May 1, 2015 - LAW AND RELIGION FORUM

Posted on May 1, 2015 by

Around the Web This Week

Some interesting law and religion news stories from around the web this week:

An administrative law judge has proposed damages in the amount of $135,000 to be issued against the Oregon bakery that was found to have violated the Oregon Equality Act by refusing to provide a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
The fundraising site GoFundMe has closed the account that was set up to raise money on behalf of the bakery. The site stated that the fundraising campaign violated its terms and conditions.
On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to revisit its decision ordering the Michigan Catholic Conference to comply with the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges on Tuesday, the case dealing with the issue of gay marriage.
- During the oral argument, Justice Alito questioned what effect the finding of a constitutional right to gay marriage would have on the tax-exempt status of religious institutions.
An appeals court in Kentucky has held that a Christian T-shirt company could not be forced to print T-shirts for a local gay pride event.
On Tuesday, the Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo was in Manhattan speaking at an event in order to raise awareness of the persecuted Christians in Syria.
A number of religious freedom leaders have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to fill the State Department’s ambassador for religious freedom position. The position has remained vacant for months, despite the ongoing religious persecution in the Middle East.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a Private Members’ Business Motion calling on the executive branch to legislate in favor of same sex marriage. The motion was defeated by a vote of 49 to 47.
The United Kingdom Independence Party has outlined proposals to introduce a conscience clause into the existing equality law. The proposal would extend religious exemptions to those expressing an objection in religious conscience in the workplace.
The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, the hierarchical see of the Armenian Apostolic Church, filed a lawsuit in the Turkish Constitutional Court to regain ownership of its historic headquarters. The headquarters were confiscated by the Turkish Government following the Armenian genocide.

Posted on May 1, 2015July 26, 2016 by

Stephens, “Canon Law and Episcopal Authority: The Canons of Antioch and Serdica”

In June, Oxford University Press will release “Canon Law and Episcopal Authority: The Canons of Antioch and Serdica” by Christopher Stephens (University of Roehampton). The publisher’s description follows:

Christopher W. B. Stephens focuses on canon law as the starting point for a new interpretation of divisions between East and West in the Church after the death of Constantine the Great. He challenges the common assumption that bishops split between “Nicenes” and “non-Nicenes,” “Arians” or “Eusebians.” Instead, he argues that questions of doctrine took second place to disputes about the status of individual bishops and broader issues of the role of ecclesiastical councils, the nature of episcopal authority, and in particular the supremacy of the bishop of Rome.

Canon law allows the author to offer a fresh understanding of the purposes of councils in the East after 337, particularly the famed Dedication Council of 341 and the western meeting of the council of Serdica and the canon law written there, which elevated the bishop of Rome to an authority above all other bishops. Investigating the laws they wrote, the author describes the power struggles taking place in the years following 337 as bishops sought to elevate their status and grasp the opportunity for the absolute form of leadership Constantine had embodied.

Combining a close study of the laws and events of this period with broader reflections on the nature of power and authority in the Church and the increasingly important role of canon law, the book offers a fresh narrative of one of the most significant periods in the development of the Church as an institution and of the bishop as a leader.

Posted on May 1, 2015July 26, 2016 by

“Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History” (Thomas & Chesworth, eds.)

In July, Brill will release “Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History” edited by David Thomas (University of Birmingham) and John Chesworth (University of Birmingham). The publisher’s description follows:

Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History, volume 7 (CMR 7),
covering Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America in the period 1500-1600, is a continuing volume in a general history of relations between the two faiths from the seventh century to the early 20th century. It comprises introductory essays and the main body of detailed entries which treat all the works, surviving or lost, that have been recorded. These entries provide biographical details of the authors, descriptions and assessments of the works themselves, and complete accounts of manuscripts, editions, translations and studies. The result of collaboration between numerous leading scholars, CMR 7, along with the other volumes in this series, is intended as a basic tool for research in Christian-Muslim relations.