Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 18 February 2022
Canada: COVID restriction protests affecting Church in Canada
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
US military has approved religious exemptions to vaccine mandate for 15 service members out of 16,000 requests
(Oren Liebermann and Ellie Kaufman, CNN)
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Weekly Highlight #193: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Tackling polarization through dialogue and collaboration
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Air Force officer gets injunction against required COVID vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Officer wins first-in-the-nation injunction against Air Force enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate
(Thomas More Society)
Monday, 14 February 2022
Supreme Court rejects NYC teachers’ religious exemption appeal over vax mandate
(Jesse O'Neill, The New York Post)
Many faith leaders wary of religious exemptions for vaccine
(David Crary and Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Vaccine mandates: Many US faith leaders wary of religious exemptions for vaccine
(David Crary and Peter Smith, Sight)
Are vaccine exemptions actually religious?
(Russell P. Johnson, Sightings - The University of Chicago Divinity School)
Unvaccinated medical workers turn to religious exemptions
(Heather Hollingsworth, Associated Press)
UK: Law and religion round-up – 13th February
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
GOP bill aims to halt government restrictions on houses of worship during a public health crisis
(Liam Adams, The Tennessean)
India, COVID-19, and religious secularism
(Daanyal Ebrahim, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Friday, 11 February 2022
62% of white Evangelicals have had at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine: poll
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)
Bill would let unvaccinated WVa workers get unemployment
(Leah Willingham, Associated Press)
Orthodox Jewish families & Catholic businessman sue New York mayor over unconstitutional vaccine passports
(Tom Ciesielka, Thomas More Society)
UK: COVID-19 legislation and guidance update, February
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Wednesday, 9 February 2022
Weekly Highlight #192: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Fighting for the vulnerable, adapting rituals, and caring for the dead
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Canada: Quebec bishops lament government’s COVID vaccine passport for mass attendance
(Jonah McKeown, National Catholic Register)
February 2022 newsletter
(The Association of Religion Data Archives)
Monday, 7 February 2022
Francis Collins on COVID-19 politics: ‘The culture war is literally killing people’
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)
UK: Article 9 and the COVID-19 lockdown in England: Hussain again
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Friday, 4 February 2022
Movsesian on courts’ responses to COVID restrictions
(Mark Movsesian, Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Court grants service members emergency relief in Navy SEAL 1 v. Biden
(Liberty Counsel)
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Weekly Highlight #191: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Never-ending COVID-19 pandemic as Groundhog Day ad infinitum
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Italy military chaplain hits back at vaccine-mandate critic
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Arizona lawmakers look to curb government’s emergency powers
(Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press)
UK: COVID-19: Church in Wales guidance updates
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
China: On Lunar New Year, Chinese pray outside shut temples
(Sam McNeil, Religion News Service)
China: On Lunar New Year, Chinese offer prayers at temples
(Sam McNeil, Associated Press)
Monday, 31 January 2022
Canada: Charter challenge by 2 Ontario churches opposed to public health restrictions gets underway Monday
(Kate Dubinski, CBC News)
Court refuses to enjoin medical campus' vaccination mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Pope Francis calls access to accurate information on coronavirus vaccines ‘a human right’
(Maria Luisa Paul and Adela Suliman, The Washington Post)
Peter’s Pence donations fell by around 15% in 2021, says Vatican
(Catholic News Agency)
Vatican projects budget deficit for 2022 as pandemic continues
(Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service)
Religious disbelief: Paladino coasts to religious accommodation after refusing to show vax proof
(New York Daily News)
Friday, 28 January 2022
World remembers Holocaust as antisemitism rises in pandemic
(Vanessa Gera and Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)
Mississippi bill sets religious exemption on COVID vaccine
(Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press)
The religious leaders caught in the vaccine wars
(Mansee Khurana, The Atlantic)
Would you change your religion for a religious exemption to the covid-19 vaccine?
