religious freedom
One year after Meriam Ibrahim’s release, two Christians face possible death penalty in Sudan
By Fredrick Nzwili — May 20, 2015
(RNS) The Rev. Michael Yat and the Rev. Peter Yein Reith, both from the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, have been charged with undermining the constitutional system and spying.
5 takeaways from the new report by US Commission on International Religious Freedom
By Brian Pellot — May 5, 2015
(RNS) The Central African Republic is bad, Malaysia is getting worse, and ISIS fighters should face the International Criminal Court.
Faith leaders call for religious protections ahead of gay marriage hearing
By David Gibson — April 24, 2015
(RNS) Christian leaders have issued a call to civil authorities to preserve “the unique meaning of marriage in the law” -- but also to “protect the rights of those with differing views of marriage.”
Affirmation is not a civil right, and it cannot be coerced (COMMENTARY)
By Jacob Lupfer — April 14, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) If the holdouts eventually abandon their religious opposition to homosexuality, it will be because of persuasion, not coercion.
The long history of sexual baiting in America’s effort to extend civil rights (COMMENTARY)
By William J. Barber II — April 9, 2015
(RNS) The pattern is clear: Whenever established power brokers have felt threatened in America’s history, they have responded by stirring up sexual fears.
A ‘religious freedom’ proposal that I can agree with (COMMENTARY)
By Jay Michaelson — April 6, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) A Kansas pastor floats an idea that enables small businesses to maintain their religious scruples in a way that doesn’t smack of discrimination. And I'm all for it.
Beef ban * Witch hunts * Too much Guinness : March’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — April 1, 2015
An Indian state bans the sale and possession of beef. Tanzanians murder “witches” accused of murdering “magical albinos.” And Ireland nearly outlaws straight marriage, on accident. Who needs April Fools’ Day when reality is this strange?
How to treat gays with dignity while respecting religious freedom (COMMENTARY)
By Trevin Wax — March 31, 2015
(RNS) Treating the LGBT rights/religious freedom conversation as a zero-sum game where one can only “win” at the expense of the other is actually a “no-win” for all of us.
Indianapolis mayor calls state’s ‘Religious freedom’ bill a ‘wrong signal’
By Reuters — March 26, 2015
Church leaders and the GOP mayor of Indianapolis want the Indiana governor to veto, not sign, a bill that gives legal protection to business owners who refuse to serve gay couples.
Gamer convention could leave Indiana over religious freedom bill
By Reuters — March 25, 2015
(Reuters) Seattle-based Gen Con's Chief Executive Adrian Swartout said in a letter to the governor that diverse attendance is important to its annual convention, which it says has a $50 million yearly impact on Indianapolis.
NJ private school forces teacher to remove Facebook page after anti-gay posts
By Alex Napoliello — March 12, 2015
SOMERVILLE, N.J. (RNS) A Catholic high school teacher was forced to remove her Facebook page Wednesday (March 11) after a petition surfaced online calling attention to her "homophobic" posts.
Could Tibetan Buddhism BE any more political right now?
By Brian Pellot — March 10, 2015
The Dalai Lama says he won’t be reincarnated in China if Tibet is not free and that no one (cough...China) can choose his successor “for political ends.” Now who’s being political?
Supreme Court wrestles with accommodating religious faith on the job
By Lauren Markoe — February 25, 2015
(RNS) A fashionista teen wears her headscarf to an Abercrombie & Fitch interview and doesn't get the job. Now her religious freedom case is the Supreme Court's to decide.
In major move, Mormon apostles call for statewide LGBT protections
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — January 27, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) The move, one LGBT advocates have been pushing for years, provides a major boost for the prospects of of a state nondiscrimination statute.
In parting shot, Obama prods India on religious freedom
By Frank Jack Daniel — January 27, 2015
NEW DELHI (RNS) Obama's speech was widely interpreted as a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party, whose rise to power emboldened activists to declare India a nation of Hindus.