Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 19 June 2020
Saudi Arabia to reopen Mecca mosques as cases surpass 150,000
(Al-Monitor)
Germany’s far-right a major loser from COVID-19, so far
(Constanze Stelzenmüller, Brookings: Order from Chaos)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #104: Pope Francis on Mask Debates
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Thursday, 18 June 2020
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)
Missionaries around the world are responding to COVID-19
(Bethany Johnson, Religion Unplugged)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #93 Googling “Prayer” During the COVID-19 Crisis
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
COVID-19 is intensifying religiosity globally
(Jeanet Bentzen, Religion & Diplomacy: A Resource of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy)
Court sides with Pritzker on religious gathering restrictions
(Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square)
Catholic Priests and Orthodox Jewish congregants sue New York governor in federal court for civil rights violations
(Bethany Blankley, Patheos Blog)
Contagious Christianity requires proximity
(Paul Louis Metzger, Patheos Blog)
7th Circuit: Congregation limits don’t violate religious freedom
(Timothy Eggert, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin)
With new document, Vatican implements practical steps for environmental sustainability
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
Federal appeals court refuses to block Illinois order capping religious services at 10 individuals
(Cassandra Maas, Jurist: Legal News & Research)
7th Circuit upholds Illinois COVID-19 restrictions on worship services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Illinois churches lose challenge to ban on mass gatherings
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Catholic priest and doctor: Coronavirus crisis a ‘window of opportunity’ for the homeless
(Catholic News Agency)
We need the Sabbath’s calm more than ever
(Geraldine Van Bueren, The Times)
Wednesday, 17 June 2020
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #92: Capturing Wisdom of Religious Leaders: “Coronaspection”
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Arkansas AG sues TV pastor over virus treatment claims
(Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press)
Diplomats laud Church, other religions for role in fight against pandemic (UK, Vatican)
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Financially hit by COVID-19, Washington National Cathedral lays off staff
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Will Covid-19 put an end to hookah culture in Egypt?
(Ahmed Elleithy, Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Saudi Arabia approves dexamethasone as coronavirus treatment
(Al-Monitor)
Advocates appeal for Catholic schools amid closures nationwide
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
The rule of law and the place of religion: Lessons from the pandemic
(Andrea Pin, Talk About: Law and Religion)
COVID-19: update on reopening places of worship in England
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
COVID-19: Personal Risk Factors for Clergy, Church Workers and Volunteers
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Conference to address COVID-19's religious freedom implications
(Anna Bryner, Daily Herald)
COVID-19: update on reopening places of worship in Wales
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Law Pod UK New Episode: IICSA Update and Abuse within Minority Religions
(Emma-Louise Fenelon, UK Human Rights Blog)
Three New York Orthodox Jews sue Cuomo, de Blasio over coronavirus restrictions
(Jackson Richman, Cleveland Jewish News)
7th Circuit hears arguments over worship size limits
(Timothy Eggert, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin)
New York's double standard
(Martina Moyski, Church Militant)
As churches reopen, let's not lose the sense of sanctity in our homes
(Samuel Rodriguez, Religion News Service Opinion)
COVID-19 costs President Trump support among Catholics
(Thomas Reese, Religion News Service Opinion)
Amnesty blasts Bahrain, Kuwait for 'highly invasive' COVID-19 tracing apps
(Al-Monitor)
Monday, 15 June 2020
Court upholds Nevada COVID-19 restrictions on worship services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Churches and casinos (covid19 order)
(Courthouse News Service)
Suit challenges NY worship restrictions vs. permitted Floyd protests
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #90: Frontline Christian Sanitation Workers in Pakistan Face Discrimination
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Brazilian voices shout with silence to echo their pain for COVID-19 victims
(Ecumenical News)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #89: COVID-19 Lockdowns and Religious Observance: Patterns and Issues in India
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Jews, Christians sue Cuomo and de Blasio for violating religious freedom during pandemic
(Molly Boigon, Forward)
Religious freedom lessons from COVID-19 disputes
(Thomas Berg and Shawna Kosel, Christianity Today)
Sunday, 14 June 2020
Catholic summer camps take campfires virtual
(Anna Wilgenbusch, Catholic News Agency)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #88: The Vatican, COVID-19, and Religious Freedom
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Saturday, 13 June 2020
More changes to NSW rules concerning churches