(Dwight M. Kealy, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religions for Peace and United Religions Initiative sign a memorandum of understanding
(Religions for Peace)
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, UN rights chief says COVID-19 conspiracies blaming Jews abound
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Navy SEALs seek to make vax challenge a class action
(Katie Buehler, Law 360)
Groups raise concerns over 19 federal agencies’ plans to track religious objectors to COVID-19 vaccines
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Weekly Highlight #190: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Restrictions on gatherings continue to pose challenges
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Challenge to Indiana University vaccine mandate nixed again
(Tom Davies, Associated Press)
10th Circuit affirms dismissal of churches challenge to Colorado COVID restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Brazil’s bishops accuses president of ‘sabotaging’ child vaccination
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Singapore churches seek concessions for unvaccinated worshippers
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
UK: COVID-19: Church of England updated advice
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Concerns Regarding COVID-19, Church Governance, and Liberty of Conscience
(Adventist News Network)
Monday, 24 January 2022
Defeat the Mandates protesters: We're not 'anti-vaxxers,' this is about coercion
(Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post)
Friday, 21 January 2022
Perspective: Divided court considers religious exemptions to vaccine mandates
(Richard Foltin, Freedom Forum)
UK: COVID-19: Plan B guidance to be lifted in England
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK: COVID-19 legislation and guidance update, January (II)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Weekly Highlight #189: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Deja vu: Superspreader festivals and increasing prevention measures
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Ask this: Why did many flocks survive or thrive in pandemic, while others were hit hard?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Omicron is taking a toll on pagans, who depend on conferences for community
(Heather Greene, Religion News Service)
Monday, 17 January 2022
Israeli ultra-Orthodox leaders push for children to get vaccinated
(Israel Hershkovitz, Al-Monitor: Israeli Press)
At many churches, pandemic hits collection plates, budgets
(Holly Meyer and Haleluya Hadero, Associated Press)
Split en banc 9th Circuit denies review of refusal to enjoin school vaccine mandate that lacks religious exemption
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Australia: 'Profoundly disappointed' Serbian Orthodox Church calls on Australia to revoke Novak Djokovic's deportation
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Friday, 14 January 2022
Financial woes drive more Thais to suicide
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
United States: Expect a momentous year ahead for the Supreme Court
(Erwin Chemerinsky, ABA Journal)
As COVID cases surge, religious leaders say faith is no barrier to getting vaccine
(Nicolette White, New Jersey Herald)
India: Thousands gather at Hindu festival in India as virus surges
(Biswajeet Banerjee, Associated Press)
Court dismisses Louisiana pastor’s virus restrictions suit
(Kevin McGill, Associated Press)
7th Circuit: Church's suit against rescinded COVID order is moot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Air Force officer asks Federal Court for relief from compulsory COVID-19 vaccines
(Thomas More Society)
6th Circuit tells district court to reconsider injunction denial against school mask order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
UK: COVID-19: Church in Wales update
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Wednesday, 12 January 2022
What will be the top religion stories of 2022? Here are a few leading possibilities
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
Weekly Highlight #188: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: A push for moral imperatives to vaccinate
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Italian Episcopal Conference: Suggestions on some measures to deal with the covid emergency
(DiReSoM: Diritto e Religione nelle Società Multiculturali/ Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies)
"Spiritual distress" from employer's vaccine mandate is not "irreparable injury"
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Michigan federal court denies employee’s attempt to stave off termination for failing to receive covid-19 vaccine on religious grounds
(Mikle S. Jew, The National Law Review)
Ireland: COVID-19, mootness and restrictions on religious observance in Ireland: Ganley
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Biden administration planning lists of employees seeking ‘religious’ vaccine exemptions
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Monday, 10 January 2022
So what is new anti-semitism?
(Asher Maoz, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Omicron surge has churches feeling pandemic whiplash, with some suspending in-person worship
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)
Survey to show 'increase in direct attacks' on religious freedom worldwide amid COVID-19 pandemic
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)
Plug-In: The top religion-beat stories of 2022? Here are some likely scenarios
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
UK: COVID-19 and end of life care: AH
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Philippines: Duterte urges Black Nazarene prayers as Omicron spreads
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Friday, 7 January 2022
Supreme Court is set to review Biden’s vaccine rules for businesses, health-care workers. Here’s what to know.
(Ann E. Marimow and Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
What does the military owe to religious objectors to vaccine mandates?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Wednesday, 5 January 2022
Court delivers win to military members denied religious exemptions from Pentagon vaccine mandate
(Sarah Parshall Perry, The Heritage Foundation)
Federal Court grants injunction for Navy SEALs challenging DoD vaccine mandate
(First Liberty)
Weekly Highlight #187: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: COVID-19 pall of uncertainty as 2022 begins
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Canada: Quebec shutters houses of worship in response to Omicron variant
(David Lazarus, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Monday, 3 January 2022
Perspective: A firewall sprang up around religious liberty during the pandemic, and it held
(Robin Fretwell Wilson, Deseret News)
UK: COVID-19 legislation and guidance update, January (I)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
U.S. military uses religious test against service members to enforce vaccine mandate
(Jay Richards, The Federalist)
Wednesday, 29 December 2021
Israel: Hard-hit by COVID, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox slow to get shots
(Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press)
Undertakers, rabbis join global fight promoting COVID shots
(Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press)
Germany: As omicron spreads, churches welcome German court ruling on triage
(Catholic News Service)
Germany: In eastern Germany, pastors push for shots despite protests
(Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press)
Bulgaria's Ministry of Health and religious communities launch campaign to promote vaccines
(Radio Bulgaria)
In new job, the ‘Anthony Fauci of the New York City Council’ aims to fight COVID and antisemitism
(Jacob Kornbluh, Forward)
Russia: WHO Regional Office for Europe thanks the Russian Orthodox Church
(The European Times)
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