Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 5 August 2020
What does the Bible say about religious liberty?
(Jim Denison, Denison Forum)
Buddhist monks have reversed roles in Thailand – now they are the ones donating goods to others
(Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation)
Over 1,500 Brazilian priests support bishops’ attack on Bolsonaro
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Weekly Highlight #117: COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities, World Faiths Development Dialogue)
COVID-19: further (separate) guidance for England and for Wales
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Face covering during weddings and other services
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Her gospel choir brought her closer to God. Now she can only hum from home.
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)
Sen. Mike Lee: 'Religious liberty has to be revered and respected,' even in a pandemic
(Lisa Riley Roche, KSL)
Monday, 3 August 2020
New COVID-19 legislation and guidance: to 8 August
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Iran Health Ministry says COVID-19 deaths are higher than reported
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Egypt eyes coronavirus vaccine production
(Hagar Hosny, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Live Mic: Sen. Mike Lee weighs in after Supreme Court rules against Nevada church
(Curt Gresseth, KSL)
South Korea church leader arrested over coronavirus outbreak
(Deutsche Welle)
Pilgrims wear masks, socially distance during Hajj
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
AP photos: Muslims worldwide mark Eid festival amid pandemic
(Associated Press)
Attack on Connecticut COVID-19 orders rejected
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
San Francisco’s Archbishop Cordileone urges Friday fasting for an end to COVID
(Catholic News Agency)
What literature can tell us about people’s struggle with their faith during a pandemic
(Agnes Mueller, The Conversation)
Religious liberty advocates see rough road ahead due to pandemic, but mostly optimistic about future wins
(Mark Tapscott, The Epoch Times)
Friday, 31 July 2020
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus
(Aya Batrawy, Associated Press)
Over 145 Brazilian bishops condemn Bolsonaro’s handling of pandemic
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The Supreme Court’s religious crusaders take on the pandemic response
(Linda Greenhouse, The New York Times Opinion)
Corporate human rights due diligence in times of COVID-19
(Julianne Hughes Jennett, Laila Hamzi and Ram Mashru, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
COVID-19: Scapegoating Shincheonji in South Korea. A Second White Paper
(Massimo Introvigne, Willy Fautré, Rosita Šorytė, Alessandro Amicarelli, Marco Respinti, CESNUR – Center for Studies on New Religions)
COVID-19: Interfaith group sensitises Bodija traders
(Saheed Salawu, Nigerian Tribune)
After over four months, public Masses can resume Aug. 3 in Leicester, England
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Face-coverings in places of worship: update
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Coronavirus COVID:19 – NW England restrictions
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Obeying God rather than men? A constitutional scholar on what’s really a religious liberty issue
(Ed Stetzer, The Exchange)
Supreme Court wrap up: How did religious liberty do this term?
(Maureen Collins, Alliance Defending Freedom)
COVID hajj restrictions leave streets of Mecca empty, pilgrimage businesses in trouble
(Rabiya Jaffery, Religion News Service)
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
G20 Interfaith Forum gathers Latin American religious leaders for consultation on COVID-19 and society inequalities exposed by the virus
(G20 Interfaith Forum, PR Newswire)
Technology infuses ancient hajj rites tailored for pandemic
(Aya Batrawy, Associated Press)
New COVID-19 legislation and guidance: to 1 August
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Thinking theologically with pandemics
(Uday Chandra, Al Jazeera)
State Senator Robert Mills works to protect religious liberties of patients
(Randy Brown, Bossier Press-Tribune)
Religious coalition opposes more coronavirus relief for private schools
(Jeff Brumley, Baptist News Global)
Bostock fallout begins
(Steve West, World News Group)
Lawsuit claims Murphy double standards violates New Jersey freedom of religion
(Shore News Network)
Weekly highlight #116: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities, World Faiths Development Dialogue)
Women religious on frontlines of COVID19 pandemic, honored by American & British Ambassadors to the Holy See
(Deborah Castellano Lubov, Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
Bengaluru: Logistical issues see BBMP cremate bodies irrespective of community or religion
(Times Now News)
John MacArthur, Grace Community Church defy California bans on singing, indoor worship
(Alejandra Molina, Baptist Press)
The ACLJ fights back against California’s church singing ban
(American Center for Law and Justice)
I told fellow believers our liberties would be protected in the pandemic. The court proved me wrong.
