Latest news with #Jehovah'sWitnesses
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Growing consensus on religious freedom benefits everyone, religious or not
In an era of heightened polarization, especially in the nation's capital, it's rare to find a value that unites Americans across political, generational and ideological divides. But one principle is quietly gaining ground: religious freedom — and not just among the devout. Earlier this year, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty released its annual Religious Freedom Index, which revealed that support for religious freedom in the U.S. is not only strong but growing. The index, based on a survey of 1,000 American adults, measures support across six dimensions, from 'Religion in Action' to 'Religious Pluralism.' A score of zero reflects total opposition to all surveyed aspects of religious freedom, while a score of 100 represents complete support. This year's composite score reached a record-high of 70 out of 100 — the strongest since the index launched in 2019. The upshot, according to the report, was that an increasing number of Americans 'crave a culture that values religious freedom — a place where faith is respected, not sidelined.' Why does this matter? Because it signals that Americans — especially younger ones — are beginning to recognize that religious freedom isn't just about religion. It's about liberty. A big part of the story — and a reason for optimism — is Gen Z. When it comes to being open to discussions and expressions of someone's personal faith or allowing for religious expression in the public square, Gen Zers led the way among all age groups. This suggests that the up-and-coming generation is comfortable expressing and encountering differences with others, despite often being portrayed as narrow in thinking. Another bright spot on the index was religious pluralism. Although that metric has historically been strong, this year it climbed to a record high of 86. Even non-Christian respondents were more likely to report feeling accepted. For people of faith, this is good news. But what about those who aren't religious? Is religious freedom a zero-sum right that benefits only the religious? The reality is quite the opposite. In fact, many of the secular constitutional rights we now take for granted arose from religious minorities fighting for their right to preach, proselytize and publish their religious views. Consider Jehovah's Witnesses. During the 1930s and 40s, their public proselytizing and refusal to salute the flag or send soldiers to war led to immense persecution. Many communities used legal means to suppress their preaching. They were arrested for distributing religious tracts without a license and for 'breaching the peace' by playing religious recordings. But they did not back down — they went to court. and they won. Witnesses brought a bevy of cases, resulting in at least 190 appeals and dozens of favorable Supreme Court decisions. Today, those decisions form the backbone of America's robust free-speech case law. Those court victories didn't just affirm the rights of Witnesses and other public preachers. They helped define the First Amendment as we know it. Today, thanks to their efforts, everyone from political canvassers to Girl Scouts can go door-to-door to make their pitch or sell cookies. Activists can protest in public, and students can express themselves on campus. Extending the right to preach can also influence secular movements on a larger scale. The Black civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, for example, might not have been possible, were it not for the free speech, press and petition rights secured by Jehovah's Witnesses. Like the Witnesses before them, Black activists were arrested for going door-to-door to hand out leaflets and for assembling in public spaces. Again, some were arrested for breaching the peace. The late congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis was famously arrested in Selma, Alabama, for carrying a sign outside a courthouse that read 'One Man, One Vote.' Several such cases made their way to the Supreme Court. In case after case, when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Black civil rights activists, it relied on the precedents secured by Witnesses. Today, a similar pattern may well continue to play out. When the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of a high-school football coach who sought to pray at the 50-yard line after games, its ruling affirmed the rights of other coaches who wish to religiously express themselves. But as a free speech precedent, the decision might also protect a coach taking a knee for social justice. Religious freedom doesn't need to be zero-sum: It can be a rising tide that lifts all boats. It should be something to cheer for, even if you aren't religious. Joshua C. McDaniel is an assistant clinical professor of Law at Harvard Law School and faculty director of the School's Religious Freedom Clinic.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Catholic bishops sue Washington state over law requiring clergy to report child abuse
Catholic leaders in Washington have sued the state over a new law requiring clergy to report suspected child abuse, including details potentially revealed during confession. The lawsuit, filed last week on behalf of the bishops, alleges Senate Bill 5375, which was signed into law on May 2, violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The law 'puts Roman Catholic priests to an impossible choice: violate 2,000 years of Church teaching and incur automatic excommunication, or refuse to comply with Washington law and be subject to imprisonment, fine, and civil liability,' the lawsuit states. The law's text doesn't target Catholics specifically. In fact, it upholds the mandatory reporting requirement for ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, elders or a 'spiritual leader of any church, religious denomination, religious body, spiritual community or sect," adding to a list that includes school employees and health care workers. The bill's sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Noel Frame, said she was motivated to create this bill following reports that Jehovah's Witnesses covered up child sexual abuse for years. But the Catholic bishops, of a denomination that has also been roiled over several years by child sex abuse scandals, argue in their filing that the law could be used to force them to violate their oaths if they're forced to relay child abuse information provided during confessions. The New York Times offered some helpful context here: Clergy are considered mandated reporters in a majority of states, meaning they are legally obligated to report to authorities if they suspect a child is being abused. In most