Law and Religion Headlines Europe

Click to see the International Headlines
Click to see United States Headlines
Wednesday, January 30
Annual Parochial Church Meetings, GDPR and trustee disqualification (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Good Friday holidays and discrimination: Cresco v Achatzi (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Austrian Good Friday law ‘discriminatory,’ top EU court rules (Lewis Sanders IV, Deutsche Welle)
Law and religion round-up – 20th January (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Tuesday, January 29
Over 2,000 clergy urge Church of England to reconsider transgender affirmation guidance (Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
The Council of Europe and sharia: an unsatisfactory Resolution (Russell Sandberg, Guest Post, Law & Religion UK)
Sharia, the Cairo Declaration and the European Convention on Human Rights (Resolution 2253 (2019) Provisional version,Partiamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe)
PACE stresses the need to protect human rights, regardless of religious practices (The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe)
Poroshenko signs law on changing subordination of religious orgs (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian officials dispute who decides disposition of church property (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Jehovah’s Witness to spend two months in jail without trial (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
The grant under Austrian law of a paid public holiday on Good Friday only to employees who are members of certain churches constitutes discrimination on grounds of religion prohibited under EU law (Court Press Release, Court of Justice of the European Union)
Cresco Investigation GmbH v Markus Achatzi (the “Good Friday” case) (Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber), Court of Justice of the European Union)
How will generations that didn’t experience the Holocaust remember it? (Timothy Langille, The Conversation)
Auschwitz survivors pay homage as world remembers Holocaust (Vanessa Gera, Religion News)
“Muslim Unity” claims torture of its supporters in Azerbaijani jails (Faik Medzhid, Caucasian Knot)
Monday, January 28
Pessimistic view of case of Danish Jehovah’s Witness (Maksim Kliagin, Orlevskie Novosti)
Prosecutions against religious groups double in Crimea (Evangelical Focus)
A wave of anti-Semitism is bringing secular UK Jews closer to their roots (Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Angela Merkel: ‘Zero tolerance’ of anti-Semitism in Germany (Deutsche Welle)
BBC announces Year of Beliefs examining religion and ethics in modern Britain (Craig Simpson, Press Association, The Independent)
Welsh Government to change law on school RE to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism (Politics)
Amanda Spielman’s war on religion in Great Britain (Jibran Khan, National Review)
More answers to readers’ queries and comments – January (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
BBC features case of Danish Jehovah’s Witness (Viktor Nekhezin, Russia Religion News)
Conclusion of trial of Danish Jehovah’s Witness put off again (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Russian Orthodox Church disagrees with Russia’s inclusion on list of countries discriminating against Christians (Interfax-Religion)
Huge international expression of support for Jehovah’s Witnesses (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Ukrainian government identifies Russian churches within its borders (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Moscow church leader acknowledges religious persecution in Russia (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
American diplomat courts Ukrainian churches (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Greek bishop convicted over comments attacking gays (Associated Press)
A tale of two sanctuary churches: Congregants in Ohio and the Netherlands find ‘instant connection’ (Tania Karas, PRI)
Temples to Goddesses found at site of male-only Olympic games (Philippe Bohstrom, Haaretz)
BBC ‘Year of Beliefs’ to shine light on faith and values in modern UK (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Newcastle Islamic school staff ‘afraid’ after racist vandalism (Poppy Noor, The Guardian)
Putin guides Erdogan along the Road to Damascus (Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Pope Francis names two navy chaplains as military auxiliary bishops (Gary Nguyen, World Religion News)
Armenian parliamentary member singled out in Turkey (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Sunday, January 27
Law and religion round-up – 27th January (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Friday, January 25
Why the New York Knicks keep dunking on Erdogan (Steven A. Cook, Foreign Policy)
Permanence of Christian burial revisited – III (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Czech lawmakers adopt common definition of anti-Semitism (Associated Press)
Anti-Semitism on rise in Ukraine – Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian authorities’ interference with religious life unacceptable – Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (Interfax-Religion)
Crimea: Four years’ jail for mosque meetings (Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Thursday, January 24
Discrimination based on religious grounds: employee’s refusal to shake hands with women (Lexology)
A warning from India for European liberals on how to manage relations with Muslim minorities (Joerg Friedrichs, The Conversation)
Digital technology offers new ways to teach lessons from the Holocaust (Jennifer Rich, The Conversation)
‘Induced’ deaths rise in Netherlands, sparking concerns from doctors, ethicists (Catholic News Agency)
Turkey builds first new church on Christian graveyard (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Landmark church project stirs mixed sentiments in Turkey (Sibel Hurtas, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Turkey rejects attempt to investigate dink murder (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Amid wall debate, pope says fear of migration makes us crazy (Nicole Winfield, Religion News)
European Parliament: ‘All religions in China are persecuted’. The case of Catholics (Bernardo Cervellera, Asia News)
Vote against laws restricting religious clothing in public office divides Geneva (Le News)
Municipal cemetery regulations and the High Court: Ul Haq (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Church statements on Bishop George Bell (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Closing arguments in trial of Danish Jehovah’s Witness (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Italian bishops’ immigration push could lead to new political party (Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Belgium’s top court hears arguments on kosher/ halal slaughter ban (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
