Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 5 November 2021
Indians celebrate festival of light amid COVID-19 fears
(Krutika Pathi, Religion News Service)
Texans vote in favor of prohibiting governments from limiting religious services
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Wednesday, 3 November 2021
Republicans advance bill for claiming vaccine exemptions
(Kim Chandler, Associated Press)
Illinois legislature eliminates religious exemption for covid vaccine employer mandates
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Digitizing sacred spaces: How COVID-19 fueled innovation of Hindu ritual websites
(Dheepa Sundaram, Religion News Service)
Why your employer can deny your 'religious' vaccine exemption
(John Melcon, The Gospel Coalition)
The European Court of Human Rights declares inadmissible an application contesting the French “health pass”
(Press Release of the Registrar of the Court, European Court of Human Rights)
Weekly Highlight #180: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Short-term imperatives include access and vaccination; research emerging on longer-term implications
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Can Catholics object to COVID-19 vaccines on religious freedom grounds?
(Gwyneth Spaeder, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)
Calif. pro-life group claims narrow victory over vaccine protest ban
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Monday, 1 November 2021
Pandemic restrictions were a blow to religious liberty
(Christos Makridis, New York Post)
Barrett and Kavanaugh supply majority to deny religious-liberty claim on vaccine mandate
(Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review)
Judge bars Biden Administration from firing unvaccinated employees with pending religious exemptions
(Caroline Downey, National Review)
Russian Orthodox Church calls on G20 countries to drop differences over pandemic challenges
(Interfax-Religion)
Zimbabwe: ‘We are protected by prayers’: the sects hampering southern Africa’s vaccine rollout
(Nyasha Chingono, The Guardian)
Friday, 29 October 2021
Supreme Court declines to block Maine vaccine mandate
(David Sharp and Jessica Gresko, Associated Press)
Court turns away religious challenge to Maine’s vaccine mandate for health care workers
(James Romoser, SCOTUSblog)
Supreme Court rejects religious exemption challenge by Maine healthcare workers
(Kimberlee Speakman, Forbes)
Supreme Court rules against workers seeking religious exemption to vaccine mandate
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Afghanistan and pandemic make for another somber Día de los Muertos
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Interfaith gathering pledges solidarity in Vietnam
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
New York state health care workers will no longer have religious exemption to Covid-19 vaccine mandate, court rules
(Rob Frehse, CNN)
House subcommittees hold joint hearing on vaccine mandates and employee accommodations
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Weekly Highlight #179: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Supportive faith actor engagement - with noteworthy exceptions
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Bill would remove ‘conscience’ as basis for refusing vaccine
(John O'Connor, Associated Press)
EEOC updates guidance on religious objections to COVID vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Ethical and practical health challenges: Emerging from the COVID-19 crises
(Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Monday, 25 October 2021
Most Honolulu COVID vaccine exemption requests cite religion
(Peter Boylan, Star Advertiser)
Moscow churches not shut down along with the city
(RIA Novosti, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Honolulu city workers cite religion for vaccine exemptions
(Associated Press)
AP photos: Sufi religious order in Morocco finally able to gather again
(Mosa'Ab Elshamy, Associated Press)
COVID takes a bite from Bazoulé’s cult of sacred crocodiles
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)
At the height of the pandemic, the Archdiocese of Bucharest provided temples to be used as morgues
(The European Times)
Winning over the sceptics: Religious beliefs, fear, false information and suspicion are stopping many people from getting the Covid-19 jab
(Zukiswa Pikoli, The Daily Maverick)
Friday, 22 October 2021
Manitoba Chief Justice rules Public Health Officials shouldn’t be “second guessed”
(Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms)
Tehran holds first public Friday Prayers in almost 2 years
(Associated Press)
Thursday, 21 October 2021
WEBINAR, 21 October 2021 (3PM EDT): Community in Time of Corona
(Institute for Social Policy and Understanding)
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Most Americans who go to religious services say they would trust their clergy's advice on COVID-19 vaccines
(Justin Nortey and Mike Lipka, Pew Research Center)
In historically Black Protestant churches, regular attenders more likely to have received COVID-19 shot
(Stephanie Kramer, Pew Research Center)
Weekly Highlight #178: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Returning to “normal” (or not)
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Religious responses to COVID-19 project tracks, shares resources on faith engagement in global pandemic
(Sarah Thompson, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
What COVID-19 revealed about America’s approach to religious freedom
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Monday, 18 October 2021
Jackson County settles COVID-19 rules lawsuit with church
(Associated Press)
Military, federal employees and civilian contractors sue Biden [vaccine exemptions]
(Liberty Counsel)
Friday, 15 October 2021
Law, religion, and the covid crisis
(Mark Movsesian)
NY court grants preliminary injunction for health care workers
(Liberty Counsel)
Wednesday, 13 October 2021
The pandemic has helped religion’s reputation. Do religious vaccine resisters put this progress at risk?