(Matthew T. Martins, The Washington Post - Opinions)
Prohibitions on in-person religious services: valid under the Smith test, no matter their Free Exercise burden
(Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Third church looks to Supreme Court for protection from state-ordered worship restrictions
(Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner)
COVID-19 and religious liberty
(Perry Dane, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Senator Mike Lee asks for help protecting religious liberty
(Mary Richards, KSL)
Sen. Mike Lee urges Trump to stop states from ‘discriminating’ against churchgoers amid pandemic
(Dennis Romboy, Deseret News Faith)
U.S. Supreme Court declines to halt Nevada worship service limits
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
High court's order on Nevada church draws dissent
(Tom Strode, Baptist Press)
Supreme Court's decision allows Nevada's governor to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel
(Zack Smith, The Daily Signal - Commentary)
Religious liberty advocates predict Supreme Court victory for Nevada church resisting coronavirus orders
(Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner)
Monday, 27 July 2020
Justices decline to intervene in dispute over Nevada COVID-19 restrictions
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
US Supreme Court denies Nevada church’s appeal of virus rule
(Scott Sonner, Associated Press)
We can’t roll the dice on religious liberty: Nevada, the Supreme Court, and churches
(Ed Stetzer, Christianity Today)
Coronavirus and ecclesiastical law – I
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Government COVID-19 guidance for England: special religious services and gatherings checklist
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Supreme Court, 5-4, refuses to enjoin pending appeal Nevada limits on worship services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Utah Sen. Mike Lee asks Trump to prod states to reopen churches or face loss of COVID-19 aid
(Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune)
Supreme Court: States can limit church attendance during coronavirus pandemic
(Brandon Moseley, Alabama Political Reporter)
Faithful still avoid churches
(Kirsten Kanja, The Standard)
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic
(Aya Batrawy, Associated Press)
Barbecue Baptist Church delivers meals, a message and a little levity amid pandemic
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Pastor John MacArthur, Grace Community Church defy bans on singing, indoor worship
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
BJC urges U.S. Senate not to divert public education dollars to private schools in coronavirus relief legislation
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Vatican official criticizes ‘senseless politics’ in US and UK surrounding pandemic response
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
Barcelona cardinal holds Mass in defiance of government order
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Catholic charity blames Zimbabwe rape crisis on lack of ‘social safety net’
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Update on rules for NSW churches under COVID restrictions
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Covid-19 as a threat to international peace and security: The role of the UN Security Council in addressing the pandemic
(Erin Pobjie, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Faithful return to Mexico City churches with masks, gel
(Maria Verza, Associated Press)
Indian archdiocese offers the government its facilities as treatment centers for covid-19
(Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
Friday, 24 July 2020
A normalized sense of hopelessness
(Cynthia G. Lindner, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)
What’s faith got to do with COVID-19?
(Katherine Marshall and Olivia Wilkinson, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
European Recovery Fund: Congratulations of the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union
(Rosa Die Alcolea, Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
Regulations on face covering: Advice from Church of England
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Online Christian pilgrimage: How a virtual tour to Lourdes follows a tradition of innovation
(Samuel L. Boyd, The Conversation)
Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Weekly Highlight #115: COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities, World Faiths Development Dialogue)
Rapid COVID-19 spike strains South Africa's health system as churches rush to aid those hit
(Anli Serfontein, Ecumenical News)
Under new California rules, LA Catholic schools will no longer be able to resume in-person classes
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
‘We’ve been essential for 2,000 years’: Pasadena church holds indoor services despite coronavirus warnings
(CBS Los Angeles)
Russian court fines influential monk who denies virus exists
(Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press)
Coronavirus’ impact on Indigenous communities puts new focus on protecting elders, preserving language and culture
(Heather Beasley Doyle, Episcopal News Service)
‘The pandemic is gaining momentum’: Africa prepares for surge in infections
(David Pilling, Financial Times)
California churches defy Newsom, sue over 'unconstitutional' executive orders
(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square)
Did Toronto ban Catholic churches from administering Holy Communion?
(Nur Ibrahim, Snopes)
As pandemic wears on, faith leaders dig in on life or death decisions
(Silma Suba, Religion News Service)
Can kindness heal a world divided by pandemic, protests and politics? Pastor Ashlee Eiland thinks so
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
TRO denied in church's suit over California COVID limits on worship
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Federal judge denies emergency order in Pasadena church singing case
(Pasadena Now)
Are private, religious schools exempt from school opening restrictions? Texas, California go in different directions
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Ultra-Orthodox Jews already shy away from the census. Is the pandemic making it worse?
(Molly Boigon, Forward)
Report says contribution of faiths to society ‘more pressing’ after Covid-19
(Jewish News)
State of the Bible: Left unread during the coronavirus pandemic
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
COVID-19 crisis provides opportunities and grace
(Thomas Reese, Religion News Service)
Maryland hospitals allow religious visitation after HHS intervention
(Nicholas Rowan, The Washington Examiner)
Texas AG says cities cannot restrict reopening of religious private schools
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Attorney General Ken Paxton issues guidance to religious private schools for fall reopenings
(Texas Attorney General)
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