Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 5 June 2020
Churches in China must preach 'patriotism' to reopen after coronavirus
(Catholic News Agency)
Madison changes church reopening rules after Catholic bishop threatens lawsuit
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
COVID-19 compounds economic crises in Yemen, Jordan, Palestine
(Al-Monitor)
Thursday, 4 June 2020
WEBINAR RECORDING: Balancing in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis: Adapting and Reimagining Faith-Inspired Programs
(Olivia Wilkinson, Moderator, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs | World Faiths Development Dialogue)
The virus, churches and religious liberty
(Fr. Raymond de Souza, The Catholic Register)
Can churches reopen like businesses? In Minnesota, yes. In Nevada, no.
(Megan Fowler, Christianity Today)
Which rights take precedence in a pandemic turned civil crisis?
(Jonathan S. Tobin, Jewish News Syndicate)
The politics of religious freedom – Covid-19 edition
(Asma T. Uddin, Religious Freedom Center, Freedom Forum Institute)
Religious freedom in the age of COVID-19
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Balancing religious freedoms and public health protections during the covid-19 pandemic (Responding to: Religious freedom in the age of covid-19)
(James G. Hodge, Jr., Hanna Reinke Claudia Reeves, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Covid-19 and the assembly of believers: From rights to responsibility (Responding to: Religious freedom in the age of covid-19)
(Robin Fretwell Wilson, Sara Buitrón, Marie Joe Noon Brian A. Smith, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Does religion matter during a pandemic? (Responding to: Religious freedom in the age of covid-19)
(Christopher Ogolla, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The role of religious liberty in (the development of) social distancing law (Responding to: Religious freedom in the age of covid-19)
(Lindsay F. Wiley, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Christian group challenges England's liberalization of abortion rules in COVID-19 crisis
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
UK's DIY abortions
(Christian Concern)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #78: Rising Stigma amid the Pandemic: India’s Muslim Community
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Scottish bishops present plan for reopening churches to government
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #79: Responses to COVID-19 in Latino Churches
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
China makes preaching patriotism compulsory to reopen churches
(Catholic News Service, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Reopening policies unfairly target church services in Madison, Wis.
(Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review)
Howard County, Maryland, officials tried to ban Mass: Why wasn't that a news story?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
No crowding, no physical offerings: Indian Health Ministry announces SOPs for religious places
(The Wire)
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Church's challenge to St Louis COVID-19 order dismissed as moot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Can human love make a comeback?
(Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #77: COVID-19 in Africa: Puzzles, Positive News, Religious Roles
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Who Is My COVID-19 Neighbor?
(Andy Olsen with Susan Mettes, Christianity Today Magazine)
Religious freedom foes seek to leverage coronavirus controversies
(Kevin Jones, Catholic News Agency)
For most churchgoers, controversy between religious freedom and public health is not real
(Kraig Beyerlein, David Nirenberg, USA Today Opinion)
Pastor whose church was burned down vows to pray for soul of arsonist, continue worship
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
‘Arbitrary,’ ‘unconstitutional’ COVID-19 orders target of Texas Supreme Court petition
(Andy Hogue, The Hayride)
Judge dismisses church’s lawsuit against St. Louis County, but it could be refiled
(Jeremy Kohler, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce bill to exempt religious exercise from public health emergency orders
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
UK Foreign Office asked to help religious minorities during coronavirus pandemic
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
Desperate Christians trading faith for food in corona crisis - human rights lawyer
(Christian Today)
New Zealand churches reopen as coronavirus restrictions ease
(Tracey Bridcutt, Adventist News Network)
Catholics in Belgium still in liturgical lockdown
(Christophe Henning, La Croix International)
Indonesia cancels hajj pilgrimage due to coronavirus
(Edna Tarigan, Associated Press)
Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020, as amended
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Quick thoughts on the California church-closure case
(Mark Movsesian, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Buhari relaxes restrictions on churches, mosques, banks, hotels
(This Day)
Adhere to government protocols on covid-19—religious leader to Ghanaians
(Beyonce Diamond Kpogli, Modern Ghana)
Shincheonji and coronavirus in South Korea: Sorting fact from fiction: A White Paper
(Massimo Introvigne, Willy Fautré, Rosita Šorytė, Alessandro Amicarelli, Marco Respinti, Human Rights Without Frontiers International, Center for Studies on New Religions)
Moore: Court’s ruling on church falls short
(Tom Strode, The Baptist Messenger)
An outbreak of Coronavirus at women's monastery of UOC-MP in Kyiv
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Monday, 1 June 2020
Why 4 justices on the Supreme Court voted to reopen churches in the pandemic
(Ian Millhiser, Vox)
The pastors already planning to rebel against future shutdowns
(Emma Green, The Atlantic)
Emergency orders can't last forever
(Keith E. Wittington, Reason Foundation)
The new normal: back to church in Papua New Guinea
(Willie Kunsei, Adventist News Network)