European Court: Austria’s law giving Good Friday off only for Christians violates EU directive (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, January 23
Belgian High Court hears shechitah ban case (Rafael Hoffman, Hamodia)
Trial on the ban to interpret Koran reminds problems with list of extremist materials (Rustam Djalilov, Caucasian Knot)
Three Holocaust survivors open up about the rising tide of anti-semitism (The Times)
Northern Ireland bomb is a warning we can’t ignore (Naomi O’Leary, Politico)
Can Bosnia’s path to peace and environmental protection be replicated in the Middle East? (Austin Bodetti, The New Arab)
How a teen’s death has become a political weapon (Yascha Mounk, The New Yorker)
Austrian holiday unfairly favors Protestants, EU Court rules (William Dotinga, Courthouse News Service)
Jewish journalist who covered Belgium’s ritual slaughter ban enters politics to end it (Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
New church of Ukraine in contact with SBU, but doesn’t coordinate actions – Filaret (Interfax-Religion)
Poroshenko hopes for growth of new Ukrainian church (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Court takes Jehovah’s Witnesses’ property in Kostroma oblast (Website of Prosecutor’s Office of Kostroma oblast, Russia Religion News)
Far-right lawmakers walk out of Holocaust tribute in Bavaria (Associated Press)
Czech lawmakers approve taxation of church restitution plan (Associated Press)
Tuesday, January 22
Cast in Russia as ‘enemy within’, Jehovah’s Witnesses see Soviet history replay (Andrew Osborn, Reuters)
Why do Muslim women wear a hijab? (Caitlin Killian, The Conversation)
Russian religious regression creates opportunity for Protestant churches (Katey Hearth, Mission Network News)
Religion, Greece and Macedonia: Why clerical rage over the “Macedonian question” has modern roots (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Group of Ukrainian parliamentarians challenges constitutionality of law obliging Ukrainian Orthodox Church to change its name (Interfax-Religion)
Criticism of changes in Ukrainian law on church jurisdiction: Religious liberty under threat (Institute of Religious Liberty, Russia Religion News)
Monday, January 21
Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill: update (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Ukrainian president calls out Moscow churches (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Ukrainian parliament prescribes how parishes may change affiliation (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Almost two-year-long trial of Jehovah’s Witness nears end (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Saturday, January 19
Privatization of Turkish military factory draws strong criticism (Metin Gurcan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Vatican transfers task of Ecclesia Dei to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (Courtney Grogan, Catholic News Agency)
Greeks bridle at historic deal to split Orthodox church from state (Nikolia Apostolou, Religion News)
Friday, January 18
ECHR rules Turkey violated right to assembly of church members (Hürriyet Daily News)
Turkish MP demands investigation into insulting Turkishness (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Putin invited to Belgrade to attend consecration of Cathedral of Saint Sava (Interfax-Religion)
Russia to return page of ancient Gospel to Serbia, Belgrade to return Roerich’s pictures to Russia – Putin (Interfax-Religion)
Rights advocates speculate about Russian president’s intentions (Pavel Skrylnikov, Nezavisimaia Gazeta)
Russian lawmakers threaten restrictive law (Gennady Okorokov, Vecherniaia Moskva)
Pole held for China spying worked on security for pope visit (Associated Press)
Thursday, January 17
EU court finds Turkey violated religious freedom (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Holy cow: Farm animals receive blessing outside St Peter’s Square (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Vatican releases online guide to combat $150 billion human trafficking industry (Courtney Grogan, Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis: ‘God loves you, even if you forget Him’ (Courtney Grogan, Catholic News Agency)
Iraqi Christian village withstands Turkish airstrikes (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Homeschooling parents in Germany lose right to educate their children (Joe Carter, The Gospel Coalition)
Homeschooling and Article 8 ECHR: Wunderlich (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Ukrainian law on joining new church makes seizing churches easier – Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Interfax-Religion)
Rada passes bill on transition of communities from one church to another (Interfax-Religion)
Ukraine’s Opposition Bloc to appeal bill on subordination of religious communities to Constitutional Court (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian leaders celebrate church’s independence (RISU, Russia Religion News)
The immense challenge of preserving Auschwitz (Martin Doerry, Spiegel online)
English bishop: Britain in ‘amazing political mess’ over Brexit (Simon Caldwell, Catholic News Service)
Snowed-in Austrian nuns insist they’re staying put (Associated Press)
Ukraine OKs property law that could affect 12,000 churches (Associated Press)
Wednesday, January 16
Rescuing religious freedom (Elizabeth Oldfield, Theos)
Split between Ukrainian, Russian churches shows political importance of Orthodox Christianity (David Masci, Pew Research Center Factank)
IICSA 7th preliminary hearing on Anglican investigation (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Ukraine wants to re-register Kiev-Pechersk Lavra or take it away from UOC of Moscow Patriarchate – Metropolitan Pavel(Interfax-Religion)
Putin describes establishment of new church in Ukraine as ‘dangerous politicking’ (Interfax-Religion)
Inter-confessional accord in Ukraine sacrificed to Poroshenko’s campaign – Putin (Interfax-Religion)
No entry: Ukrainian crowd blocks priests from church (video) (Ray Furlong, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
Poroshenko holds forth on independence of Ukrainian church (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Ukrainian parliament to view new bill on changing churches (Religiia v Ukraine, Russia Religion News)
Italy’s Super Cup fracas illustrates vexed bond between religion and sports (Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Polish parliament honors slain Gdansk mayor with prayer (Associated Press)
Turkey’s AKP favors Ottoman model over EU’s religious freedom ideals – researcher (Ahval News)
Turkey orders arrest of nearly 200 people over suspected Gulen ties, Hurriyet says (Reuters)
Court rules Turkey violated freedoms of church group (Cara Bentley, Premier)
