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

• The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a press release condemning the Sudanese government for its continuing prosecution of two Christian clergymen on “baseless charges of undermining Sudan’s constitution and waging war against the state.”
• An Oregon tax court approved the denial of tax exemption for a Catholic rectory, finding that it did not meet the requirement of being necessary to further religious objectives.
• US-based rights group Sikhs For Justice filed a lawsuit against Facebook for blocking its FB page exposing the plight of religious minorities in India, allegedly at the behest of government of India.
• The Connecticut Senate passed a bill that added several bureaucratic obstacles to the statements parents must submit to receive a religious exemption to vaccination requirements.
• A new law in Nevada enables parents to receive state funds through an education saving account for their child to attend private school or home-based education.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the international community’s failure to speak out against renewed rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel, the third attack in two weeks.
• American Pastor is detained in military prison while visiting pastors imprisoned in Sudan (interview).
• Pope Francis visited Bosnia and called for religious and ethnic reconciliation.
• The Association of Islamic Charitable Projects, in Philadelphia, is working to build stronger communities within its immediate West Philadelphia neighborhood and beyond, using a mix of religion and education.