(Kelsey Dallas, Religion News Service)
Religious vaccine exemption stays for NY health care workers
(Michael Hill, Associated Press)
Europe’s Top Court to rule on Covid-19 worship ban challenges
(ADF International)
In Brazil, Catholic pilgrims defy COVID to celebrate saint
(Tatiana Pollastri and Diane Jeantet, Associated Press)
Weekly Highlight #177: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Renowned religious leaders support covid-19 vaccines but acrimonious debates persist
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Monday, 11 October 2021
How employers judge religious exemption requests
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Friday, 8 October 2021
Legal Spirits Episode 037 (podcast): The NY COVID vaccine mandates and religious exemptions
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Colorado woman who won’t get vaccinated denied transplant
(Patty Nieberg, Thomas Peipert and Colleen Slevin, Associated Press)
Wednesday, 6 October 2021
The faith-related cases to watch in the Supreme Court’s new term
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Weekly Highlight #176: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccines
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Tuesday, 5 October 2021
Kentucky Governor has qualified immunity from church's damage suit over COVID orders
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religion is deepening the NBA’s vaccine drama
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Leap of faith: Japan’s religious institutions get innovative in pandemic
(Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)
Friday, 1 October 2021
As churches reopen, Ugandan faith groups recommit to challenging Summer worship ban
(ADF International)
University of Colorado faces COVID religious exemption suit
(Patty Nieberg, Associated Press)
Court says objections to mask requirement were not sincerely held religious beliefs
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
COVID-19 pandemic exposes great need for delivering care based on conscience and compassion
(Grattan Brown, National Catholic Register)
Wednesday, 29 September 2021
Lawyer: New York governor uses God unfairly in vaccine fight
(Larry Neumeister, Associated Press)
Religions for Peace’s reflections on the G20 Interfaith Forum
(Religions for Peace)
Weekly Highlight #175: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Vaccination: Impact of religious approaches for global programs
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
The baffling legal standard fueling religious objections to vaccine mandates
(Charles McCrary, The New Republic)
Bishops in Togo denounce church closures, vaccine mandates
(Charles Ayetan, La Croix International)
Monday, 27 September 2021
Workplace vaccination policies in South Africa: Juggling science, legal liabilities, constitutional rights, personal choice and greater good
(Ufrieda Ho, The Daily Maverick: Opinionista)
Makkah’s museums open their doors again to visitors for a cultural journey
(Tareq Al-Thaqafi, Arab News)
Jewish Israelis flock to Temple Mount in greater numbers
(Danny Zaken, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
New York Governor to vaccinated: You’re the smart ones who are listening to God
(Jim Geraghty, National Review)
Friday, 24 September 2021
South Africa increasing the use of places of worship as vaccination centers
(Penwell Dlamini, Sowetan Live)
Getting vaccinated is not against our LDS religion
(Jessica Banks, Scroll - BYU-Idaho)
World news: China shuts down religious services in Harbin as COVID cases emerge
(Daily Maverick)
Suit says Trader Joe's failed to accommodate religious objection to COVID vaccination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Evangelical pastor who says no credible religious arguments against vaccines uses pro-life argument
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Uganda reopens worship places but enforces strict restrictions
(La Croix International)
Hate speech rise follows in wake of pandemic, experts find
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Wednesday, 22 September 2021
How the military will handle religious exemptions to vaccine mandates
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Weekly Highlight #174: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Places of worship as vaccination sites and religious exemptions
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Monday, 20 September 2021
Study: Religion soothed evangelicals at start of COVID. Politics put them at risk.
(Bob Smietana, The Washington Post)
GL highlights need for WB ‘debt forgiveness’ in current emergency situation
(The Island Online)
Evangelical colleges join effort to promote faith in the vaccine
(Maria Baer, Christianity Today)
Faith and the COVID vaccine: What religions have doctrinal reasons for being unvaccinated?
(Danae King, The Columbus Dispatch)
Festival season returns to Nepal amid declining COVID cases
(Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press)
Plug-In: As COVID-19 vaccine wars rage, press focuses on religious-exemption claims
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
Friday, 17 September 2021
Access, travel rules influence missionary vaccine policies
(Holly Meyer, Associated Press)
Many faith leaders say no to endorsing vaccine exemptions
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)
In Zimbabwe "no vax" means "no church"
(Guy Aimé Eblotié, La Croix International)
Wednesday, 15 September 2021
This Yom Kippur, many Jews will wash their hands of a certain injunction
(Menachem Wecker, Religion News Service)
What’s the law on vaccine exemptions? A religious liberty expert explains
(Douglas Laycock, The Conversation)
Freedom of religion means freedom to say no to vaccines
(Noah Feldman, The Washington Post)
Post-Trump, Christian nationalists preach a theology of vaccine resistance
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Weekly Highlight #173: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religious gatherings with old and new challenges
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
CEC theological reflections: Holy Communion as a communal feast amid COVID-19
(Jari Jolkkonen, Conference of European Churches)
As COVID-19 vaccine mandates rise, religious exemptions grow
(Colleen Long and Andrew Demillo, Associated Press)
COVID-19 regulations update for Wales
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Monday, 13 September 2021
The pandemic, UN cyber negotiations and international law and norms
(Harry Aitken, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Suit challenges absence of religious exemptions in New York's vaccine mandate for health care workers
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Email Subscription
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.
Subscribe