Some interesting law and religion news stories from around the web this week:
- A Superior Court judge in Sutter County, California has ordered a Sikh Temple to drop one of its by-laws requiring a quorum of fifty percent of all Temple members in order to challenge an action taken by the Temple’s board of directors. The attorney representing the Temple stated that the order is an unconstitutional interference in the Temple’s internal governance.
- Legislators in Texas are proposing a change to their State’s Constitution to strengthen religious freedom. The change would prohibit any burden on a person’s religious exercise unless necessary to further a compelling state interest.
- At its January 9 conference, the Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the four Sixth Circuit cases regarding State same-sex marriage bans. If the Court votes in favor of granting review at that meeting, the cases could be scheduled for briefing, oral argument, and a final decision in the current term.
- Adjunct faculty members of Pacific Lutheran University were granted the right to form a labor union by the National Labor Relations Board. The board rejected the university’s assertion that, as a religious institution, it is exempt from the NLRB’s jurisdiction.
- A Pennsylvania trial court has denied a Muslim’s request to take her oath as a witness using the Quran.
- In response to a statement in support of an anti-conversion law by India’s ruling party, the leader of India’s most powerful Hindu group has vowed to press ahead with a campaign to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.
- The Allahabad High Court in India has ruled that the religious conversion of girls solely for the purpose of marriage to Muslim boys is not valid.
- Hindu groups in Nepal have called for the British government to remove its ambassador after he publicly encouraged the government “to ensure that the right to change religion is protected.”
- The Dutch government has announced that Pakistani Christians will be designated as a “high risk group,” opening the door for them to receive special considerations as refugees in the country.
- Pope Francis has encouraged persecuted Christians in the Middle East to remain in the region. In a Christmas greeting, the Pope said the mere presence of the tiny Christian community in the Middle East is more important than any service the Church can provide there.
- The Belgian Minister for Animal Welfare has assured the European Jewish Association that kosher slaughter will continue to be allowed, months after threatening a ban that would have called the practice into question.