Surprising some, on November 13 an old prohibition dating back to 1738 was confirmed. But while the prohibition is the same, the motivations are different.
Why Pope Francis Confirmed the Ban on Catholics Becoming Freemasons – 1
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From the World
France Plans to Make a Bad Law Worse
The anti-cult About-Picard law is ineffective against real abuses and dangerous for religious liberty. The government wants to make it even more dangerous.
Cricket and Religious Propaganda: An Unholy Alliance in Pakistan
False claims were spread by former Pakistani national team player and coach Inzamam-ul-Haq that Indian Sikh player Harbhajan Singh “almost” converted to Islam.
After Settlement, Government Starts Restoring Oregon Native American Sacred Site
Without waiting for a U.S. Supreme Court decision, federal authorities agreed in October to repair a site they destroyed to add a turn lane to a highway.
Religious Liberty Situation Deteriorating in Nepal
A report documents increased violence against Christians, fueled by discriminatory laws, although a grassroots interfaith movement offers some hope.
Providence vs. Netflix: A Conversation with Three Taiwanese Academics
If guilty of sexual abuse, the leader deserves to be sentenced. But sensationalist TV shows poison the well and create discrimination against innocent believers.
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.