When the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs adopted a motion of desirability for the Civil Union Amendment Bill yesterday, it placed itself on a collision course with the Constitutional Court, says Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) in a statement released today. The Bill aims to compel state marriage officers […]
Tag: religious freedom
Concern that same-sex marriage bill almost ‘done deal’
Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) has expressed concern that the proposed amendment of the Civil Union Act, which will force state-employed marriage officers to marry same-sex couples, appears to be a “done deal”. “This is despite the fact that there are serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the […]
Process for participation in controversial Children’s Amendment Bill “falls woefully short”
Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) has written to the Minister of Social Development to complain of the insufficient time and lack of information given by the Department to enable the public to participate and give input on the provisions in the Children’s Third Amendment Draft Bill (“the Bill”). […]
Colorado targets Christian baker again despite Supreme Court’s cake ruling
Originally published in The Daily Signal The Colorado Civil Rights Commission is going after Christian baker Jack Phillips again, although the Masterpiece Cakeshop owner won a resounding 7-2 decision in June before the US Supreme Court. The state commission moved against Phillips after a lawyer asked him to design and […]
China closing churches, seizing Bibles in ‘ambitious new effort’ to eradicate religion
Originally published in Christian Headlines China is in the midst of an “ambitious new effort” to lessen or even eradicate the influence of Christianity and religion from the country, according to an investigation by the Associated Press. An in-depth story by AP described churches being shut down, Bibles being seized […]
FOR SA urges broad public participation in spanking bill consultations
Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) has sent out an email alert encouraging broad public participation in the provincial consultations, and written submissions, on the Children’s Third Amendment Bill which outlaws any form of physical discipline at home. Provincial consultations on the bill will be held in August and September, […]
Religious belief may justify “discrimination” — Adv Nadene Badenhorst
A recent article in Die Burger regarding the settlement agreement concluded between Christian author Gretha Wiid and the Human Rights Commission (HRC), states as follows: “You may be a Christian and practise your religion, but you cannot use it to discriminate against others”. This statement is an over-simplification and therefore […]
The world’s next religious freedom success story: Uzbekistan?
Originally published in Christianity Today Uzbekistan is an unlikely poster child for religious freedom. Open Doors currently ranks the Central Asian nation as No. 16 on its 2018 list of the 50 countries where it’s hardest to be a Christian. The US State Department named Uzbekistan again this year as a […]
Twenty Christians severely injured in assault on prayer gathering in India
Originally published in Christian Headlines International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that last Monday, July 2, 20 Christians were seriously injured in an assault on a prayer meeting in Raikashipur village, located in the Pratapgarh District of India’s Uttar Pradesh State. According to local reports, a mob of 35 Hindu […]
Court case could impact church autonomy: Call to stand together
By Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) On August 21 2018, the Pretoria High Court will hear argument in an important case (Gaum and others vs Dutch Reformed Church and others) that could potentially have dire implications for the autonomy of the Church — and indeed the broader religious community […]