COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Webinar Series - RECORDINGS of all Episodes
WEBINAR RECORDING, 18 June 2020: COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Webinar Series || EPISODE 11: Africa and the Middle East Perspectives
(Rosalind I. J. Hackett, Fayyad Alqudah, Khalid Hajji, Ahmed Salisu Garba, Luka David Mosoma)
Weekend Plug-in: June 12, 2020
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion News Service)
Religion Photos of the Week - 12 June 2020
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Release of the 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
(U.S. Department of State)
State Department issues 2019 International Religious Freedom Report, notes progress in Uzbekistan, deterioration in China
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
USCIRF hearing: Applause and alarm for Syria’s fledgling northeast government
(Lela Gilbert, Real Clear Religion)
More changes to NSW rules concerning churches
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
US religious freedom report voices concern: ‘Need to ensure protection to minorities in India’
(The Indian Express)
USCIRF welcomes release of State Department’s 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF releases new report about limitations on freedom of religion or belief
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Official: Bomb explodes in Kabul mosque, at least 4 killed
(Tameem Akhgar, Associated Press)
President Trump issues Executive Order on Advancing International Religious Freedom amid tear gas controversy
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
U.S. government condemns persecution of Catholic Church in Nicaragua
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Trinidad archbishop, who worked with young people, weighs in against pot
(Laura Ann Phillips, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Iraq and Syria synagogues are earmarked for ‘urgent’ repair
(Stephen Oryszczuk, Jewish News)
Pakistan continues to violate Universal Declaration of Human Rights' right to freedom of religion
(ANI, Times News Now)
Leaders in religious freedom hotspots welcome Trump executive order
(John Burger, Aleteia)
The fastest growing religions in Canada
(Ellen Kershner, World Atlas)
Religious freedom in Morocco: A regional paragon-in-the-making
(Madeleine Handaji, Morocco World News)
US fears for Hong Kong's religious freedom under security law
(Ryo Nakamura, Nikkei Asian Review)
The killing of George Floyd has sparked global soul-searching
(The Economist)
Philippine Church warns against 'holy' Covid-19 gimmicks
(Joseph Peter Calleja, UCANews)
India denies visa to US religious freedom investigators
(Catholic News Agency)
Defending Persecuted Christians in India at the U.N.
(CeCe Heil, American Center for Law and Justice)
A big step for religious freedom
(Nina Shea, Virtue online)
Young Japan priests try to breathe life into fading Buddhism
(Malcom Foster, Religion News Service)
In Greece, pandemic deprives refugees of vital link to food and locals
(Magdalena Rojo, Religion News Service)
George Floyd Moves the world: The legacy of racial protest in America and the imperative of reform
(Mary L. Dudziak, Foreign Affairs Today)
Bishops in Middle East and Nigeria applaud Trump’s religious-liberty executive order
(Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register)
Syria sees spike in Islamic State attacks, say religious liberty experts
(Christopher Vondracek, The Washington Times)
India denies visas to U.S. panel on religious freedom, says it has no standing
(Sanjeev Miglani, Nigam Prusty, Reuters World News)
Famed Thai temple bars foreigners entry over COVID-19 fears
(Busaba Sivasomboon, Associated Press)
New Zealand Catholic high school tears down Black Lives Matter posters
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Religious freedom commission: U.S. cannot ignore northeast Syria
(Dale Gavlak, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
'Black Lives Matter' around the world, including in Nigeria amid rising violence
(Lela Gilbert, Religion Unplugged)
India denies visas to US panel on religious freedom
(Al Jazeera)
Tibetan applicants for police work turned away over political concerns: report
(Richard Finney, Radio Free Asia)
COVID-19 and ‘war’ clauses in investment treaties: A breach through the wall of state sovereignty?