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Churches fight Illinois ban on mass gatherings at Seventh Circuit
(Lisa Klein, Courthouse News Service)
Protests and coronavirus resurgence fears resurrect battle over church openings
(Nicholas Rowan, The Washington Examiner)
Friday, 12 June 2020
Philippine Church warns against 'holy' Covid-19 gimmicks
(Joseph Peter Calleja, UCANews)
Civil rights probe of state limits on churches urged
(Tom Strode, Baptist Press)
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)
Adventist Community Services in St. Thomas and St. John Assists Dozens of Homeless Families
(Adventist News Network)
Ready to go back to church? 10 things to consider before heading to worship
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
In Greece, pandemic deprives refugees of vital link to food and locals
(Magdalena Rojo, Religion News Service)
DOJ rules Washington state COVID-19 religious restrictions unconstitutional
(Shore News Network)
Jordan gets high marks for dealing with COVID-19, but economic crisis deepens
(Osama Al Sharif, Al-Monitor: Jordan Pulse)
Thursday, 11 June 2020
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)
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)
Many faithful say it’s time to gather. Some governors disagree
(Lindsay Van Ness, Pew Charitable Trusts)
'We're meeting in-person this Sunday': Churches fight 'petty tyrants' in reopening battles from NJ to MA
(Steven Warren, ABS CBN News)
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)
Worship services return to chapels; congregations will rebuild over time
(Tammy L. Reed, Fort Lee Traveller)
Famed Thai temple bars foreigners entry over COVID-19 fears
(Busaba Sivasomboon, Associated Press)
Orthodox reporter challenges De Blasio on NYPD ejecting Hasidic families from playgrounds
(Ari Feldman, Forward)
How to feed crowds in a protest or pandemic? The Sikhs know
(Priya Krishna, The New York Times)
Radical conservative Orthodox cleric faces secular court
(Ilia Smirnov, Kommersant)
Be honest: After journalism earthquakes of the past week or so, wouldn't you head for the hills?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Private prayer update – yet another change
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
DOJ invokes protests in urging Maryland county to amend order for religious gatherings
(Justine Coleman, The Hill)
WEBINAR, 11 June 2020 (3 pm CEST, GMT+2, EDT 9 am): COVID-19, Religion and Belief Ep. 10 || Covid-19, Freedom of religion or belief, and gender
(Kishan Manocha, Ahmed Shaheed, Mariam Gavtadze, Mine Yildirim)
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #85: COVID-19 Accelerates Losses of Navajo Nation Elders and Traditions
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Freedom of Religion and the impact of COVID-19 on Christian life and worship
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
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)
COVID-19: update from the Church of England on reopening church buildings
(Becky Clark, with permission, Law & Religion UK)
AP report raises concerns about China and WHO; China denies
(Associated Press)
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)
Less gratitude, please. How COVID-19 reveals the need for migration reform
(Marta Forest, Brookings - Future Development)
COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance for churches
(Working Group on COVID-19 Infection Control, Bishops’ Conference of Scotland)
A COVID-19 response for the world’s poor
(Erik Berglöf, Gordon Brown, Helen Clark, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brookings OpEd)
Bishops' Conference of Scotland - Pastoral Letter 5th June 2020
(General Secretariat, Bishops' Conference of Scotland)
Coronavirus shortages give Russia’s charity sector a new spark
(The Christian Science Monitor)
Youth or consequences: Put youth at the center of COVID-19 recovery
(Patrick Fine, Susan Reichle, and Kristin M. Lord, Brookings - Future Development)
Impact of COVID-19 on day-to-day lie of church and European societies
(Joint Meeting of the CCEE-COMECE Presidencies, Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #84: Zambian Nuns with COVID-19 Radio Messages
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
COVID-19 crisis returns spotlight to Gulf migrant communities
(Sebastian Castelier, Al-Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
Religious liberty attorneys suing New Jersey governor respond to lifting of stay-home orders
(InsiderNJ)
Despite win in Wisconsin, religious discrimination remains during lockdown
(Zack Smith, The Daily Signal - Commentary)
Religious liberty attorneys, ” Our lawsuit seeks to be the catalyst that will end New Jersey’s experiment in absolute monarchy.”
(The Ridgewood Blog)
Donor privacy under attack
(Steve West, World News Group)
Canada’s religious leaders should stop tolerating unjustified lockdown
(John Carpay, The Epoch Times)
Josh Hawley requests investigation of religious liberty violations by state officials
(Jon Guze, the Locker Room)
WEBINAR, 10 June 2020 (03:00 PM in Qatar, GMT+3, 8 am EDT): China’s Role in the MENA Region Post-COVID-19
(Adel Abdel Ghafar, Degang Sun, Emilie Tran, Yahia H. Zoubir, Zeno Leoni,, The Brookings Doha Center)
Outside-The-Box Ministry
(Sandra Blackmer, Adventist News Network)
ADRA Peru volunteers deliver vouchers, food kits to vulnerable families
(Rosemary Sanchez, Adventist News Network)
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