British court denies bid for ‘Star Wars’ religious freedom

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Christopher D. Shea

Donnie Yen in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” While the film is having great success, a Star-Wars-related group is not: A commission in Britain ruled that Jediism is not a religion. Credit Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm Ltd

UNITED KINGDOM--- The “Star Wars” spinoff “Rogue One” trounced the competition at the weekend box office, but on Monday the franchise suffered a defeat: The Charity Commission for England and Wales published an official ruling that Jediism does not count as a religion. The commission, which oversees British organizations’ applications for nonprofit or charity status doesn’t often wade into religious debates. It did so now because a group known as the Temple of the Jedi Order applied for charity status, citing its dedication to furthering “the religion of Jediism, for the public benefit worldwide, in accordance with the Jedi Doctrine.” [link]