legal cases
Mistrial after jury deadlock in Danny Masterson rape case
By Brian Melley and Andrew Dalton — December 1, 2022
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge declared a mistrial after jurors, who were leaning strongly toward acquitting the “That ’70s Show” actor, deadlocked following the monthlong trial in which the Church of Scientology played a supporting role.
Air Force ordered to pay more than $230M in church shooting
By Terry Wallace — February 8, 2022
(AP) — A federal judge had ruled in July that the Air Force was '60% liable' for the 2017 massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas, because it failed to submit the killer's assault conviction during his time in the Air Force to a national database.
Rabbi hurt in California synagogue shooting admits fraud
By Elliot Spagat — July 15, 2020
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Goldstein, who lost a finger in the shooting at Chabad of Poway, admitted to collecting fake donations to the synagogue.
A court win for Standing Rock gives new life to defenders of sacred land
By Michael D. McNally — April 1, 2020
(RNS) — A federal judge’s call for an environmental study may not stop oil from flowing, but it brings some vindication for indigenous people’s fight to protect the sacred, in the courts and on the ground.
How do we weigh a floral designer’s dignity and freedom against state coercion?
By Kristen Waggoner — March 18, 2020
(RNS) — A compassionate response to differences in our beliefs is what our society needs, not government officials more interested in shaming those with whom they disagree.
Cardinal Pell’s appeal verdict due but may not be final word
By Rod McGuirk — August 20, 2019
(AP) — Three judges could acquit he 78-year-old former Vatican finance minister, order a retrial or they could reject his appeal.
Indiana teacher fired for same-sex marriage sues archdiocese
By Ken Kusmer — July 11, 2019
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Joshua Payne-Elliott said, 'We hope that this case will put a stop to the targeting of LGBTQ employees and their families.'
British forced abortion case signals broader change in pro-choice argument
By Charles C. Camosy — June 28, 2019
(RNS) — The British case shows that the sacredness of letting patients or their surrogates make decisions based on their own values can be discarded when the decision is about abortion.
I was an expert witness against a teacher who taught students to question the Holocaust
By Jennifer Rich — May 30, 2019
(The Conversation) — When it comes to what a New Jersey teacher let or encouraged his students to believe when it comes to Hitler and the Holocaust, his lessons weren’t just wrong, they were dangerous.
Owners of biblical Noah’s Ark replica sue over rain damage to property
By Andrew Wolfson — May 24, 2019
(USA Today) — The owner of the life-size replica of Noah’s Ark in northern Kentucky has sued its insurers for refusing to cover rain damage.
Kenyan court upholds bans on gay intimacy
By Fredrick Nzwili — May 24, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) – A ruling in favor of repeal would have been a trailblazing step for an Africa court, but the three-judge bench said there was not sufficient evidence of discrimination.
Unification Church succession case threatens protections for minority religions
By Peter Petkoff — March 21, 2019
(RNS) — If an obscure D.C. court decision about the movement known as 'the Moonies' goes unchallenged, it could weaken religious freedom protections for all Americans.
Christians and Jews agree: The Bladensburg Cross is no secular symbol
By Holly Hollman — February 26, 2019
(RNS) — Claiming that a cross is a generic memorial to all the war dead ignores real differences in our religions' teachings about eternal life and violates the fundamental aspect of religious liberty.
India’s Supreme Court threatens hereditary priesthood at Jagannath temple
By Priyadarshini Sen — December 21, 2018
PURI, India (RNS) — Replacing their hereditary rights to perform temple rituals with salaried, merit-based priests, say the workers at the Jagannath Temple here, would corrupt a centuries-old practice.
Blasphemy law is repealed in Ireland but remains a problem for Christian and Muslims
By Steve Pinkerton — November 8, 2018
(The Conversation) — In an increasingly pluralist, multicultural West, blasphemy laws find fresh purpose in policing intolerance between religious communities.
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