Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 27 July 2020
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)
Life, liberty, & vaccines: The clash between the coronavirus and religious freedom
(Sara Pullen Guercio, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
COVID-19 and the destruction of a religious movement in South Korea
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Monday, 20 July 2020
Oxford University coronavirus vaccine trial produces strong immune reponse
(Mairead McArdle, National Review)
Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary report of a phase 1/2, single-blind, randomised controlled trial
(Pedro M Folegatti et al., The Lancet)
Sunday, 19 July 2020
Ban on worship and home bible sudies faces legal challenge
(Liberty Challenge)
California COVID-19 limits on worship services challenged
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Saturday, 18 July 2020
Evangelical churches sue California governor over ban on singing during services
(Carol Kuruvilla, Huff Post)
Brazilian priest under fire after calling President Bolsonaro a ‘worthless bandit’
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Tools for studying pandemic religion
(A. Trevor Sutton, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)
Friday, 17 July 2020
Covid-19, Religion and FORB. Reflections upon the Completion of the Covid-19 & FoRB Webinar series
(Pasquale Annicchino, Judd Birdsall, Francesco Di Lillo, Michael Mohallem, Brett Scharffs, Marco Ventura, BYU Law ICLRS, LDS-Europe, CRS, DISPOC, FGV Direito RIo, FBK-ISR)
Annicchino: Reflections upon the Completion of the Covid-19 & FoRB Webinar Series
(Pasquale Annicchino, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Scharffs: Reflections upon the Completion of the Covid-19 & FoRB Webinar Series
(Brett G. Scharffs, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Birdsall: Reflections upon the Completion of the Covid-19 & FoRB Webinar Series
(Judd Birdsall, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Ventura: Reflections upon the Completion of the Covid-19 & FoRB Webinar Series
(Marco Ventura, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT #114: COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Texas exempts religious private schools from reopening guidelines
(Tal Axelrod, The Hill)
Coronavirus updates: NM court upholds worship service limits, CA Gov tightens restrictions, U.S. Navy reverses policy
(Don Byrd, BJC Online)
Should churches be excluded from mask mandates?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Singing in Church of England churches and cathedrals
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
South Korean prosecutors question church leader
(Associated Press)
Thursday, 16 July 2020
Faith, hope and creative destruction: religious responses to COVID-19
(Donald E. Miller, Religion News Service)
California churches sue Gavin Newsom, reigniting coronavirus religious liberty battle
(Nicholas Rowan, The Washington Examiner)
The media’s jihad against Sweden’s no-lockdown policy ignores key facts – OpEd
(Ryan McMaken, Mises Institute)
India to allow Hindu pilgrims to Kashmir despite coronavirus risk
(Al Jazeera)
Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Clergy cannot get inmates' executions delayed because of COVID fears
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court denies Catholic priest's motion asking for delay of prisoner's execution
(Catholic News Agency)
In Los Angeles, Catholic schools plan to resume in-person classes, while public schools go online
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Hasidim's arrival in Uman impossible this year - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's document
(Interfax-Religion)
COVID-19 reveals how ‘everything is Interconnected,’ says British Ambassador to the Holy See
(Heather Walker, Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
COVID19 in Latin America at heart of prayer vigil organized by Sant’Egidio in Rome
(Deborah Catellano Lubov, Zenit: The World Seen from Rome)
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Imams in Mombasa maintain that Mosques will remain closed
(Vincent Kejitan, The Standard)
Why Buddhist monks collect alms and visit households even in times of social distancing
(Thomas Borchert, The Conversation)
Court upholds New Mexico's COVID-19 limits on church services in lengthy opinion
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
AP explains why it was wrong for local-level Catholic employees to get coronavirus relief money
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Scotland: Government guidance on safe reopening of places of worship
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Relaxation of coronavirus legislation in Wales from 13 July: initial guidance for churches
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Monday, 13 July 2020
Marriages and civil partnerships in Wales
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Yes, Catholic Church got billions in federal coronavirus aid — and thank goodness
(Charles C. Camosy, Religion News Service)
Italy predicts decline in births following coronavirus
(Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Dilemma in re-opening places of worship
(Saada Hassan, The Standard)
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Millions of children forced into labor as COVID-19 creates global hunger crisis: World Vision
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Churches amid the pandemic: Some outbreaks, many challenges
(David Crary, Associated Press)
Saturday, 11 July 2020
Is The Cameroon ceasefire talk nearing amid Covid-19 pandemic?
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Friday, 10 July 2020
Hagia Sophia in contest during COVID-19 emergency
(Coby Vail, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Thursday, 9 July 2020
Article 9 challenges to the COVID-19 lockdown in England: R (Hussain) and Dolan
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020: revised post
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Burial traditions clash with coronavirus safety in Indonesia
(Niniek Karmini and Victoria Milko, Associated Press)
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
Supporting a more socially inclusive society in Bangladesh: Seeking lessons from different experiences
(Sarah Thompson, Aisha Binte Abdur Rob, Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #113: The Religious Responses to COVID-19 Project: Changing Pace
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
United Nations Human Rights Mandate Holders and COVID-19
(Just Security)
A conversation with U.N. Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed: COVID-19 and freedom of belief
(Just Security)
A conversation with U.N. Special Rapporteur David Kaye: COVID-19 and Freedom of Expression
(Just Security)
A conversation with U.N. Special Rapporteur E. Tendayi Achiume: COVID-19, Racism, and Xenophobia
(Just Security)
CDC director, President Trump push for schools to reopen in the fall
(Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines)
Arkansas Baptist leader says report blaming churches for COVID-19 spread 'unfair'
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
Faith-Based Organizations Responding to COVID-19
(Brett Scharffs and Katherine Marshall, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
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