Chechnya LGBT: Dozens ‘detained in new gay purge’ (BBC News)
German home-schoolers consider appeal after human rights court decision (Alliance Defending Freedom)
German officials did not violate homeschoolers’ rights, European Court says (Catholic News Agency)
European Court upholds removal of children from home schooling (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Tuesday, January 15
Is Europe still Christian? (Isabelle de Gaulmyn and Jean-Christophe Ploquin, La Croix International)
Diabolical liberty? Anger over Spanish city’s ‘friendly’ devil (Sam Jones, The Guardian)
Turks unite to condemn Trump’s threat to ‘devastate’ economy (Jasper Mortimer, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Caritas Rome will continue receiving Trevi Fountain coins, mayor clarifies (Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops to discuss abuse crisis (Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency)
Pope tells Life academy to defend human dignity with courage (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
For Germany’s persecuted Jewish students, Israel is the answer (Benjamin Weinthal, The Jerusalem Post)
Assisted dying and Article 2 ECHR: Mortier (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Poroshenko guarantees protection to those who remain faithful to Moscow Patriarchate (Interfax-Religion)
Apostles lead first open house visitors through Rome Italy Temple (Tad Walch, Deseret News Faith)
Swedish officials block Christian man’s request for ‘Christ’ on car plate, fearing it may cause ‘offense’ (Lukas Mikelionis, Fox News)
European human rights court to hear landmark case over mom euthanized for depression (Samuel Smith, Christian Post)
Report: 170K anti-Semitic Google searches a year in UK, 10 percent violent phrases (Jewish News Syndicate)
Anti-Semitism among ‘yellow vest’ protesters demoralizes France’s Jews (Cnaan Liphshiz, Times of Israel)
Monday, January 14
Between the millet system and EU values: The Sunni Muslim Turkish State and non-Muslim minorities (Özgür Kaymak,Moshe Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University)
EVENT, 20-22 January 2019: Religious Liberty, Human Dignity, and the Making of Modern Human Rights (Pontificia Universita Antonianum, Rom)
Law and religion round-up – 13th January (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Royal College of Physicians to poll on assisted dying (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
“Wrongful births” again: ARB v IVF Hammersmith (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Deutsche Welle: Are young Turks really atheistic Turks? (Julia Duin, Get Religion)
Atheism grows in Turkey as Recep Tayyip Erdogan urges Islam (Tunca Ögreten, Deutsche Welle)
Poroshenko decorates 2 metropolitans who joined new church from UOC with Order of Prince Yaroslav Mudry (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian parliament seeks to help new church (Nezavisimaia Gazeta, Russia Religion News)
Georgian president doesn’t hurry to congratulate Ukraine on granting autocephaly (Interfax-Religion)
Rights activists report detention of 40 LGBT in Chechnya, Grozny official says it’s ‘absolute lie’ (Interfax-Religion)
Rome mayor says Caritas will still get Trevi Fountain coins (Catholic News Service)
Poland mayor mourned as critic of anti-Semitism (Associated Press)
The archbishop of Canterbury: no-deal Brexit would harm poorest people in UK (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Catholic church urges EU citizens to apply for settlement status (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Swedish government denies man’s request to put Jesus’ name on license plate, says it could ’cause offense’ (Kayla Koslosky, Christian Headlines)
Vatican’s first official sports association includes migrant members (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Children must see the faith lived at home, pope tells parents (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
What pro-life Ireland can learn from pro-life America (Mary Rezac, Catholic News Agency)
Assad promises to rebuild Armenian church (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Turkey to build first-ever church in its modern republic (Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Turkey’s first modern-day church to be built in Istanbul (Daily Sabah)
Ahead of visit, Putin gets church in Serbia named after him (Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press)
Saturday, January 12
Pope’s Romania trip confirmed for early summer (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
New structure for Vatican Press Office announced (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Turkish court rules against compulsory religion class (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Vatican eyeing the Olympics with start-up athletics team (Gary Nguyen, World Religion News)
Thursday, January 10
Bishops’ guidance on use of Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Baptist church in Russian occupied Crimea shut down (Interfax-Religion)
Russian media regulator probes BBC quoting IS leader (Associated Press)
Damages for wrongful life refused (Rosalind English, UK Human Rights Blog)
Turkey prepares for historic church construction (Claire Evans, International Christian Concern)
Nuns on the run: Vatican launches athletics team and targets Olympics (The Guardian)
More than 100 Oxford clergy criticise bishops’ LGBTI guidance (Madeleine Davies, Church Times)
Human rights court to hear case of Belgian euthanasia for depression (Catholic News Agency)
Son challenges Belgian law after mother’s ‘mercy killing’ (from 2015) (Bruno Waterfield, The Telegraph)
Protestant ministers sign Dutch anti-gay charter, atheists launch popular alternative (Nathan Glover, World Religion News)
Wednesday, January 9
Jihadists behind bars pose new threats for Europe (Valentina Pop, The Wall Street Journal)
Putin disavows crackdown on Jehovah’s Witnesses, giving hope to detained (Marc Bennetts, Religion News Service)
Did you know? There’s one place in France where teaching religion in schools is compulsory (The Local)
As European blasphemy laws endure, journalists should consider how words can get them in trouble (Ira Rifkin, Get Religion)
Exhumation and reburial of alleged sexual abuser: Re the Cremated Remains of AA (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Crimea: “Anti-missionary” prosecutions double in 2018 (Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Dutch Christianity and gay rights: In the easy-going Netherlands, two worlds have clashed (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Misuse of psychiatry in assessing religious behavior (Religiia i Pravo, Russia Religion News)
Christians concerned about religious freedom if Turkey enters Syria (Dale Gavlak, Catholic News Service)
Jewish rights group urges Croatia to ban pro-Nazi book (Associated Press)
