Law and Religion Headlines

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Wednesday, 7 October 2020

With Cuomo on warpath, Orthodox Jews worry that COVID-19 shutdown will backfire
(Ari Feldman, Forward)

Interfaith demonstrations across California demand release of incarcerated people amid COVID-19
(Alera Molina, Religion News Service)

After Trump tweets about hymn singers' arrest, church plans another event
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo shuts down New York City yeshivas in virus hot spots
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

Pope Francis calls for shake-up of healthcare in wake of pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)

Vatican City State makes masks compulsory outdoors
(Catholic News Agency)

Aid to the Church in Need providing aid to nuns in poverty during pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)

New Jersey COVID limits on indoor church services are upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Israeli police clash with ultra-Orthodox over virus rules
(Associated Press)

Weekly Highlight #125: Emerging Research and Vaccination as a Public Good
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

“Law, Religion, and Coronavirus in the United States”: Adelaide Madera
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Monday, 5 October 2020

“Law, Religion, and Coronavirus in the United States”: Mary Anne Case
(Center for Law and Religion Forum at St. John's University School of Law)

Pilgrims return to Mecca as Saudi eases virus restrictions
(Associated Press)

Governor orders some NYC (religious) schools closed amid virus flare-up
(Associated Press)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 3 October
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Department of Justice files statement of interest supporting Capitol Hill Baptist Church's efforts to practice its faith during COVID-19
(U.S. Department of Justice)

9th Circuit upholds California's COVID restrictions on religious services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

U.S. appeals court upholds California’s coronavirus restrictions on churches
(Los Angeles Times)

Friday, 2 October 2020

Judge upholds Colorado's coronavirus limits on religious gatherings
(Catholic News Agency)

Iranians call COVID-19 diagnosis 'lesson' for Trump
(Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)

Faith leaders offer prayers as President Trump tests positive for COVID-19
(Bob Smietana, Jack Jenkins, Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

Most congregations are doing all right during COVID-19. But the future is uncertain.
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

The coronavirus, the compelling state interest in health, and religious autonomy
(W. Cole Durham, Jr., Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

In Uganda, thousands finally return to places of worship
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Nationalism 'must not prevail,' Pope Francis says, addressing the United Nations
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

France tightens restrictions on Church properties as cases of COVID-19 spike
(Clémence Houdaille, La Croix International (paywall))

Do not suspend worship again, say clergy in open letter
(Hattie Williams, Church Times)

John Macarthur, pastor who defied COVID-19 orders, will face new hearing in November
(Alejandra Molina, Christian Headlines)

3 Christians arrested at outdoor worship service for failing to social distance, wear a mask
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headines)

DOJ warns San Francisco’s mayor that 1-person limit on church attendance is unconstitutional
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

The great turn of the world, Europe has an important role to play on the global scene in the post-COVID era
(Pascal Boniface, La Croix International (paywall))

Places of worship remain closed in Gabon: Pentecostal churches in the central African nation had threatened to resume services last Sunday
(Lucie Sarr, La Croix International (paywall))

Preliminary injunction denied in suit targeting Colorado's COVID-19 limits on size of religious gatherings
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

CO governor sued for targeting ministries
(Liberty Counsel)

US Catholic leaders call on President and Congress to support additional COVID-19 relief for those in need
(Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)

COVID-19 means new format for Germany’s largest ecumenical gathering in 2021
(World Council of Churches)

Weekly Highlight #125: Clashes and Conflicts
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

At virus milestone, Italian priest reflects on loss, lessons
(Maria Grazia Murru and Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

As virus curbs Nepal’s festivals, devotees fear gods’ anger
(Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press)

How many, like the Church of Scotland, are facing a huge shortfall due to the pandemic?
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

Pope Francis calls for new economic model to rebuild post-coronavirus world
(Catholic News Agency)

Monday, 28 September 2020

The Weekly Round-up: The Coronavirus Act 2020 under review
(Sam Sykes, UK Human Rights Blog)

Justice Department calls on San Francisco mayor to end “one congregant” rule for places of worship to comply with the Constitution
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Israel ushers in Yom Kippur with record COVID cases, tight restrictions and government apologies
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Israelis mark Yom Kippur under ‘painful’ virus lockdown
(Joseph Krauss, Associated Press)

Rabbis ponder COVID-19 queries of ultra-Orthodox Jewish life
(Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press)

COVID-19 corruption kills, say South Africa church leaders at campaign launch
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

How student sports ministries are adapting this fall
(Hamil R. Harris, Religion Unplugged)