states, however, the state reserves protections for the clergy-penitent relationship. In seven states, including New Hampshire and West Virginia, there is no such exception. (In Tennessee, the privilege is denied only in cases of child sexual abuse.) It's not clear that any priests have been prosecuted or penalized in those states over failing to report abuse that they learned about during a confession. In other words, the Washington state law isn't wholly unprecedented, even if it's controversial to some Catholics. And one might think the Trump administration, which has made a show of cracking down on purported child abuse, might support legislation such as this, which appears equipped to help Washington do so as well. But the Justice Department last month launched an investigation into the law, framing it as 'anti-Catholic.' In a statement responding to the lawsuit, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, who is Catholic, 'I'm disappointed my Church is filing a federal lawsuit to protect individuals who abuse kids." Ferguson has stated previously that Catholic Bishops potentially having to reveal child abuse claims they hear during confession didn't give him pause. 'I'm very familiar with it," he said. "Been to confession, myself. I felt this was important legislation for protecting kids. This article was originally published on
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Interpol to investigate international links in 2023 Kalamassery blast case
KOCHI: Interpol has decided to investigate the international links in the 2023 Kalamassery blast case, which claimed eight lives during a Jehovah's Witnesses convention. The probe follows a request from the Kerala Police, routed through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) earlier this year. The twin IED blasts occurred on October 29, 2023, at a convention centre in Kalamassery during a prayer meeting, killing eight people and injuring 53. On the same day, Dominic Martin, a resident of Kochi, took responsibility for the attack via a social media post and later surrendered to the police. Investigators later found that Martin had worked in Dubai for several years before returning to Kochi a few months prior to the incident. In January 2024, the Kerala government permitted the police to initiate the Mutual Legal Assistance proceedings with the UAE. Subsequently, MHA forwarded the request to the Interpol authorities in Dubai to assist with the investigation. 'Recently, we received information that Interpol has begun processing the Mutual Legal Assistance request. The authorities in Dubai have agreed to provide the information we sought as part of the investigation. The Interpol-linked agency in Dubai will conduct an inquiry based on our request and the findings will be shared with us through MHA,' a senior police officer told TNIE. Kerala Police have requested information regarding Martin's stay in Dubai, his known associates, and whether he had any prior criminal involvement during his time there. Meanwhile, a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses has reported receiving a threat from a Malaysian phone number.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Ahead of trial, Kerala Kalamassery blast case witnesses receive death threat
KOCHI: Ahead of the trial in the case related to the serial blasts that rocked a Jehovah's Witnesses gathering in Kalamassery, an alleged death threat was issued against witnesses who are to testify against Dominic Martin, the accused, on Wednesday. The threatening message was sent to the phone number of Sreekumar, the public relations officer of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination. 'The threat message from a Malaysian phone number was received on my WhatsApp, around 10 pm on Monday. But, I noticed it only the following morning,' said Sreekumar, a resident of North Kalamassery. Detailing about the threat message, he said: 'The first message warned of explosions at Jehovah's Witnesses' worship centres, including near Aluva temple, and all other conventions across the state. When I asked why, the sender replied that Jehovah's Witnesses must be eradicated from Kerala, and that anyone testifying against Dominic Martin would be killed. Here, I asked why he was telling all this to me. The sender replied that everyone needed to know.' 'All these communications were in English. No further messages followed,' he said. He added that, he has filed official complaints with both the Kalamassery Police and Aluva Rural Police. 'We received the complaint regarding the death threat late on Tuesday. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for inciting communal hatred and issuing death threats,' said M B Latheef, SHO of Kalamassery Police Station. The investigation is under way, and we cannot reveal further details at this point, he added. Latheef also noted that the Kochi city police had filed the chargesheet in the Kalamassery blast case on time, and the trial proceedings are set to begin soon.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Police investigate threat towards regional spokesperson of Jehovah's Witnesses
Kochi: The Kochi city police launched an investigation after a regional spokesperson of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) received a WhatsApp message threatening to carry out bomb attacks on the religious group's places of worship and prayer gatherings across Kerala. The message, which also warned of killing any individuals cooperating in the ongoing Kalamassery blasts case , was received by T A Sreekumar , spokesperson for JW's public information department, on Tuesday sender is believed to have used a number registered in Malaysia. Following the threat, Sreekumar filed a formal complaint, prompting the Kalamassery police to register a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 196 (inciting hatred among groups) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation). As per the complaint, an anonymous individual threatened Sreekumar over the police are currently working to trace the origin of the recent threat and determine whether it is linked to any larger network or is an isolated act of Kalamassery blasts occurred during a JW congregation on Oct 29, 2023, claiming eight lives, including a 12-year-old girl and injuring several attendees. The sole accused, Martin V D of Thammanam, surrendered hours after the incident and allegedly confessed to carrying out the attack alone. He was in judicial custody since police investigation into the case culminated in a chargesheet submitted to the Ernakulam district principal sessions court in April 2024. It includes testimony from 284 witnesses, over 150 pieces of material evidence and spans more than 3,500 pages. Despite the comprehensive documentation, the trial is yet to commence.