Bosnian Serbs celebrate day that kicked off devastating war (Amel Emric, Associated Press)
When animal welfare and religious practice collide (The New York Times)
NYT editorializes on ritual slaughter restrictions (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Poland is trying to make abortion dangerous, illegal, and impossible (Madeline Roache, Foreign Policy)
Tuesday, January 8
President Poroshenko calls on world’s Orthodox churches to recognize OCU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)
Ecumenical Patriarch recognizes independence of Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Carl Bunderson, Catholic News Agency)
As Belgium bans kosher and halal food prep, religious freedom fears grow (Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis: Serve the sick with generosity (Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
More spilled ink, as global Byzantine puzzle games continue with the Orthodox in Ukraine (Terry Mattingly, Get Religion)
Orthodox schism: Ukrainian Christians celebrate their first Christmas under an independent church (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Putin goes to church on Christmas Eve (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Europe continues to shrink religious liberty (Wesley J. Smith, National Review)
With migrants stranded at sea, Pope Francis urges welcome (Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Russian church head: Smartphones could precede Antichrist (Associated Press)
Painting looted by Nazis returned to Jewish heirs in Germany (Associated Press)
Monday, January 7
Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks away from Russian influence (Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Deseret News)
Christians celebrate Epiphany across Europe (Veselin Toshkov, Deseret News)
250 Dutch Christians sign Nashville Statement; prosecutors to decide if declaration breaks law (Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Celebrations planned, tension lingers a month after marriage equality resolution takes effect (Mary Frances Schjonberg and David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)
Turkey: “Election of new board members for the non-Muslim community foundations critical for their livelihood” (Mine Yıldırım interviews lawyer Sebu Aslangil, Freedom of Belief Initiative)
Does religion encourage or help to prevent the use of violence? (Sylvia Rothschild, The Jewish Chronicle)
Unkosher ban (The Jerusalem Post)
Belgium bans halal and kosher slaughter sparking furious backlash by religious groups (Felix Allen, The Sun)
Putin congratulates Orthodox Christians on Christmas (Interfax-Religion)
Creation of independent church in Ukraine geopolitical disaster for Russia – Poroshenko (Interfax-Religion)
Creation of new church in Ukraine ‘political put-up job’ – Russian Patriarch (Sputnik News)
Poroshenko promises to respect religious choice of citizens of Ukraine (Interfax-Religion)
Hundreds of thousands in Polish Epiphany parades (Associated Press)
Christians celebrate Epiphany across Europe (Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press)
Cardinal on trial in France’s biggest church sex abuse trial (Nicolas Vaux-Montagny, Associated Press)
Ukrainian Orthodox Christians formally split from Russian Patriachate at Istanbul ceremony (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Sunday, January 6
Law and religion round-up – 6th January (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Saturday, January 5
Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially gains independence from Russian Church (Francesca Paris, National Public Radio)
Why Turkey’s authoritarian drift is unlikely in India (Francis Ghiles, The Arab Weekly)
Belgium bans ritual animal slaughter. Some see a humane move, others prejudice. (Milan Schreuer, The New York Times)
Ukrainian custom authorities seize copies of Patriarch Kirill’s Christmas greeting – Moscow Patriarchate (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church breaks away from Russian influence (Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press)
Ukraine: new Orthodox church gains independence from Moscow (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Delegation of Ukrainian politicians attends church ceremony in Istanbul (Credo Press, Russia Religion News)
Poroshenko invites Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Ukraine (Interfax-Religion)
Boxing Day quiz – 2018: The answers (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Love and tolerance: A Syrian fairy tale in Germany (Imane Mellouk, Deutsche Welle)
British parliament criticizes India for failing to protect religious minorities (Olivia Miller, Persecution: International Christian Concern)
Photos of the week (Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Friday, January 4
Red Letter Christians gear up for UK launch (Rosie Dawson, Religion News Service)
Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector chooses jail over paying fine (Lizzy Ioannidou, CyprusMailOnline)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – 2018 (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Ukrainian politicians still resisting changes in churches (Olga Tsvilii, Russia Religion News)
Argument: 30 years after the Rushdie fatwa, Europe is moving backward (Jacob Mchangama and Sarah McLaughlin, Foreign Policy)
British report scolds India govt over religion-based violence (UCA News)
German politicians propose a ‘religion tax’ for Muslims to counter extremism (Rick Noack, The Washington Post)
German cardinal: Society hypocritical on church sex abuse (Associated Press)
German official deletes tweet equating Jesus with the Palestinians (Benjamin Weinthal, The Jerusalem Post)
Doctors, bishops express concerns as legal abortions begin in Ireland (Catholic News Agency)
Once the same nation, the Czech Republic and Slovakia look very different religiously (Kelsey Jo Starr, Pew Research Center Factank)
Thursday, January 3
Lawsuit over Washington violence looms over US-Turkey relations (Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
British parliament group report names India for religious freedom abuses (Taylor Benson, Mission Network News)
Legal chaos follows developments of Ukrainian church situation (Council of Orthodox Journalists, Russia Religion News)
Catholic refugee agency: British official wrong to ‘pre-judge’ asylum claims (Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Law & Religion 2018 and 2019: retrospect and prospect (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
US officials discuss Turkey’s request for cleric’s return (Associated Press)
People in Turkey becoming less religious – Konda research (Ahval News)
Islam is ‘religion of peace,’ says head of Turkey’s Diyanet (Anadolu Agency)
Wednesday, January 2
Keeping the faith: With missionary work banned, Mormons in Russia ‘just making friends’ (Matthew Luxmoore, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
