Law and Religion Headlines


Wednesday, 23 December 2020

Here we go again: Believers facing complicated #2020 choices during COVID-tide
(Terry Mattingly, OnReligion)

Praying apart isn’t the same as praying together. That’s why we sued D.C.
(Cardinal Wilton Gregory, The Washington Post)

Museum of the Bible considers suing D.C. mayor over virus shutdown, citing religious freedom claims
(Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Peggy McGlone, The Washington Post)

Catholic schools' suit against COVID closings is moot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Lawsuit by private schools in Michigan dismissed as moot
(John Wisely, Detroit Free Press)

On remand from SCOTUS, California COVID limits on worship services again upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Judge denies LA County church’s request to can indoor worship ban
(Martin Macias Jr., Courthouse News Service)

On the Supreme Court’s shadow docket, the steady volume of pandemic cases continues
(Stephen Wermiel, SCOTUSblog)

Federal Appeals Court: Nevada’s Covid restrictions violate the First Amendment
(Ismail Royer, Religious Freedom Institute)

Scotland: Christmas guidance on COVID-19 precautions
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

When worship becomes entertainment is it really essential?
(Kenneth L. Woodward, Religion News Service)

The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court comes to the protection of indigenous people’s right to health in the face of Covid-19
(Sufyan Droubi, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Belgium court limits public Masses at Christmas
(Devin Watkins, Herald Malaysia)

Monday, 21 December 2020

Christians in Israel face bleak Christmas season due to COVID-19
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)

Citing timing, SCOTUS declines to allow in-person learning to resume in Kentucky
(Catholic News Agency)

DC backs down over Mass limits after archdiocese sues
(Catholic News Agency)

Catholic archbishop: ‘The Church in France is jostled from many sides’
(Catholic News Agency)

Virus brings job drought to Holy Land
(Gerald Butt, Chruch Times)

Holy Communion by mail ‘not canonical’
(Hattie Williams, Church Times)

Supreme Court sides with churches challenging COVID-19 worship restrictions in Colorado, New Jersey
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Federal Court refuses to enjoin state COVID enforcement proceedings against church
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Federal judge declines to overturn contempt of court charge for California church
(Matthew Renda, Courthouse News Service)

Vatican green-lights COVID vaccines, finds no ‘cooperation’ in abortion for users
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Will religious leaders fight for — or against — COVID-19 vaccinations?
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)

Religious freedom, public health, and the limits of law
(Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Divert arms money to fight COVID-19, ensure vaccine for all, pope says
(Philip Pullella, Reuters)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 26 December
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Law and religion round-up – 20th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

COVID-19: Tier 4 and other restrictions announced
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Top 10 religion-news stories of 2020: Coronavirus pandemic touched almost everything
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)

Friday, 18 December 2020

The coronavirus pandemic's impact on religious life
(PRRI)

In a year of pandemic and pain, women fight back
(Hillary Margolis, Human Rights Watch)

DC mayor backs down following Catholic Church lawsuit, eases restrictions on churches ahead of Christmas
(Mary Margaret Olohan, The Daily Signal)

DC Archdiocese seeks liberalized capacity rules for its churches
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Facing lawsuit over restrictions on Christmas services, D.C. mayor eases coronavirus rules
(Julie Zauzmer and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

Supreme Court, 7-2, refuses to reinstate injunction against Kentucky school closing order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Citing imminent expiration, justices reject Christian school’s request for exemption from Kentucky’s in-person school closures
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Biden will need to ‘rebuild trust’ with Palestinians
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

Pope Francis: Hundreds of millions of children ‘left behind’ amid pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)

Bowser eases limits on DC religious gatherings after Catholic Church lawsuit
(Luke Garrett, WTOP News)

To herald a new era, global religious leaders from all faith institutions and traditions, call for a vaccine for all
(Religions for Peace)

COVID’s toll on the Orthodox Christian Church
(George E. Demacopoulos, Commonweal)

Why the Supreme Court ruled against a Christian school fighting Kentucky’s closure order
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

Maldives COVID burial plan ‘will marginalise Sri Lankan Muslims’
(Rathindra Kuruwita and Zaheena Rasheed, Al Jazeera)

Religious protections in the midst of a pandemic: Two key arguments
(Asma T. Uddin, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)

Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Catholic Archdiocese of Washington seeks restraining order against D.C. so churches can prepare for Christmas
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

Catholic Church sues DC mayor over 'illegal' coronavirus restrictions as Christmas approaches
(Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner)

Justices revive religious groups’ attempts to block COVID-related restrictions in Colorado, New Jersey
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)

Supreme Court rules in favor of Colorado church, bars state from restricting worship
(Mary Margaret Olohan, The Daily Signal)

