Mark Movsesian

At the CLR Forum site, Italian law and religion scholar Pasquale Annicchino (European University Institute) writes about the attention the Italian media is giving American cardinals in the run-up to the papal conclave. In Rome, he writes, cardinals like New York’s Timothy Dolan represent the . . . . Continue Reading »

In  Habits of the Heart , written almost thirty years ago, sociologist Robert Bellah and his co-authors came up with a term to describe a new American religion: “Sheilaism.” The phrase comes from an interview Bellah conducted with a woman called Sheila, who described her religion as . . . . Continue Reading »

Many readers will be familiar with  Christian Legal Society v. Martinez , the Supreme Court’s 2010 opinion upholding the constitutionality of an “all-comers” policy at the UC-Hastings law school. The all-comers policy required student groups, including religious . . . . Continue Reading »

New York City residents have lots to worry about. The  city’s outstanding debt  exceeds $100 billion. The interest alone exceeds $6 billion annually. The city’s tax base continues to shrink as businesses, fed up with New York’s high rates,  flee to lower-tax . . . . Continue Reading »

Americans are often surprised to learn that many foreign countries have anti-proselytism laws. Often, these laws define proselytism as something beyond run-of-the-mill evangelizing. Proselytism typically connotes coercion and undue influence: the religious hard sell. Encouraging listeners to . . . . Continue Reading »

For First Things readers who might be interested: I’ll be speaking next Wednesday, February 20, at a meeting of the Religion Communicators Council in New York City. My talk will address the emerging field of law and religion. Details are  here . Please stop by and say hello! . . . . Continue Reading »

Many Americans know that the Supreme Court has stated that the framers intended the Establishment Clause “to erect ‘a wall of separation between Church and State.’” A smaller number know that the court was quoting a letter from President Thomas Jefferson to Baptists in . . . . Continue Reading »

Over at CLR Forum this morning, we have a very quick analysis of the canon law of papal resignation. (It turns out the Code has little to say). Mark Movsesian is Director of the Center for Law and Religion at St. John’s University. . . . . Continue Reading »

You thought there couldn’t be a law and religion angle to today’s news—-fascinating for us history nerds—-that archaeologists have discovered the mortal remains of Richard III  beneath a parking lot in Leicester ? Think again. Plans are underway to re-inter the bones in . . . . Continue Reading »

This has been a busy law-and-religion news week in the United States, but there was a major story at the European Court of Human Rights as well. On Wednesday, the Grand Chamber heard argument in Fernández Martínez v. Spain , a case that could have major implications for church autonomy in . . . . Continue Reading »