If guilty of sexual abuse, the leader deserves to be sentenced. But sensationalist TV shows poison the well and create discrimination against innocent believers.
From the World
The Paul Adams Case: Once Again, Courts Protect the Secret of Confession
Victims of a deceased child sexual abuser in Arizona were told the LDS Church had a right not to disclose information it had received in confession.
Sisters of Life Nuns Win Exemption from Disclosing Anti-Abortion Records
The State of New York had to agree to a federal court order stating that these are internal religious documents protected as such from disclosure to secular authorities.
United Nations Condemns Nicaragua’s Anti-Catholic and Anti-Religious Persecution
Noting a “systematic pattern” of cracking down on religion, the U.N. through two Special Rapporteurs asks to terminate the “arbitrary detention” of Bishop Álvarez.
New York Court: Secular Judges Cannot Second-Guess Decisions of ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Authorities in Internal Matters
Expelling supporters of the doctrine the movement condemns as “ritvikism” and preventing them from managing temples is not something courts can interfere with.
Can Christian Pastors Call Other Religions “Satanic”—Without Going to Jail?
Contradictory Brazilian decisions against priests and ministers demonizing Afro-Brazilian movements test the grey area between freedom of expression and hate speech.
USCIRF “Particularly Concerned” About Mistreatment of Hazaras and Ahmadis by Pakistan
A November 6 statement castigates the repatriation of Afghan members of religious minorities and the continued persecution of the Ahmadis.
Pakistan, Foreign NGO Women Told If They Walk with a Local Man They Should Marry Him
Senior clerics in Kohistan stated that if a single foreign woman is caught accompanying a marriageable Pakistani man, she should marry him.
“This is Pennsylvania, Not France”: Religious Garb Ban for Teachers Repealed
The old state law was originally introduced to prevent Catholic priests and nuns from teaching in public schools but now mostly affected Muslims.
Spanish Anti-Jehovah’s-Witnesses Group Loses Court Case—But Claims It Won
The secretary of the Spanish Association of the Victims of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was found guilty of violating the religious organization’s right to honor and ordered to pay Euro 5,000 in damages.