Since its creation in 1998, the USCIRF has been controversial, both at home and abroad. At home, criticism typically focuses on the charge that the US should be more willing to assist CPC nations to improve their record rather than just putting them on a “blacklist” for the world to see. Abroad, nations have frequently criticized the US for its attitude of “arrogance” in thinking that it is superior to other sovereign nations and entitled to criticize them for religious freedom abuses when the US hardly has a spotless record itself. Nevertheless, after 15 years of activity, there is little doubt that the USCIRF reports have often motivated CPC nations to improve their religious freedom records. USCIRF’s work has also exposed serious religious freedom abuses that should be brought to the world’s attention.
In the News
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Defense of Marriage Act: Is Federal Government in the Marriage Business?
Please see Jason Hines’ recap/analysis of the Proposition 8 oral arguments. By Jason Hines -There were several...
(UPDATE) Kentucky Governor Vetoes Religious Freedom Bill; Legislature Overturns Veto
UPDATE: After this story was posted, on Tuesday, March 26, the Kentucky Legislature voted to overturn the governor’s...
Opinion: Now Is The Time to Pass Sensible Gun Policy Reforms
The following op-ed appeared in the January 31, 2013 issue of the Campus Chronicle, the student newspaper at Pacific...
113th Congress Most Religiously Diverse Ever — and Why It Matters (Huffington Post)
Dwayne Leslie, Legislative Affairs Director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists shares his perspective on the current U.S. Congress. EXCERPT: ”The more voices, the more diverse points of view heard from, the better the chances we can collectively continue to ensure the ability for all people to follow their [...]
Read more ›Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2013 Introduced in U.S. Senate
On December 17, 2012 Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced “The Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2013” (S.3686) which would Amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of religion specifically in the areas of “garb, grooming, and scheduling.”
Read more ›Florida Amendment 8: A Trojan Horse That Could Regulate Churches’ Free Speech
Florida’s Amendment 8 is being promoted under a guise of “religious freedom,” but accepting state funds will subject religious institutions to increased regulation that would actually restrict free speech.
Read more ›Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Selected to Serve as Idaho State Senate Chaplain
BOISE, IDAHO – Seventh-day Adventist pastor Jim Wibberding has been selected to serve as Idaho state senate chaplain for the 2013 Legislative Session. Wibberding, who earned a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership degree from Andrews University presently serves as the pastor of the Cloverdale Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Northwest Religious [...]
Read more ›Oxford University Introduces Journal of Law and Religion
The Oxford Journal of Law and Religion will have a range of articles drawn from various sectors of the law and religion field, including: social, legal and political issues involving the relationship between law and religion in society; comparative law perspectives on the relationship between religion and state institutions; developments regarding human [...]
Read more ›Pew Forum Reports “Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion”
The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has on September 20, 2012 released the third in a series of reports analyzing the extent to which governments and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. The new report looks at the extent and direction of change in religious restrictions from [...]
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