Jehovah’s Witnesses have filed more than 40 complaints in European court (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Official recognition for Ukrainian church roils Orthodox world (Nikolia Apostolou, Religion News)
Beer-brewing Trappist monks put faith in plants to reduce water waste (Daniel Boffey, The Guardian)
Bishops’ guidance on reporting safeguarding to Charity Commission (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Archbishop of Canterbury urges openness in new year message (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Turkey’s gift of a mosque sparks fears of ‘neo-Ottomanism’ in Kosovo (Maxim Edwards and Michael Colborne, The Guardian)
Tuesday, January 1
Belgium region’s kosher slaughter ban goes into effect (Jeremy Sharon, The Jerusalem Post)
Amendment of law may affect Jehovah’s Witnesses (Oleg Krasnov, Liudmila Maratova, Kavkazskii Uzel)
Judge accepts false testimony against 70-year-old Jehovah’s Witness (Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News)
As Ukraine and Russia battle over Orthodoxy, schism looms (Andrew Higgins, The New York Times)
Split of Ukrainian Orthodox church from Moscow looms (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Austrian women celebrate country’s first same-sex marriage (Associated Press)
Monday, December 31
Bulgaria’s Parliament approves second reading of Religious Denominations Act amendments (Sofia Globe)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – December (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Revised law mitigates penalty for extremist publications (Kommersant, Russia Religion News)
Pentecostals win in trial of their literature (IANews, Russia Religion News)
Pentecostal believer found guilty of violating anti-evangelism law (Prosecutor’s Office of Cheliabinsk Oblast, Russia Religion News)
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) – Calendar of Events
More than One Month Ago
More answers to readers’ queries and comments – end 2018 (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Shechitah ban in Belgium to come into force (Hamodia)
Erdogan’s anti-Semitism will sink Turkey’s economy (Aykan Erdemir and John Lechner, Foreign Policy)
SNP MPs call on UK to grant Asia Bibi and her family asylum (Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian)
Asylum seekers need the right to work – and this time of year shows why (John Sentamu, The Guardian)
Germany pays compensation to WWII child refugees (Corey Barnett, World Religion News)
Can Russian succeed with Palestinians where Egypt has failed? (Marianna Belenkaya, Al-Monitor: Russia/Mideast Pulse)
Iceland’s 2019 budget: More to the church, less for the environment (Andie Fontaine, Reykjavík Grapevine)
End indefinite detention and asylum cruelty (Ruth Lister and Suzanne Fletcher, The Guardian)
Law on renaming UOC takes effect (Interfax-Religion)
Opinion: A mosque tax is fair, correct and necessary (Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Vatican tribunal hands down first money-laundering verdict (Associated Press)
Bomb at Greek church injures 2 after no warning given (Derek Gatopoulos and Elena Becatoros, Associated Press)
Swiss court overturns conviction of Srebrenica denier (Associated Press)
FCO commissions global review into persecution of Christians (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Boxing Day Quiz – 2018 (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Win for Erdogan, betrayal for the Kurds (Cengiz Candar, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Turkish teachers association takes aim at Christians (Claire Evans, Persecution: International Christian Concern)
Meet the Jesuit who survived the KGB (Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency)
UK faith leaders warn against division in Christmas messages (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Jeremy Hunt, UK foreign secretary, orders global review into persecution of Christians (Patrick Wintour and Harriet Sherwod,The Guardian)
Ukraine’s leader orders Orthodox Church to change its name (Associated Press)
Change of Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s name fraught with ‘bloody conflicts’ – Patriarch Kirill (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian parliamentary opposition to go to Constitutional Court, Prosecutor General’s Office over church renaming bill(Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian parliament defies Moscow church on its name (RISU, Russia Religion News)
European Court says Greece should not have applied Sharia law in will contest (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Europe and sharia: Across Europe, the practice of Islamic family law is under pressure (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Azerbaijan: Six years already, nearly six months more (Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Pentecostal minister convicted on charge of psychological harm (Religiia i Pravo, Russia Religion News)
One Jehovah’s Witness’ criminal case drags on for a year and a half (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Religion News Service)
Russian president comments on Ukrainian church situation (Credo Press, Russia Religion News)
Germany mulls introducing ‘mosque tax’ for Muslims (Deutsche Welle)
Germany opens anti-Semitism reporting center (Deutsche Welle)
Tales of Christmas past and present (Letters, The Guardian)
Church welcomes its special Muslim visitors on Christmas Eve (Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian)
Law and religion round-up – 23rd December (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Archbishop Ntahoturi to leave Rome after sexual misconduct allegation (Staff Reporter, Church Times)
Sixty day church service keeps hope alive for asylum family at Christmas (Daniel Boffey, The Guardian)
Boris Johnson cleared over burqa comments (Press Association, The Guardian)
Orthodox believers rally to protest Ukraine parliament vote (Associated Press)
Denmark, with an eye on Muslims, requires new citizens to shake hands (Martin Selsoe Sorensen, The New York Times)
European Court rules against Greece over Shariah law (Nektaria Stamouli, The Wall Street Journal)
Sharia and inheritance in Western Thrace: the Grand Chamber judgment in Molla Sali (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Greece violated Muslim woman’s rights: ECHR (Hürriyet Daily News)
Human rights court rules against Greece in Sharia law case (Elena Becatoros, Religion News Service)
No, the European Court of Human Rights has not paved the way for the application of the Sharia law (vaaju.com)
Sharia law applied to an inheritance dispute contrary to the will of the testator, a Greek belonging to the Muslim minority: violation of the Convention (Press Release of the Registrar – Grand Chamber Judgment Molla Sali v. Greece, European Court of Human Rights)
