Law & Court
Radical British preacher Anjem Choudary faces May trial on terrorism charges
By Associated Press — August 7, 2023
LONDON (AP) — Choudary, 56, is also charged with two other counts under the Terrorism Act: membership in a banned organization, the radical Muslim group al-Muhajiroun, and addressing meetings to encourage support for the organization over the past year.
For many Pittsburgh Jews, Robert Bowers deserves the death penalty
By Yonat Shimron — August 3, 2023
(RNS) — The execution may be years or decades away, if it happens at all, but for the country’s worst act of antisemitism the death penalty sent a message that hatred of Jews should never be tolerated.
Court affirms sex abuse conviction of ex-friar who worked at a Catholic school in Mississippi
By Associated Press — August 3, 2023
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Leflore County jurors in April 2022 found West guilty of one count of sexual battery and one count of gratification of lust.
After synagogue gunman’s death sentence, Pittsburgh’s Jews feel relief, resilience — and gratitude
By Ron Kampeas — August 3, 2023
PITTSBURGH (JTA) — The overriding feeling in this city now that the gunman convicted of murdering 11 Jews here in 2018 has been sentenced to death is gratitude.
Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and education group sue to stop US’s first public religious school
By Associated Press — August 1, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group of parents, faith leaders, and a public education nonprofit sued Monday to stop Oklahoma from establishing and funding what would be the nation’s first religious public charter school.
Defense presses case that mental illness spurred Pittsburgh synagogue massacre
By Associated Press — July 31, 2023
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The defense argues Bowers has schizophrenia and acted out of a delusional belief that Jews were participating in a genocide of white people.
Prosecutor cites risky investments as ‘grave’ violations, in closing of Vatican financial case
By Nicole Winfield — July 20, 2023
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi opened two weeks of hearings to summarize his case by accusing officials in the Vatican secretariat of state of committing “grave violations” of internal norms and canon law.
How the pro-religion court rulings may end up hurting conservative Christianity
By Steven Waldman — July 19, 2023
(RNS) — These victories will lead to all sorts of activists making religious liberty claims to advance their goals, and they won’t always be conservative.
Officials file more charges, but not hate crimes, against man accused of attacking Muslim lawmaker
By Dave Collins — July 19, 2023
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Desmond was initially charged with misdemeanors, including third-degree assault and unlawful restraint, after the June 28 attack on Khan outside a Hartford arena where the Muslim prayer service was held.
The Hindus fighting against ‘caste consciousness’
By Richa Karmarkar — July 17, 2023
(RNS) — An ongoing fight in the California Legislature and the courts focuses not on caste discrimination itself but whether efforts to end it only make it worse.
Where will SCOTUS draw the line on religious liberty?
By Mark Silk — July 13, 2023
(RNS) — At this point it’s impossible to say.
New Jersey man admits posting broad online threat to synagogues
By Associated Press — July 13, 2023
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Authorities have said they did not believe Alkattoul had the means to carry out any specific attack.
The Pittsburgh synagogue gunman should be eligible for the death penalty, prosecutor argues
By Peter Smith — July 13, 2023
PITTSBURGH (AP) — To reach the threshold of eligibility, the jury must conclude Bowers formed the intent to kill and that there was at least one aggravating factor that made the crime especially heinous.
A business can decline service based on its beliefs, Supreme Court rules – but what will this look like in practice?
By Charles J. Russo — July 12, 2023
(The Conversation) — A designer opposed to same-sex marriage argued that a Colorado anti-discrimination law would effectively force her to speak against her beliefs.
It’s a Christian mandate to create a society where all flourish — SCOTUS keeps undermining it
By Sally Vonner — July 10, 2023
(RNS) — Affirmative action may not have been perfect, but that does not mean that we abolish it, rather we stay committed to do better.