Supreme Court rules against Colorado’s church gathering restrictions
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News Faith)

Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband on Supreme Court's order in favor of Colorado church that challenged COVID restrictions
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Supreme Court sends two cases on COVID limits back for reconsideration
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Supreme Court continues to block state COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings
(Richard Wolf, USA Today)

9th Circuit orders injunction against Nevada's COVID limits on churches
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Court rules in favor of Lyon County church, stops state from imposing further capacity limits on churches
(Savanna Strott, Nevada Independent)

Weekly Highlight #136: Vaccination hopes and worries, marking Human Rights Day
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

Cuba’s bishops want ‘plurality and dialogue’ for Christmas
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Vaccines and religion
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Welsh Government Coronavirus Control Plan – and stop press on UK rules for Christmas
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

KAICIID launches COVID-19 guide at virtual event featuring interfaith and public health experts
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Ohio county's school closure order upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Michigan Catholic school challenges COVID closure order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Renowned epidemiologist aids St. Michael Academy’s challenge of Michigan’s lockdown as Thomas More Law Center files suit
(Thomas More Law Center)

Monday, 14 December 2020

Banning religious gatherings defies common sense, and perhaps the Constitution
(Brian Bird, Vancouver Sun)

COVID-19 surge forces new suspensions of in-person worship as Episcopalians look to Christmas
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)

Pandemic, disability, and worship practices: What next? he debates around in-person worship services callously neglect worshippers with disabilities
(Courtney Wilder, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)

What NIH chief Francis Collins wants religious leaders to know about the coronavirus vaccines
(Sarah Pulliam Bailey, The Washington Post)

Taking action together for children in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
(Religions for Peace)

Trump calls COVID-19 vaccine 'a medical miracle,' but many religious people are skeptical
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)

Legal Spirits Episode 030: Supreme Court blocks NY’s covid restrictions on churches
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Street preacher planning protest lacks standing in TRO proceeding
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Court refuses to enjoin Kentucky limits on in-person religious school instruction
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Justice Department backs private schools in virus challenge
(Associated Press)

Indonesian cleric turns himself in for COVID-19 violations
(Achmad Ibrahim and Niniek Karmini, Associated Press)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 19 December
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Belgian court reverses ban on houses of worship following Jewish petition
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Friday, 11 December 2020

Why the Virgin of Guadalupe is more than a religious icon to Catholics in Mexico
(Rebecca Janzen, The Conversation)

Welsh Government: guidance on singing over the Christmas period
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Buddhist temple attacks rise as COVID-19 amplifies anti-Asian American bias
(Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil, Religion News Service)

As COVID-19 surges, Catholics find new, socially distanced ways to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)

With vaccines on the horizon, faith leaders could play a crucial role in promoting their use
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

This year, American Jews are taking Hanukkah outside
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

Ohio Christian schools sue over school closures: ‘Faith-based instruction is an act of worship’
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Catholic high schools in Michigan sue over coronavirus order keeping them closed
(Catholic News Agency)

Belgium allows 15 people at Mass in ‘slight easing’ of public worship ban
(Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)

Only frequent church attendees avoided downward mental health trend in 2020
(Catholic News Agency)

When COVID-19 and religious freedom intersect, political partisans rush to take sides
(Asma T. Uddin and Andrew Lewis, USA Today)

Court continues injunction allowing medical abortion drug to be dispensed in pharmacy or by mail
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Abortion medication restrictions remain blocked during pandemic, judge rules
(Ann E. Marimow, The Washington Post)

During pandemic, German expert urges ban on singing in church at Christmas
(Catholic News Service)

Petitions of the week: Re-opening church doors and opening evidentiary doors
(Andrew Hamm, SCOTUSblog)

COVID can’t kill Christmas, survey finds: Canadians retain sense of spiritual importance of Christmas amid pandemic’s soul-destroying effects
(Cardus Religious Freedom Institute)

9th Circuit hears oral arguments in church's challenge to Nevada COVID rules
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Belgium seeks to ease virus rules on religious services
(Raf Casert, Associated Press)

Suit challenges Ohio County's COVID-19 school closure order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Religious high schools sue to reopen for in-person classes
(David Eggert, Associated Press)

New York Jews were ready to unite against anti-Semitism after 2 deadly attacks. Then COVID happened.
(Ben Sales, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Churches as vaccination centres
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 12 December
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

US Supreme Court urged to protect KY religious schools from shutdown
(Catholic News Agency)

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The International Center for Law and Religion Studies maintains a Law and Religion Headlines service covering news about freedom of religion or belief internationally. All interested may subscribe to this service, free of charge, using the link below.

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