Sharia and inheritance in Western Thrace: the Grand Chamber judgment in Molla Sali (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Kremlin to look at every individual case where members of religious groups face criminal prosecution (Interfax-Religion)
Poroshenko advises radicals against seizing Moscow Patriarchate’s churches (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian Security Service wants to question Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’s vicar (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian politicians are pushing their people to ruin – Patriarch Kirill (Interfax-Religion)
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ property case before European court (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Russia presents to European Court comments on appeal of “Glazov and others v. RF” ((Jehovah’s WItnesses in Russia),Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
USAID to partner with Hungary to help Middle East Christians (Christopher White, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Judgment of Burlya and Others v. Ukraine: Local authorities held accountable for violating Convention rights of Roma residents in pogrom (Tess Herwegh, Strasbourg Observers)
5 facts about Catholics in Europe (Kelsey Jo Starr, Pew Research Center Fact Tank)
Does Putin know what’s happening to Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia? (Polygraph.info)
Ukraine Orthodox leaders approve break with Russian church (Yuras Karmanau and Efrem Lukatsky, Associated Press)
Poll finds no gender gap in abortion views (Michael J. New, National Review)
In the U.S. and Europe, women are about as likely as men to favor legal abortion (Ariana Monique Salazar and Kelsey Jo Starr,Pew Research Center Factank)
Prevent counter-terrorism strategy remains unfair on British Muslims, despite Home Office efforts (Julian Hargreaves, The Conversation)
Armenian Apostolic Church appoints first-ever representative in Rome (Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency)
Religious soft power in the South Caucasus: The influence of Iran and Turkey (Responding to: Transnational religion, local impact: Exploring religious soft power around the world) (Ansgar Jödicke, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
‘I’ll ask God to intervene’: the Christian volunteers doing police work in Reading – video (10:58 As government cuts affect police numbers, Reading is feeling the pinch. With one officer claiming there are ‘very serious jobs, for instance stabbings, that we cannot get to’, Thames Valley police have turned to a group of Christian volunteers to he, The Guardian)
Absenting oneself from work for religious purposes: Da Costa (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Seven Bishops and a PCC: St George’s, Headstone (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
IICSA: Report and extended seminar on mandatory reporting (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Latest Law Pod UK: the 5 most significant inquest cases of 2018 (Emma-Louise Fenelon, UK Human Rights Blog)
Putin decries prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia (Associated Press)
Russian president questions persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Putin promises to talk with head of Supreme Court about Jehovah’s Witnesses (BBC Russian Service, Russia Religion News)
Kremlin: Situation with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires additional analysis (TASS Russian News Agency)
Religion, Ukraine and Russia: In post-Soviet lands, theology and politics are hard to disentangle (The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
Religion will be on Ukraine’s ballot (Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg)
Ukraine’s Opposition Bloc demands Poroshenko declassify text of agreement with Bartholomew (Interfax-Religion)
Poroshenko Bloc suggests creating working group to draft church bills (Interfax-Religion)
Poroshenko offers freedom of church choice (Credo Press, Russia Religion News)
Group of Initsiativniki Baptists held accountable on Yarovaya Law (Evropeisko-Aziatskie Novosti, Russia Religion News)
Further fall-out from Putin’s remarks about Jehovah’s Witnesses (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Dutch church holds never-ending vigil to protect family from deportation (Elizabeth Schumacher, Deutsche Welle)
When French journalists report on evangelicalism, they often get it wrong (Julia Duin, GetReligion)
Sign of @NYTimes? So someone sent a mysterious tweet about Strasbourg attack … (Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
France’s gilets jaunes protests scrutinised as antisemites take part in demonstrations (Ben Welch, The Jewish Chronicle)
The latest poll on anti-Semitism in Europe looks bad. Trust me: It’s true. (Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Anti-Semitism pervades European life, says EU report (Paul Kirby, BBC News)
Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism – Second survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews in the EU(European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights)
European anti-Semitism makes German, U.K. Jews consider emigration (Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg)
Another strong EU anti-Semitism warning. And yes, journalists should keep covering this story (Ira Rifkin, GetReligion)
The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine (Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Ukraine’s autocephaly: In the vortex of global change (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine) (Jerry Pankhurst, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Divided by common faith: From the battlefield to the altar (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine)(Catherine Wanner, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Whose conflict? Whose unification? (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine) (Kristina Stoeckl, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
“A hard rain’s a-gonna fall”: The nationalization of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine and Russia (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine) (Victor Roudometof, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Beyond theology and canon law: The Ukrainian Church crisis from an institutional analysis perspective (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine) (Vasilios Makrides, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Law and religion round-up – 16th December (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Demand grows to beef up EU’s religious freedom envoy (Benjamin Fox, Euractiv)
Iranians are converting to Evangelical Christianity in Turkey (Fariba Nawa, National Public Radio)
Europe has a problem with religion (Marian Brehmer, Qantara)
