Some interesting law & religion stories from around the web this week:
- The Supreme Court struck down a provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and dismissed a case involving California Proposition 8 on standing grounds
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held that for-profit corporations have religious rights. The ruling came in a challenge by Hobby Lobby Stores and Mardel.
- In an abrupt policy reversal, Chinese government officials have told monks in some Tibetan areas that they are now free to worship the Dalai Lama as a “religious leader.”
- The ACLU of New Jersey and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit Monday to stop the state of New Jersey from giving more than $11 million in construction funds to a Christian seminary and a Jewish yeshiva
- The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning the constitutionality of a 2007 Massachusetts law that bars protests in 35-foot buffer zones around abortion clinic entrances. For further discussion see this post.
- After a nearly 11 hour filibuster on Tuesday as well as jeering protests, a Texas abortion bill failed to pass. The bill would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and required all abortions to be performed at designated surgical centers.
- Mosque-building rises as Muslim American clout grows
- And in crisis-hit Athens, a mosque project reveals deep divisions
- President Obama draws criticism after remarks about religious schools in a speech on a visit to Northern Ireland
- The Lawrence, New York, School District has settled a lawsuit for $145,000 that was brought by a former school guidance counselor who alleged he was fired for being viewed as anti-Orthodox.
- In a speech celebrating the retirement of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Prince Charles warns of rising anti-Semitism in Britain
- Hispanic Christians press lawmakers on immigration reform