Catholic News Service has published briefs on the following topics: Appeals court reviews religious freedom cases; California Supreme Court and the death penalty; Landslides in Bangladesh and Guatemala.

Federal appeals court hears arguments in two religious freedom cases
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Two court cases seeking to shape the place of religion in U.S. society are under review by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati, one with the possibility of reaching the Supreme Court of the United States. Anti-religion activists are fighting the practice of county commissioners in Jackson, Michigan, to open their public meetings with prayer. The circuit court heard oral arguments in Bormuth v. Jackson County June 14. A similar case dealing with prayer in public meetings, Lund v. Rowan County, was heard in March by the 4th Circuit, based in Richmond, Virginia. Once those courts issue their rulings, if they conflict with one another, the Supreme Court may hear the cases to resolve the issue of prayer in the public square. Oral arguments in New Doe Child #1 v. The Congress of the United States are set to be heard by the 6th Circuit June 16. In the case, atheist Dr. Michael Newdow argues that the national motto, "In God We Trust," inscribed on American currency, violates his freedom to practice atheism under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Back in 2014, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty urged the Supreme Court to allow for prayer in public meetings in the Town of Greece v. Galloway case. The law firm based its argument on the Founders' understanding of establishing religion as well as the historical tradition of prayer in public meetings. In that case, the high court ruled the town should be permitted to open municipal meetings with a prayer.

California Supreme Court studies measure to expedite death penalty cases
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The California Supreme Court June 6 examined whether a ballot measure passed in November to speed up executions is constitutional. After voters narrowly approved Proposition 66, as the measure is called, it was challenged by opponents. It now comes down to whether the state's citizens or the court will decide how capital punishment cases are handled. California's bishops had urged voters to say no on Proposition 66, stressing that "any rush to streamline that process will inevitably result in the execution of more innocent people." During the June 6 oral arguments, the justices expressed doubts about the measure and pointed out that the effort to rush executions and set a five-year limit on appeals would shift court resources toward capital punishment and away from all other cases. Currently, the state has nearly 750 inmates on death row. Only 13 executions have taken place since 1978.

Church groups, government help Bangladeshis affected by landslides
DHAKA, Bangladesh (CNS) -- Emergency services and Church aid groups have rushed to assist thousands of people affected by a landslide that killed at least 136 people, injured dozens and made thousands homeless in southeastern Bangladesh. Ucanews.com reported that heavy rain from June 11-12, triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, caused mudslides in Rangamati, Bandarban and Chittagong districts, cutting off road links, telephone and electricity connections. Most of the victims are from poor, indigenous communities living close to the hills, near the borders with India and Myanmar. They were buried under tons of earth and mud while they were asleep at night. James Gomes, regional director of the Catholic aid agency Caritas in Chittagong, said his agency had conducted a situational assessment to offer emergency aid to affected people. "We are collaborating with the government to calculate the number of fatalities and affected people," Gomes told ucanews.com on his way to visit Rangamati district by boat.

Earthquake triggers landslides in western Guatemala
SAN MARCOS, Guatemala (CNS) -- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake June 14 in western Guatemala resulted in landslides that closed the Inter-American Highway, which connects many Central American nations. Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international development agency, was conducting an assessment of the region to determine what response was warranted. The temblor, which struck at about 1:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EDT) was centered five miles southwest of Tajumulco, near San Marcos, the largest nearby city with a population of 45,000. Two casualties were reported, but it could not be immediately determined if they were attributable to the quake. In Quetzaltenango, Guatemala's second-largest city and about 32 miles southeast of San Marcos, damage was reported to 43 buildings; many walls were separated in older dwellings. Power outages were reported in smaller communities closer to the epicenter.