Ukraine Orthodox bishops create independent church; Moscow Patriarchate rails against ‘State interference’ (Peter Kenny,Ecumenical News)
Ukrainian legislature proposes laws as result of creation of new church (Religiia v Ukraine, Russia Religion News)
Ukrainian parliamentary speaker invites Patriarch Bartholomew to speak before Rada (Interfax-Religion)
Poroshenko to travel with Metropolitan Epiphany to collect Constantinople’s tomos in person (Interfax-Religion)
German arms export policy condemned by church organization (Ben Knight, Deutsche Welle)
Ukrainian autocephaly: Subverting the Russkiy Mir (Responding to: The future of Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine)(Myroslaw Tataryn, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Brexit debate needs a change of tone, Anglican bishops say (Danica Kirka, Associated Press)
Ukraine Orthodox leaders approve break with Russian church (Yuras Karmanau and Efrem Lukatsky, Associated Press)
Ukraine riles Moscow as it announces head of new independent Orthodox church (Agence France-Presse, The Guardian)
New Ukrainian Orthodox leader gives 1st liturgy, urges unity (Associated Press)
How RE teachers see religion – and why it can be bad for pupils (David R. Smith, The Conversation)
Are English marriage laws compliant with the EHCR? (David Burrows, Guest Contributor, UK Human Rights Blog)
Photos of the week (Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Kremlin responds cagily to Ukrainian church developments (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
American embassy takes note of Ukrainian church situation (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Russian Orthodox church calls on UN for help in Ukraine (Yuras Karmanu, Associated Press)
Ukraine-Russia tensions reach Greece’s holy Mount Athos (Shaun Walker, The Guardian)
We’ve got the degrees, so why do Muslim women struggle to get jobs? (Aina Khan, The Guardian)
Francis: A Life in Songs by Ann Wroe review – the saint’s life in poetry (David Wheatley, The Guardian)
‘Yellow vest’ protests test English-speaking Catholic church in Paris (Tom Heneghan, Religion News Service)
Libyan mufti wants to sue British embassy for its equality program (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
The EU sees signs of hope in its external action to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief (Don Zeeman, Evangelical Focus)
NHS introduces faith declaration to reassure potential organ donors (Rosemary McCabe, The Guardian)
Conservatives slam Church of England’s new transgender guidance, re-dedication ceremony (Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
UK parliamentary group calls out 27 countries for ‘significant’ religious freedom violations (World Watch Monitor)
EU Bishops: religious freedom is a human right (Linda Bordoni, Vatican News)
A new vision for 2019 (Editorial – Fr. Olivier Poquillon OP, COMECE General Secretary, EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Church of England approves pastoral guidance for welcoming transgender people (Kelly Frazier, World Religion News)
French evangelicals face backlash at home after success of Trump and Bolsonaro abroad (Tom Heneghan, Religion News Service)
Articles on Fundamental Rights (EU) (EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Articles on Social Affairs (EU) (EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Articles on Migration and Asylum (EU) (EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Articles on Development Policy (EU) (EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Articles on Intercultural Dialogue (EU (EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
EU: Universality of Rights and hierarchy of standards (Emmanuel Decaux, EuropeInfos: Christian Perspectives on the EU)
Belarus: Fined for singing, offering religious literature (Olga Glace, Forum 18 News Service)
Belarus: Order not to register new religious communities? (Olga Glace, Forum 18 News Service)
Expanding the moral circle to nonhuman animals (Joe Wills, UK Human Rights Blog)
Russian Orthodox Church urges U.S. to change approach toward assessing religious freedom (Interfax-Religion)
Fears of Russia in Ukraine (Tatiana Ivzhenko, Nezavisimaia Gazeta)
Dutch court throws out case of disputed Buddha statue (Associated Press)
Independent Case Review – Oxford Diocese (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Religious content in civil wedding ceremonies (Rebecca Probert, Guest Post, Law & Religion UK)
CofE services to mark gender transition (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Church of England issues transgender advice for clergy (Matthew Weaver, The Guardian)
Conservatives slam Church of England’s new transgender guidance, re-dedication ceremony (Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post)
More military expulsions appear imminent in Turkey (Metin Gurcan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
The Tradition Project, Part III: The Value of Tradition in the Global Context – Program (Villanova University, St. John’s University, LUMSA University, LUMSA University School of Law – Rome)
Strasbourg shooting: At least four dead, several seriously injured in attack at Christmas market (Henry Samuel, David Chazan, and Victoria Ward, The Telegraph)
Amendments to state–religion separation law worry Muslims in France (Zakaria Wadghiri, Morocco World News)
Ukrainian security against Moscow church (Religiia v Ukraine, Russia Religion News)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Celebrated in Brussels (European Union Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the European Platform against Religious Intolerance and Discrimination (EPRID))
Poland’s president, Jewish leaders light Hanukkah candles (Associated Press)
Country diary: a simple but fascinating church (Jim Perrin, Religion News Service)
Breaking news: CJEU rules that the UK may unilaterally revoke Article 50 withdrawal notification (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
The United Kingdom is free to revoke unilaterally the notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU (Press Release,Court of Justice of the European Union)
CJEU: UK can revoke Brexit unilaterally (Out-Law.com)
Religion has played ‘significant role’ in Cyprus peace-building (Annette Chrysostomou, Cyprus Mail)
Catholics need not obey laws contrary to faith, Archbishop says (Patsy McGarry, The Irish Times)
SBU officials didn’t let Donetsk metropolitan cross contact line (Interfax-Religion)
The future of the European Court of Human Rights—subsidiarity, process-based review and the rule of law (Robert Spano,Human RIghts Law Review)
Russian Orthodox priest rebuked over Gucci Instagram posts (Andrew Roth, The Guardian)
Russian media attacks against non-Orthodox religions (SOVA Center for News and Analysis, Russia Religion News)
Two Jehovah’s Witnesses are international fugitives from Russian justice (Zheleznodorozhny district court of Orel, Russia Religion News)
