AMSTERDAM -- The Dutch government said last week that it will study new standards for ritual slaughter to satisfy animal-rights activists without infringing on ancient Jewish and Muslim traditions, and will not ban the practice outright.
The announcement followed a political deadlock in the Dutch parliament. By a wide margin, the lower house approved a ban earlier this year on the traditional method of cutting the animal's throat without stunning it first.
After an outcry that it would violate religious freedoms, support evaporated when the bill was sent to the upper house this month for approval.
Undersecretary for Agriculture Henk Bleker's office said a commission will draw up standards on how long animals can remain conscious and on educating slaughterers. It will include registration and quality requirements for slaughterhouses.
N.C. parent unhappy school gave out Bibles
WEAVERVILLE, N.C. -- A Buncombe County mother was unhappy when her son came home from his fifth-grade class at North Windy Ridge intermediate school with a Bible. The state's largest civil liberties group says the school overstepped its bounds.
Ginger Strivelli says her son came home from school Monday with a Bible he got from a box left by the Gideons International group. Strivelli, a pagan, doesn't think the school should offer any religious material to students.
"It's totally inappropriate they think they can get away with this," she said. "It's absolutely unbelievable and their attitude is ridiculous."
School officials contend they did nothing wrong. Principal Jackie Byerly said she got approval from the superintendent after the Gideons asked to leave Bibles at the school.
Students weren't required to take Bibles, county schools spokeswoman Jan Blunt said. They were told by teachers that the books were available in a box in the main office.
Archdiocese must pay property taxes
SCITUATE, Mass. -- The state appellate tax board says the town of Scituate doesn't have to refund $140,000 in property taxes the Boston Archdiocese has paid on a closed Catholic church.
The archdiocese closed St. Frances X. Cabrini Church in 2004, but it's been occupied since by parishioners protesting the closing, who also hold regular church services.
The archdiocese argued the property should retain the tax-exempt status it had as part of the diocese, as long as it's not being used for nonreligious purposes.
But the board last week said the protesters' main purpose "to occupy and guard" the church wasn't a charitable purpose, and the property didn't qualify for tax-exempt status.
Air Force: Nativity, menorah OK on base
FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Lawyers for Travis Air Force Base in Northern California have determined that including a Nativity scene and a menorah in the base's holiday display does not violate the troops' religious freedom.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation wrote to base authorities last week on behalf of 121 troops at the base, saying the two displays amounted to a military endorsement of religions. It asked that the menorah and Nativity scene be moved to a nearby chapel.
The Air Force judge advocate general decided that the displays were part of a broader, secular holiday display.
A base spokesman said there are 24 holiday displays at Travis sponsored by squadrons, including images of Santa Claus, Christmas trees and airplanes.
Wire reports
Source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/dec/25/religion-in-brief/
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