En su Asamblea Ordinaria celebrada el pasado 18 de abril, el Consejo Argentino para la Libertad Religiosa (CALIR) eligió a las nuevas autoridades de la institución para el período 2012-2014, de acuerdo al detalle que abajo se consigna. El CALIR tiene su origen en el Consejo Asesor de la Secretaría de Culto, convocado por Norberto Padilla durante su gestión al frente de dicha cartera (1999/2001). Ya desde el ámbito privado, la asociación viene trabajando desde el año 2002 en la promoción de la libertad religiosa en todas sus dimensiones, procurando mejorar la legislación, educar para la convivencia y la paz, y contribuir desde la valoración positiva del hecho religioso al ejercicio de las responsabilidades sociales y al aprecio de la cultura nacional en su pluralidad, sin discriminaciones. La Comisión Directiva para el período 2012-2014 quedó conformada del modo que sigue: Presidente: Octavio Lo Prete; Vicepresidente 1º: Waldo L.Villalpando; Vicepresidente 2º: Mario Burman; Secretario: Ricardo Docampo; Tesorero: David A. Frol; Vocales: Susana E. El Kadri de Hallar; Darío M. Bruno; Luis D. Mendiola; Juan G. Navarro Floria; Norberto Padilla; Horacio R. Bermúdez y Raúl J. Scialabba; Revisores de Cuentas: Gustavo A. Grancharoff e Hilario H. Wynarczyk. Más información: http://www.calir.org.ar/. Twitter: @InfoCalir. Buenos aires, abril de 2012.
Religion isn't dying, nor should it, said Tony Blair in a 2 January 2012 blogpost "Faith in a Globalized Age," published on New Europe Online. The former British Prime Minister note that "for years, it was assumed, certainly in the West, that, as society developed, religion would wither away. But it hasn't, and, at the start of a new decade, it is time to take religion seriously." To that end Blair has created a Faith Foundation, "to create greater understanding between the faiths."
In a companion post, "Taking Faith Seriously," published the same day,... more
23 November 2011. Though admitting that the law "does infringe on religious freedom," a British Columbia Supreme Court has upheld Canada's polygamy laws. In a 335-page decision released on Wednesday, Chief Justice Robert Bauman ruled in favour of the section of the Criminal Code outlawing polygamous unions. In his ruling, Bauman said that the law is justified given the harm polygamy causes to children, women, and "the institution of monogamous marriage." However, suggested Justice Bauman, the law should not be used to criminalize minors who find themselves married into polygamous unions.
25 November 2011. Canada has "as many double standards on polygamy as Solomon had wives. (Tabatha Southey, The Globe and Mail via Worldwide Religious News)
Friday, 4 November 2011, marked significant events for the European Court of Human Rights. On that day the judge elected in respect of France, Mr. André Potocki, was sworn in by the new Court President Sir Nicolas Bratza, whose term of office also began on the same day.
Three-year terms of office also began on November 4 for new Court Vice-President Judge Josep Casadevall (Andorra) and new Section President, Lech Garlicki (Poland).... more
4 May 2012. Ghent seminar on empirical face veil research (May 9). (Saïla Ouald Chaib, Strasbourg Observers)
10 February 2012. Banning the burqa and the European identity crisis. (Mauits Berger, Jurist)
31 January 2012. EU: Dutch government implements ban on face-covering clothing. (eGov Monitor)
28 October 2011. Breaking the law by just stepping out. (Angelique Chrisafis -Guardian News & Media Ltd, Gulf News)
22 September 2011. France court fines two women for wearing niqab, or full-face veil, in first action since ban took effect.... more
24 March 2011 - Geneva (Updated through 7 April 2011)
From the Associated Press: The U.N.'s top human rights body has replaced its traditional condemnation of religious 'defamation' with a resolution... more
13 April 2011 - European Parliament, Committee on Petitions
Following the recent judgment (Lautsi and Others v. Italy, no. 30814/06) of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the presence of crucifixes in Italian State-school classrooms, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament on 13.04.2011 discussed a petition [Petition 1594/2010 by Gabriele Cervi (Italian), on maintaining crucifixes in Italian schools] where the petitioner argues in favour of the respect for national identities and traditions of the Member States of the Union with reference to their common heritage and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.