US Supreme Court, 5-4, refuses to enjoin California's limits on worship services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court declines to lift restrictions on crowds at church services
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
TRO denied in church's challenge to Delaware COVID-19 order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Federal judge denies request to more broadly open Delaware churches
(Esteban Parra and Isabel Hughes, Delaware News Journal)
Guidance released on NSW COVID-19 laws and churches
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
U.S. Supreme Court upholds California’s COVID-19 restrictions on religious worship
(Evan Seeman, RLUIPA-Defense)
DOJ supports church suing to overturn Colorado governor’s executive order
(Tyler Gillett, Jurist)
London archbishop says opening churches a matter of ‘basic equality’
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Africans in Germany lose their church communities
(Daniel Pelz, Deutsche Welle)
Pandemic creates problems for Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
COVID-19: latest guidance from the Church of England – updated
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
White evangelicals shown as a group with slipping trust in Trump's handling of COVID-19
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Latin America’s pandemic highlights best and worst of church-state relations
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Old religious quarrels return as covid-19 lockdowns ease
(The Economist)
Freedom to worship must not be sacrificed to government restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic
(Miche P. Orsi, The Washington Times Opinion)
Pastors planned to ignore Governor’s rules on Sunday
(Valley News)
Reopening states are still treating churches and businesses differently
(Nicole Russell, The Washington Examiner Opinion)
Press Release: His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros direct Archdiocese clergy Syndesmos address
(Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
In the name of ‘Religious Liberty,’ Roger Severino wants to feed U.S. Christians to the (COVID-19) lions
(Ivan Strenski, Sightings: The University of Chicago Divinity School)
Sunday, 31 May 2020
Pope Francis prays for pandemic-hit Amazon region at Regina Coeli
(Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis calls for 'a more just, equitable and Christian society' after coronavirus crisis
(Catholic News Agency)
Pope Francis urges Christians to be united as 'witnesses to mercy'
(Catholic News Agency)
Amazon delivery driver who prayed God would protect sick child says 'God is good'
(Catholic News Agency)
COVID-19: Akufo-Addo lifts ban on religious activities in Ghana
(Andreas Kamasah, Pulse.gh)
Saturday, 30 May 2020
What COVID-19 restrictions on religious freedom reveal about America in 2020: An interview with Thomas Farr
(Religious Freedom Institute: Cornerstone Blog)
A sage appraisal of COVID-19
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Churches begin navigating a gradual reopening with safety as top priority
(Jeff Thomas, Catholic News Service)
Supreme Court, in rare late-night ruling, says California may enforce certain restrictions on religious gatherings
(Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
Why staying home from church fulfills commandment to love thy neighbor
(Gracie Bond Staples, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion)
When pastors and pews disagree on churches reopening
(Kara Bettis, Christianity Today)
Jews tell about celebrating Shavout under quarantine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #74: Reopening Churches: Risks Versus Benefits
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Covid-19 and Elections in sub-Saharan Africa: what risks for democracy and human rights?
(Statement, FIDH: International Federation for Human Rights)
West Africa facing food crisis as coronavirus spread: Pandemic adds to jihadi and climate change threats to present ‘immense challenge’ for region
(Emmanuel Akinwotu, The Guardian)
Human rights threatened under COVID-19 pandemic
(VOA - Straight Talk Africa)
Worship in Coronavirus time- the latest NSW rules
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Supreme Court rejects challenge to limits on church services
(Mark Sherman, Religion News Service)
From Illinois to Puerto Rico, Latino Muslims navigate faith and quarantine among their non-Muslim families
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Trained in rebuilding after disasters, NC Baptists now distribute food boxes
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
State bar group calls for ‘mandatory’ COVID-19 vaccinations, regardless of objections
(Jason Grant, New York Law Journal, DiReSoM: Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali/ Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies)
COVID-19 story few are covering: Vast majority of Baptists (and others) are being careful
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Ontario: Recalibrating education
(Peter Stockland, Convivium: Canada's Premier Hub for Faith in Common Life)
COVID-19: Re-opening plans across Canada
(Deina Warren, Canadian Council of Christian Charities: Noteworthy)
Cyber attacks and cyber (mis)information operations during a pandemic
(Marko Milanovic, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Orthodox Jews will challenge Doug Ford’s COVID-19 restrictions on religious liberty
(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, LifeSiteNews)
Justice Department backs Colorado church suit against Polis
(The Hour)
California ends ban on in-person religious services as one church takes it to US Supreme Court
(Paul Strand, CBN News)
What is worship and is it really ‘essential’?
(Richard Kannwischer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion)
Divided Supreme Court rejects churches on covid restrictions
(Greg Stohr, Bloomberg Law)
Some say if retail stores are open, churches should be too. Here’s why it’s not so simple.
(Carol Kuruvilla, Huffington Post)
Supreme Court rejects Calif. church’s request to lift limits on in-person services ahead of Pentecost Sunday
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
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