(Kit De Vriese, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Freedom of Religion and the impact of COVID-19 on Christian life and worship
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
AP report raises concerns about China and WHO; China denies
(Associated Press)
Canada’s religious leaders should stop tolerating unjustified lockdown
(John Carpay, The Epoch Times)
Outside-The-Box Ministry
(Sandra Blackmer, Adventist News Network)
ADRA Peru volunteers deliver vouchers, food kits to vulnerable families
(Rosemary Sanchez, Adventist News Network)
Catholic stations in Brazil offer positive coverage for government money, report claims
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
China’s ‘repression against all religions continues to intensify’, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says as report devotes section to Xinjiang’s Uygurs
(Owen Churchill, South China Morning Post)
Law and religion round-up – 14th June
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
More global protests emerge over racism, police actions
(Sylvia Hui and Ed White, Associated Press)
Polish archbishop urges protection of 'family values' ahead of vote
(Wojciech Zurawski, Reuters)
US State Department highlights Turkish government’s violations of religious rights in its 2019 report
(Stockholm Center for Freedom)
Nearly 60 attacks against believers and worship places reported in Spain
(Evangelical Focus)
Ukrainian church defends former president Poroshenko
(RISU, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Is it time to topple monuments to antisemitism?
(Jeremy Havardi, Jewish News)
Archbishop of Canterbury and top Catholic leader voice opposition to annexation
(Jewish News)
ADF International CEO reflects on religious freedom in Europe today
(K. V. Turley, National Catholic Register)
Criminal conviction of activists involved in the BDS campaign boycotting products imported from Israel had no relevant and sufficient grounds and violated their freedom of expression
(Registrar of the Court, The European Court of Human RIghts)
US Department of State says Georgian laws, policies continue to grant Orthodox Church ‘unique privileges’
(Agenda.ge)
European Court upholds right to boycott Israel
(Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada)
Europe: Land of the Free?
(Alberto Mingardi & Carlo Stagnaro, Law & Liberty)
World Council of Churches wants EU sanctions on Israel if it annexes West Bank lands
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Radical conservative Orthodox cleric faces secular court
(Ilia Smirnov, Kommersant)
Russian press reports American criticism of intolerance
(Kommersant, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Private prayer update – yet another change
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Orthodox rabbi urges Jews, black people to ‘stand together’ in rousing speech
(Mathilde Frot, Jewish News)
UK Catholic bishops: visa rules are causing supply priest shortage
(Catholic News Agency)
COVID-19: update from the Church of England on reopening church buildings
(Becky Clark, with permission, Law & Religion UK)
Can a lead urn be a “building”? Dill
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
The policeman who might be a saint
(Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency)
EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement but 14 Protestants still in prison
(The 88 Project, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
The ends of anti-racist protest (Responding to: Religion and racial justice: The George Floyd protests)
(Jonathan Tran, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
State Department releases 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Suit challenges Illinois abortion coverage mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Lawsuit charges Illinois with religious liberty violations over forced abortion coverage
(Thomas More Society)
HHS adopts final rule rolling back transgender and abortion protections in health care
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
HHS moves to curtail abortion, transgender health protections
(Shira Stein, Bloomberg Law)
Trump administration revokes transgender health protection
(Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press)
Trump Administration’s executive order could jump-start the cause of global religious freedom
(Religious Freedom Institute)
New podcast: Jump in GetReligion WABAC machine and explore roots of @NYTimes revolt
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Necessary work: James Baldwin’s ‘The Fire Next Time’ & white self-scrutiny
(Burke Nixon, Commonweal)
More Christians are saying black lives matter. But faith-based support for the police runs deep
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News Faith)
Calls to defund the police put Jewish institutions in a tough position
(Ben Sales, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A pastoral word on a troubling double standard in american public life
(Bill Parent, Religious Freedom Institute)
These aren’t protests, they’re religious ceremonies
(James McElroy, The American Conservative)
Professors panel from JCLS/CLR Symposium on history of Catholic legal education
(Marc O. DeGirolami, Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Catalent escapes Muslim worker's suit over prayer breaks
(Law 360)
Sikhs and policing — the tension between freedom and justice
(Simran Jeet Singh, Religion News Service)
The NLRB rethinks its position on when it may assert jurisdiction over religious schools in labor matters involving faculty members
(Keahn N. Morris, James R. Hays, John S. Bolesta, The National Law Review)
Dear white people: Being an ally isn’t always what you think
(Deepti Hajela and Leanne Italie, Associated Press)
Churches fight Illinois ban on mass gatherings at Seventh Circuit
(Lisa Klein, Courthouse News Service)
Religious liberty lawsuit challenges Illinois abortion insurance mandate
(Diana Chandler, Baptist Press)
Civil rights probe of state limits on churches urged
(Tom Strode, Baptist Press)
Jeff Sessions says gov't agencies cutting ties with Ala. megachurch is attack on religious liberty
(Leonardo Blair, The Christian Post)
Petition seeks firing of Southern Baptist seminary president Mohler over protest remarks
(Billy Kobin, Louisville Courier Journal)
Baptist group representing 1,000 churches sues Ill. over law forcing them to cover abortions
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
DOJ tells SCOTUS Catholic foster care can't be forced to place children with gay couples
(Tampa Dispatch)
Opposers of the vaccination bill lie on both sides of the aisle, politically.
