemeteries the service use a remembrance reading that does not mention God…
- 3 days ago, 17 May 12, 11:20am -
- 11th Circuit: Christian School's Reason For Firing Pregnant Teacher Is Jury Question
In Hamilton v. Southland Christian School, Inc., (11th Cir., May 16, 2012), the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's dismissal of a lawsuit by a former teacher at a Christian school in St. Cloud, Florida, who was fired after…
- 3 days ago, 17 May 12, 11:15am -
- Bishops Submit Comments On Proposed Contraceptive Coverage Mandate
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops yesterday submitted its formal comments on the Department of Health and Human Services Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking relating to health insurance coverage of contraceptive services. The Advance Notice…
- 3 days ago, 17 May 12, 11:10am -