Friday, 25 September 2020

A Dialogue on Racism in the Time of COVID-19
(Ganoune Diop and Audrey Kitagawa, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

QR codes for “Test and Trace” in churches
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

A bonanza of C-19 challenges
(Rosalind English, UK Human Rights Blog)

Normally a refuge on campus, college Muslim groups fight students’ isolation in a pandemic
(Hira Qureshi, Religion News Service)

Cardinal says Syria has been hit with a ‘poverty bomb’
(Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency)

Church challenges D.C.'s COVID-19 orders
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Statement after Adoption of the Draft Resolution Entitled, "Comprehensive and Coordinated Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic"
(H. E. Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations)

UK: Were the March 2020 lockdown restrictions lawfully imposed? (Part 1)
(Emmet Coldrick, UK Human Rights Blog)

UK: Were the March 2020 lockdown restrictions lawfully imposed? (Part 2)
(Emmet Coldrick, UK Human Rights Blog)

What democracy looks like: Protecting voting rights in the US during Covid-19 pandemic
(Human Rights Watch)

Gender in academic publishing
(Gráinne de Búrca, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Choir practice in Spain infects 30 of 41 members with virus
(Associated Press)

Church of England updated COVID-19 guidance, 25 September
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

COVID-19 restrictions and the effect on human rights
(Equality and Human Rights Commission)

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Existing for others in times of COVID-19
(Jeroen Jans, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Religion and a COVID-19 Vaccine—a Complex Question with Complex Answers
(Renae Barker, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Weekly Highlight #124: Messages, Information, and Misinformation
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

Holy See at UN offers comments on comprehensive and coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic
(Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)

The Ramadan in the days of Covid-19. A glance from Italy
(Rosa Geraci, DIRESOM: Religion, Law and COVID-19 Emergency)

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

Prominent evangelical church is the first to sue D.C. over covid-19 worship limits
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

Faith after COVID-19: How many flocks will survive digital 'worship shifting' trends?
(Terry Mattingly, OnReligion)

California Catholics join fight against COVID restrictions of worship
(Anne Stych, Religion Unplugged)

Monday, 21 September 2020

Politics is wrecking America’s pandemic response
(Jonathan Rothwell and Christos Makridis, Brookings - Up Front)

Pelosi 'misspoke' on San Francisco Mass attendance, spokesman claims
(Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)

Saudi Arabia to launch app for Mecca pilgrims amid virus
(Associated Press)

Surviving 2020: How many churches will die because of COVID-19 and 'worship shifting'?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)

COVID 'group of six' ban in England 'will not apply' to places of worship
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

Friday, 18 September 2020

Boris Johnson: Rosh Hashanah marks ‘end of a year many would like to forget’
(Jack Mendel, Jewish News)

Hungarian Jews to celebrate Rosh Hashanah on a boat on the Danube amid rising COVID infections
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The pandemic exposes realities of failing to combat global censorship
(Katrina Lantos Swett, The Hill - Opinion)

California Christian school must abide by COVID-19 restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Christian school ordered to cease on-campus learning during pandemic
(Bianca Bruno, Courthouse News Service)

Ohio law bans COVID orders that close houses of worship
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

New law bans officials from closing Ohio places of worship
(Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Associated Press)

Pelosi to church: ‘Follow science’ on COVID-19 restrictions
(Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press)

Jewish pilgrims retreat from Ukrainian border
(Yuras Karmanau, Associated Press)

Under lockdown, Israel faces bitter start of Jewish New Year
(Ilan Ben Zion, Associated Press)

SF Archbishop: Catholics’ right to worship ‘unjustly repressed’ by government
(Catholic News Service)

Nearly 10 percent of town quarantined after Argentine priest ignores safety protocols
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Two bishops ask Philippine president to let health workers go abroad
(Catholic News Service)

New podcast: Yes, it will be big news if COVID-19 closes 20% of America's churches
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)

Choirs and the “rule of six” – new advice
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

COVID-19: Church of England and RSCM updates
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Bishops confront health and social crisis in Peru
(Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Weekly Highlight #123: Pandemic tests believers and religious institutions
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

San Francisco Catholics plan Eucharistic processions to ‘Free the Mass’
(Catholic News Agency)

How humility can win the coronavirus battle, and restore trust in politics
(David Briggs, Association of Religion Data Archives: Ahead of the Trend)

Second coronavirus lockdown in Israel frustrates many religious Jews’ plans for High Holidays
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)

New survey reveals turnaround in church giving
(Religion News Service)

Churches report giving boost months after pandemic started
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

American Jews adapt the Seder for Rosh Hashana in a DIY pivot
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

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