All cases
Court Decides: 6 Children Taken Away from Catholic Parents for Placing them in Catholic Schools
May 27, 2021, FranceA French court ruled that 6 of 10 children had to be removed from their parents home because their catholic mother enrolled them on a catholic boarding school. Two of the six children have now been put into a foster family of Muslim descent, who refuses to educate the children in accordance with their Catholic faith, mother Clare says. The children have additionally been taken out of their Catholic boarding schools and put back into state schools. The mother also stated that the foster family tries to change their children believe, by teaching them Muslim prayers and worldviews. A petition to help the family get their children back has been launched.
Proposed Conversion Therapy Ban Potentially Threatens Religious Freedom
May 26, 2021, United KingdomA Proposed conversion therapy ban could cause "an unlawful interference" with several human rights laws protecting the freedom of religious belief and expression, says human rights lawyer P Havers. Everyday Christian activity could also be criminalized says, Havers. The ban would criminalise biblical teaching on human sexuality and gender. The UK government is considering the proposed ban. A decision is expected in Autumn says a MP.
Equality Legislation in Malta Threatens Freedom of Religion; Conscience; Expression
July 22, 2020, MaltaProposed Equality Bills 96 and 97 are ostensibly aimed at protecting an extensive group of people from discrimination and cover areas such as schools, public religious symbols, and services and employment. The Bills would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, age, religious belief, state of health, and other “protected characteristics.” However, many sectors of society, including educators, professionals, business owners, health workers, parents, faith-based groups, and believers are concerned about the laws' overreach.
Organization Barnevernet: Children Taken Away From Parents Because of Religious Teaching
March 10, 2020, NorwayIn Norway 16th November 2015, the Norwegian-Romanian family Bodnariu was forcefully separated, all five children were sent to different foster homes, because of the parents' Christian faith. The school teacher expressed concern to the Child Protection Organization Barnevernet, that the children were taught at home that "God punishes sins". There was no family review or court judgment. The Norwegian Authorities interrogated and intimidated the parents during the process. Two hundred and ten days later, the family could finally be reunited. There are several cases of forced adoption and family separations in Norway, influenced by the Organization Barnevernet. There have been protests against this organization, which has "destroyed many families" according to the victims. In another family, Merlita and Terje, whose son was taken away for 12 years, won the case against Norway after taking it to the European Court of Human Rights. Norway was convicted to human rights violations.
Wales: Parents Lose Right to Withdraw Children from Sex Ed
January 21, 2020, United KingdomFollowing plans first proposed in a government consultation last year, parents of children attending Welsh schools will no longer have a legal right to withdraw their children from compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE), as well as and religious education (RE) classes.
"Parental Pin" Policy Prompts Legal Action and Debate in Spain
January 20, 2020, SpainA new policy aimed at affirming parental authority in Spanish schools in Murcia has made national headlines in the country. The so-called 'Parental Pin' would oblige schools in the autonomous region of Murcia to seek the permission of parents for student participation in extra-curricular activities, including lessons and workshops on LGBT issues given by external speakers.
High Court Permanently Bans Protests against "No Outsiders" School Programme
November 26, 2019, United KingdomA High Court judge ruled in favor of an exclusion zone around a school in Birmingham permanent, preventing parents from protesting outside the grounds against the "No Outsiders" primary school programme that teaches about LGBT relationships. Many parents and activists claim the programme contradicts their faith and is not "age appropriate." A temporary exclusion zone was first imposed by the courts in the summer after months of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School by mostly Muslim parents. Birmingham City Council claimed that the order was sought from the courts over safety concerns.
Legal Extension of IVF Met with Staunch Opposition in France
October 6, 2019, FranceTens of thousands of French protestors took to the streets of Paris on October 6th to protest the draft bioethics law which passed the lower house of parliament on September 25th. The bill would, amongst other provisions, allow all women under 43 the right to "medically assisted procreation," including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), regardless of their relationship status, or sexual orientation. Currently, French law only allows access to IVF to heterosexual couples unable to have children through natural means, who are either married, or who have lived together for two years.
UK School Employee Challeges Dismissal for Raising Concerns about Sex Education
April 16, 2019, United KingdomKristie Higgs, a Christian school worker will challenge a Gloucestershire school academy’s decision to dismiss her for gross misconduct. She was dismissed after she shared two posts on her Facebook page in October 2018 that raised concerns about Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at another school in the same village - her child’s Church of England primary school. Higgs was told following an investigation and a six hour hearing that she would be dismissed without notice for gross misconduct.
Sex Education Guidelines May Interfere with Parents' Rights
March 4, 2019, United KingdomNew "relationships and sex education" (RSE) guidance published on February 25th requires schools to teach primary and secondary school children about LGBT relationships and may not permit parents to opt-out. Parents of primary school children are permitted to withdraw their children from the sex education component of RSE, but the relationships component would be mandatory.