Jehovah’s Witness ruled to have committed crime on internet (Malenkaia Syzran, Russia Religion News)
Anti-Semitism in the EU: Jewish people consider leaving over safety concerns (Rebecca Staudenmaier, Deutsche Welle)
Interfaith group in urgent call for State funding to be doubled (Patsy McGarry, The Irish Times)
Photo ID cards being issued to Catholic priests (Elisa Meyer, World Religion News)
Catholic elected as leader of Germany’s largest party (Catholic News Agency)
Death in prison of man with Asperger’s ‘raises serious concerns’ (Steven Morris, The Guardian)
Poroshenko asks Metropolitan Onufry to help have Ukrainian naval sailors freed (Interfax-Religion)
Veganism could be officially recognized as a religion in the UK (Kelly Frazier, World Religion News)
Law and religion round-up – 9th December (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Banns of marriage – their development and future (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Russian police find no extremism in Jewish movement Shahar leader’s actions (Interfax-Religion)
Ukraine’s new Orthodox church will be independent – Poroshenko’s entourage (Interfax-Religion)
Patriarch Kirill accuses Poroshenko of interfering in religious affairs (Interfax-Religion)
Russian FM, Vatican sec call for boosting bilateral ties (Interfax-Religion)
Orthodox scriptures taken from Jehovah’s Witnesses (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Searches lead to criminal charges of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Russia Religion News)
Ukrainian government tries to salvage independence of church (Religiia v Ukraine, Russia Religion News)
German prosecutors launch crackdown on Church sex abuse (Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Catholic News Service)
Knights of Malta chief: Migrant deaths represent ‘greatest mass grave since WW2’ (Elise Harris, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
EU encourages member states to increase fight against antisemitism (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
ECtHR or CEDAW: Spoilt for Choice in Moldova? (Irina Crivet, Strasbourg Observers)
Separating medical practice and religion: Brayshaw (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Complementarity (in)action in the UK? (Thomas Obel Hansen, EJIL: Talk!)
Church of England struggles to find its voice on Brexit (Rosie Dawson, Religion News Service)
Prince Charles lauds inspiring role of Christians in the Middle East (Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Ukrainian presidential advisor describes future local Ukrainian church (Interfax-Religion)
Metropolitan of Sarny and Polesye asks Putin to release Ukrainian sailors (Interfax-Religion)
Orthodox priests from Rovno, Sarny questioned in treason, religious hatred inquiry – Ukrainian Security Service (Interfax-Religion)
Russian embassy outraged by Constantinople ‘ascribing’ itself Russian church in Pyongyang (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian law enforcement aims at Moscow church (Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
European nations must do more to fight anti-Semitism, EU council says in ‘unprecedented’ declaration (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
In Europe, faith’s stronger in post-Soviet East than secular West (Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Exploring the Roots of Dignitatis Humanae: Spanish Protestants and American Catholics (Rafael Escobedo, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Former Bosnian Muslim commander arrested on war crimes charges (Reuters)
Joint Symposium with Justice in Conflict on Human Rights Watch’s Report on The ICC’s Impact on National Justice (Dapo Akande and Mark Kersten, EJIL: Talk!)
Churches debate human rights within European Union (Conference of European Churches)
Blasphemy prosecutions: trials at the Leeds Assizes – archive, 1911 (The Guardian)
Iranians question French democracy as protests rage (Al-Monitor Staff, Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)
CofE National Safeguarding Team (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Attorney General publishes legal advice on Brexit (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Now that’s what I call church music: which is the best hymn? (Laura Snapes, The Guardian)
Russian Orthodox Church calls ECHR decision on Pussy Riot members’ appeal blow to legal protection of religious freedom (Interfax-Religion)
How do European countries differ in religious commitment? Use our interactive map to find out (Jonathan Evans and Chris Baronavski, Pew Research Center Fact Tank)
Views of national identity differ less by age in Central, Eastern Europe than in Western Europe (Jeff Diamant and Scott Gardner, Pew Research Center Fact Tank)
Poroshenko announces date of Orthodox Church’s unification council (Unian)
Ukraine council to meet on December 15 to form independent church: president (Reuters)
Christian vows bannedfrom civil weddings – but other religions slip through (Joe Gamp, Express)
Patriarch Kirill concerned about recent events in Russian-Ukrainian relations – spokesman (Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian president still confident of outcome in Ukrainian question (RISU, Russia Religion News)
Criminal case against Jehovah’s Witness in Russian Far East (Website of Investigation Directorate of S.K.R.F. for Kamchatka territory, Russia Religion News)
Key Ukrainian church gathering slated for next week (Associated Press)
Central European U forced out of Hungary (Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed)
CEU confirms Vienna move (Claudia Patricolo, Emerging Europe)
A-G’s Opinion on revocation of Article 50 TEU – further comment (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
AG Campos Sánchez-Bordona: UK may unilaterally rescind EU withdrawal notification (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Shell’s climate change targets (David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Law and religion round-up – 2nd December (Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Jehovah’s Witness leader in Russia faces criminal charges for ‘extremism’ (Jason Lemon, Newsweek)
Bulgaria: Christians opposed proposed discriminatory bill that Is “a sad reminder of a bygone Communist past” (Gregor Puppinck, American Center for Law and Justice)
Soros-founded university says it has been kicked out of Hungary as an autocrat tightens his grip (Griff Witte, The Washington Post)
Odessa metropolitan asks Patriarch Kirill to facilitate Ukrainian sailors’ release (Interfax-Religion)
Organizer of Jehovah’s Witnesses meetings indicted in Kamchatka (Russia Religion News)
Scholar of Pentecostalism loses university position (Meduza, Russia Religion News)
ECHR rejects Russia’s request to send application of Pussy Riot members convicted for punk prayer in Moscow cathedral to Grand Chamber (Interfax-Religion)