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

• Interfaith leaders find common ground promoting Internet freedom.
• China is preparing to ordain a second bishop with the Pope’s approval, a possible sign of easing relations between the Chinese government and the Vatican.
• The first journalist from an American Jewish pro-Israel publication to be given an Iranian visa since 1979 reported Wednesday that he had found little evidence to suggest that Iran wanted to destroy Israel, as widely asserted by critics of the Iranian nuclear agreement.
• Mumbai’s police chief has ordered an investigation into raids on hotels and lodges in the city’s suburbs in which unmarried couples were pulled out of their rooms and accused of “indecent public behavior.” The raids are viewed by many as an example of “moral policing.” 
• A state appeals court in Colorado ruled Thursday that a baker could not cite religious beliefs in refusing to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
• Islamic State militants on Tuesday released 22 Christians they had held captive since February, following mediation by tribal leaders, activists said
• The Pope’s climate push could be at odds with U.S. Catholic oil investments.
• An anti-Muslim group cannot post ads on buses in Washington state showing photos of wanted terrorists and wrongly claiming the FBI offers a $25 million reward for one of their captures, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
• Following a Texas Supreme Court ruling that the city must repeal its equal rights ordinance or place it on the November ballot, conservative opponents sued Mayor Annise Parker.
• Maryland’s largest school system is considering a policy to guide decisions about its annual school calendar, a move that comes nine months after officials set off a wave of public anger by scrubbing the calendar of religious holiday names, including Christmas.
  • For CLR’s take on the Maryland policy, please see this post.