Australian rugby star’s legal battle will affect everybody By Michael Swain, Executive Director, Freedom of Religion SA — Originally published on the FORSA blog The dismissal of rugby superstar Israel Folau from the Australian national team and the Waratahs is arguably one of the most significant cases in recent times […]
Tag: religious freedom
Christian group urges action on human rights abuses in Eritrea
Originally published in Premier A Christian freedom group has written to members of the Human Rights Council urging them to support a resolution to seek peace in Eritrea. Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights Concern Eritrea have written to the member states of the Human Rights Council (HRC) calling on […]
Christian doctor lost job after refusing to identify a bearded man as ‘madam’
Originally published in The Telegraph A Christian doctor lost his job in a government department after he refused to refer to “a six-foot-tall bearded man” as ‘madam’, a tribunal heard. Dr David Mackereth, 56, claims he was sacked as a disability benefits assessor by the Department of Work and Pensions […]
Cricket World Cup nations with very little religious freedom
Special report by Open Doors SA The 2019 Cricket World Cup is moving toward a climax and many of us have chosen our favourite teams (though sadly the Proteas are out of the competition) and cricketers around the world. A shocking reality is that half of the countries (five) participating […]
Australian Govt to introduce religious discrimination law in wake of Folau case
Originally published in The Christian Institute Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his Government is set to introduce new laws on religious liberty, following the case of Israel Folau. The sports star was fired by Rugby Australia in May for a social media post quoting the Bible which was deemed […]
Right for Christians to share faith upheld in landmark UK judgment
Originally published in Christian Concern In a landmark judgment, the Court of Appeal has upheld the rights of UK Christians to freely express their faith by handing victory to former student social worker Felix Ngole. Overturning a High Court decision to uphold Felix’s expulsion from Sheffield University, the crucial outcome […]
Money pours in for Israel Folau’s legal battle
Originally published in Premier Fundraising efforts to support Israel Folau’s legal battle with Rugby Australia have been put on pause after donations passed the Aus$2-million (R19.9) mark. The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), which set up the funding campaign said they have received rapid and overwhelming support. The fund raised more […]
US bakery case ‘small victory for religious freedom’
Originally posted in The Christian Institute The US Supreme Court has ordered a review of a ruling against Christian bakers who declined to make a same-sex wedding cake. A state court ruling in 2017 upheld a $135 000 “discrimination” (R1.9-million) fine which had put Melissa and Aaron Klein’s bakery out […]
Implications of ‘Gaum vs Dutch Reformed Church’ judgment
On March 7 2019, the Pretoria High Court delivered judgment in the case of Gaum and others v Janse van Rensburg and others. In terms of the Court Order, the decision on same-sex relationships adopted during the extraordinary meeting of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) from […]
Time for Christians to live out their faith without fear — Chief Justice Mogoeng
‘Three minutes in Parliament that God used beyond expectations’ Many Christians in South Africa and beyond were inspired when Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng called for three minutes of meditation or prayer for the nation in parliament last week and then knelt down to pray. But some South Africans took to […]