(Joy Moore, Our Community Now Oklahoma)
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Address on the Feast Day of Saint Bartholomew
(Orthodox Observer News)
Remarks by Vice President Pence in a listening session with faith and community leaders | Pittsburgh, PA
(The White House)
March for unity, peace and prosperity grassroots group to hold rally for peace in Middletown
(Andy Goodpaster, Atlantic Highlands Herald)
Oregon Supreme Court vacates judge’s ruling that voided Gov. Brown’s coronavirus social gathering restrictions
(Maxine Bernstein, Oregon Live)
Churches say Mass. city's 10-person limit too extreme, plan to defy mayor’s restrictions
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Washington Adventist University community members march alongside the Nation for Change
(Adventist News Network)
Adventist Community Services in St. Thomas and St. John Assists Dozens of Homeless Families
(Adventist News Network)
Media spin Catholic response to protests
(William Donohue, Eurasia Review Opinion)
Ready to go back to church? 10 things to consider before heading to worship
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Amid pandemic, scores of US Catholic schools face closure
(David Crary, Religion News Service)
Racial justice requires religious freedom
(Brian J. Grim, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Religious Freedom Week highlights issues for prayer, reflection and action
(Leslie Miller, The Arlington Catholic Herald)
How We Rise: Policy solutions to upend structural racism and create a more equitable society for all
(New Blog, Brookings)
Virtual charter schools and online learning during COVID-19: An imperfect comparison
(Brian Fitzpatrick, Mark Berends, Joseph J. Ferrare, and R. Joseph Waddington, Brookings)
The impact of COVID-19 on student achievement and what it may mean for educators
(Jim Soland, Megan Kuhfeld, Beth Tarasawa, Angela Johnson, Erik Ruzek, and Jing Liu, Brookings)
The banality of racism in education
(Jon Valant, Brookings)
Will homeschooling really cause a “COVID slide”?
(Paul Schwennesen, Law & Liberty)
A right to gather?: Balancing health risks and religious liberties during the COVID-19 crisis
(David L. Hudson, Jr., ABA Journal)
Student religious liberty bill passes Ohio Senate, heads back to House with COVID-19 changes
(Susan Tebben, Richland Source)
Sessions: Birmingham governmental backlash to Church of the Highlands ‘an attack on both religious liberty and freedom of speech’
(Sean Ross, Yellow Hammer News)
Many faithful say it’s time to gather. Some governors disagree
(Lindsay Van Ness, Pew Charitable Trusts)
With religious rulings on the horizon, U.S. Christians see Supreme Court favorably
(Amanda Rapace, NJ Today)
'We're meeting in-person this Sunday': Churches fight 'petty tyrants' in reopening battles from NJ to MA
(Steven Warren, ABS CBN News)
Sessions calls on Birmingham to reverse decision against the Church of the Highlands
(Brandon Moseley, Alabama Political Reporter)
Hotel housekeeper claims she was fired for refusing to work Sundays, sues
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Becket Fund assists 40 Dane County Catholic sites to open at 25 percent capacity
(Brent King, Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald)
Northeastern Churches clash with officials over reopenings
(Milton Quintanilla, Christian Headlines)
Protecting an employee’s right to keep holy days sacred even at a major corporation
(Geoffrey Surtees, American Center for Law and Justice)
Worship services return to chapels; congregations will rebuild over time
(Tammy L. Reed, Fort Lee Traveller)
ACLU struggles with liberty, free speech
(Bill Donohue, Newsmax)
Archbishop Gregory promised the truth: Has he told it? – Analysis
(JD Flynn, Eurasia Review Analysis)
Federal appeals court dismisses challenge to Missouri abortion law
(Cassandra Maas, Jurist: Legal News & Research)
NLRB reduces its jurisdiction over religious colleges
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
DOJ proposes changes in asylum procedures
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Orthodox reporter challenges De Blasio on NYPD ejecting Hasidic families from playgrounds
(Ari Feldman, Forward)
The First Amendment, black liberation and you
(Benjamin Marcus, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)
The Islamic attitude towards race and racism
(Maliya Naz, Muslim Girl)
How to feed crowds in a protest or pandemic? The Sikhs know
(Priya Krishna, The New York Times)
Ignore the optics. Trump’s executive order could jump-start the cause of global religious freedom.
