Here are some important law-and-religion news stories from around the web:

• The new Ukrainian Church expects to be granted legitimacy on January 6^th, formally breaking from Moscow-based authority.
• A Texas federal district court did not dismiss a claim brought under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act made by parents who challenged school grooming standards that prevented their children from participating in extra-curricular activities.
• On Wednesday, U.S.-based Roman Catholic bishops began a weeklong retreat regarding the sexual abuse scandal that will reportedly focus on prayer and spiritual reflection rather than formulating policy.
• Two women entered the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, sparking protests by conservative Hindu groups despite the Indian Supreme Court’s lifting of the ban on female entrants.
• Three Hui mosques in the Chinese province of Yunnan were closed on Saturday because of “illegal worship.”
• The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, located in Anchorage, Alaska, adopted a new policy allowing any borough resident to submit a written request to offer an invocation before the assembly, including Christian pastors, atheists, and a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
• An Algerian church in Ait-Jimaa village has been ordered to close due to non-compliance with a government registration law for non-Muslim places of worship.
• The Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a complaint against two purportedly religious displays in the Camden County courthouse after a member requested their removal.
• La Lomita Chapel, with the assistance of Georgetown Law School, has denied the federal government’s request to survey the property for a border wall.
• Ali Erbas, the head of Turkey’s Diyanet, said that Islam is a religion of peace during the opening ceremony of the second annual meeting of European Muslims in Cologne, Germany.
• New Jersey state senator Joe Pennachio has called for the Senate to condemn Sens. Kamala Harris and Mazie Hirono for comments he believes are anti-Catholic and bigoted.