(Daniel Philpott, America Magazine)
I've always suffered racism. Becoming a Christian didn't make it easier
(Trillia Newbell, Religion News Service)
‘You can’t reconcile a nation that’s never been equal.’ Three black pastors reflect on this moment.
(Batya Ungar-Sargon, Forward)
Be honest: After journalism earthquakes of the past week or so, wouldn't you head for the hills?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
What explains Donald Trump's unusual and controversial brandishing of the Bible?
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
DOJ invokes protests in urging Maryland county to amend order for religious gatherings
(Justine Coleman, The Hill)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #85: COVID-19 Accelerates Losses of Navajo Nation Elders and Traditions
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
'Defund the police' is not a serious — or a safe — solution
(James M. Casey, The Hill Opinion)
GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police
(Jordain Carney, The Hill)
There's a growing call to defund the police. Here's what it means
(Scottie Andrew, CNN)
‘Safetyism’ only means words have real consequences
(Tara Isabella Burton, RNS Column: Religion Remixed)
America, we are leaving
(Travis Yates, Law Officer)
Dr. Birx says George Floyd protests have resulted in the destruction of 70 Covid-19 testing sites
(Tobias Hoonhout, National Review)
Fauci ‘very concerned’ protests are ‘perfect set up’ to spread coronavirus
(John McCormack, National Review)
Trump’s Bible photo op splits white evangelical loyalists into two camps: Ardent supporters saw the photo op as a blow against evil while others saw the gesture as cynical and a ploy
(Matthew Teague, The Guardian)
Religious liberty attorneys suing New Jersey governor respond to lifting of stay-home orders
(InsiderNJ)
Critics object to religious liberty gains
(Eurasia Review Opinion)
Supreme Court should protect faith-based agencies and free exercise
(Edwin Meese III, Newsweek Opinion)
Paycheck protection, churches and the Constitution - It’s complicated
(Peter J. Reily, Forbes)
Despite win in Wisconsin, religious discrimination remains during lockdown
(Zack Smith, The Daily Signal - Commentary)
ERLC panel encourages habits of rest
(Liz Tablazon, Biblical Recorder)
Justice Roberts swings away from unfettered religious liberty on church openings
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Critics object to religious liberty gains
(Catholic League)
Religious liberty attorneys, ” Our lawsuit seeks to be the catalyst that will end New Jersey’s experiment in absolute monarchy.”
(The Ridgewood Blog)
Southern Baptist President J.D. Greear says ‘black lives matter’
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
Donor privacy under attack
(Steve West, World News Group)
'Gospel Above All' drives diversity, unity, missions, abuse prevention
(Diana Chandler, Baptist Press)
Josh Hawley requests investigation of religious liberty violations by state officials
(Jon Guze, the Locker Room)
Programs on miscarriage, racial injustice recognized with awards
(Ellen Hostetler, Adventist News Network)
White Christians, it’s time for us to repent
(Tyler James Russell, Red Letter Christians)
United Methodist bishops affirm protests, call members to pray twice daily for 8 minutes, 46 seconds
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Trump faith advisers say the president did the right thing by visiting church
(Jace Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Litigation trends in the post COVID-19 world
(Dani Alexis Ryskamp, J.D., Expert Institute)
DC Catholic priests invited to 'prayerful protest' at White House
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
The opinions expressed or biases reflected in the headlines in this digest do not necessarily represent opinions or attitudes of those who maintain this headline news service. We strive for balance in presenting issues of potential interest to our readers.
This service is provided by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies.