Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 16 December 2022
Sovereigns, exceptions, and “shadow dockets”: law, religion, and states of emergency
(M. Christian Green, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Ban on worship services during pandemic was illegal, says German court
(Christian Network Europe)
Friday, 2 December 2022
Court rejects religious challenges to covid mask requirements
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 30 November 2022
3rd Circuit: Challenge to COVID limits on worship services is moot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
How COVID-19 restrictions affected religious groups around the world in 2020
(Samirah Majumdar, Pew Research Center)
Sixth Circuit keeps Air Force vaccine mandate on hold
(Kevin Koeninger, Courthouse News Service)
6th Circuit affirms preliminary injunction protecting Air Force personnel who have religious objections to covid vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Football coach sues after being fired for religious refusal of covid vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Religion and Covid-19: Islamic scholars and Muslim humanitarian actors in Pakistan
(Kaja Borchgrevink, Abdul Rauf, and Ihsan Qadir, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO))
Monday, 14 November 2022
Did faith fall off a cliff during COVID? New study says no.
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
Thursday, 10 November 2022
The Weekly Round-up: Migrant tagging, pandemic education rights, and Mental Health Act reform
(Matthew Johnson, UK Human Rights Blog)
Suit challenges refusal to grant religious exemption from Covid vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Monday, 7 November 2022
Actor's disparate-impact religious discrimination claim is dismissed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 4 November 2022
Challenging State Responses to the Covid-19 pandemic before the ECtHR
(Lewis Graham, Strasbourg Observers)
Monday, 31 October 2022
Dalai Lama calls for courage amid harsh COVID lockdown in Tibet
(Lobsang Gelek and Kalden Lodoe, Radio Free Asia)
Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Weekly Highlight #225: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Our updates
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Friday, 7 October 2022
Revival sought for pastor’s lawsuit over COVID restrictions
(Kevin McGill, Associated Press)
Churches’ fight over Santa Clara County Covid restrictions on thin ice
(Natalie Hanson, Courthouse News Service)
Wednesday, 5 October 2022
Weekly Highlight #224: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Nairobi Indaba on child protection; terrorism and extremism during COVID-19 emergencies
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Monday, 3 October 2022
Qualified immunity protects defendants who denied religious exemptions from covid vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 30 September 2022
Ensuring and monitoring the right to freedom of peaceful assembly during pandemic the focus of ODIHR event
(The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
City employees did not show sincere religious objection to COVID vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 28 September 2022
Weekly Highlight #223: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religious engagement through and beyond COVID-19; religious tourism; spirituality
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Friday, 23 September 2022
Milwaukee hospital ends religious exemption for vaccine
(Associated Press)
New Zealand: COVID-19 church restrictions justified, New Zealand court rules
(David Crampton, Christianity Today)
Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Weekly Highlight #222: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Continuing issues, taking stock
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Employees fired for religious refusal of COVID vaccine bring Title VII suit
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 16 September 2022
DOD fast-tracked vaccine religious exemption denials, civil liberties law firm says
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Calling the shots: Multistage challenges to federal vaccine mandates
(Elysa Dishman, SSRN)
Weekly Highlight #221: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: COVID-19 addressed in various global events, emerging research
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Mask mandate did not violate free exercise rights
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religious objections to COVID vaccine: Wierowska
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Monday, 12 September 2022
Southern Africa Regional Forum on Religion and Covid-19
(Eve de la Mothe Karoubi, Sustainable Development Solutions Network)
Friday, 9 September 2022
Catholic care worker can defend vaccine refusal on religious grounds
(Patrick Hudson, The Tablet)
Wednesday, 7 September 2022
Vaccine hesitancy is not a matter of doctrine, but for some it remains a matter of faith
(Mallory Challis, Baptist News Global)
Weekly Highlight #220: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: New research on religion and COVID-19
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
UK: How COVID-19 changed religious experience
(Joshua Edelman, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Weekly Highlight #219: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Post-COVID-19 “normal”? Concerns around discrimination
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Unvaccinated cadets ordered off Coast Guard Academy campus
(Associated Press)
7th Circuit: Plaintiffs failed to show facts supporting free exercise objections to COVID vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 26 August 2022
Argentina: Jewish groups slam Argentine president for repeatedly comparing number of COVID-19 deaths to the Holocaust
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Big win for thousands of U.S. Marines with religious objections to covid vaccine mandate
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
Wednesday, 24 August 2022
Weekly Highlight #218: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Lingering court cases; xenophobia/COVID-19 links; pandemic lessons
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Religious objections to Air Force COVID mandate dismissed for lack of standing and ripeness
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 19 August 2022
Maine's COVID vaccine mandate, without religious exemption, is upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 17 August 2022
California appeals court rejects COVID-19 fines for church
(Associated Press)
Weekly Highlight #217: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Assessing the varied and shifting impacts of the COVID-19 crisis
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Weekly Highlight #216: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: COVID-19 in "normal times"; discrimination and hate crimes
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Wednesday, 3 August 2022
Wisconsin violated Archdiocese rights in excluding clergy as COVID precaution after other outsiders were allowed in
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Faith groups praised for response during Covid pandemic
(Paul Jeffrey, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Monday, 1 August 2022
Health care workers settle COVID shot mandate for $10.3 million
(Liberty Counsel)
Friday, 29 July 2022
Weekly Highlight #215: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: COVID-19 vaccination and social assistance efforts; tensions play out in the law
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Friday, 22 July 2022
Updated COVID-19 advice from CofE
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
The post-pandemic Western populist right: A purported clash between the public good and individual rights
(Chiara Migliori, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Weekly Highlight #214: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: COVID-19 and religion on global and local agendas
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Friday, 15 July 2022
Analysis of changes to COVID-19 legislation in England
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Weekly Highlight #213: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religious celebrations and pilgrimages; legal action on vaccinations
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
National class action and TRO approved for Air Force members with religious objections to COVID vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 8 July 2022
Weekly Highlight #212: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Emerging from the pandemic: Lasting effects?
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Wednesday, 6 July 2022
ADA does not justify lower priority for employees with religious, rather than disability, exemptions from vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 1 July 2022
Supreme Court lets vaccine mandate stand, tosses rulings on guns, abortion
(Ann E. Marimow and Robert Barnes, The Washington Post)
U.S. Supreme Court nixes religious challenge to New York vaccine mandate
(Andrew Chung, Reuters)
Weekly Highlight #210: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: New research on religion and Covid-19 emphasizes holistic approaches to care
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Kigali Declaration on upholding human rights during a pandemic and other global crises
(The Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions)
Monday, 27 June 2022
Restricting public worship during covid: The response of courts across the globe
(Mark Movsesian, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Another challenge to school district's vaccine mandate fails
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
7th Circuit denies preliminary injunction to doctor fired for refusing vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 24 June 2022
Weekly Highlight #210: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Government support for and restrictions on religious practice; COVID-19, mental health, and gender-based violence
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Religious communities in the Holy Land remain united beyond the pandemic
(Nicolas Rouger, La Croix International)
Wednesday, 22 June 2022
Bill de Blasio seeks forgiveness in bid for Orthodox votes in Borough Park
(Jacob Henry, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Friday, 17 June 2022
Meat processor is not state actor in requiring covid vaccination of employees
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Weekly Highlight #208: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Children’s needs and gender-based violence; vaccination campaigns in Africa; spirituality in pandemic times
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Monday, 13 June 2022
Labyrinthine zoning rules restricted homeless shelters during the pandemic
(Christian Britschgi, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Ohio bill calls for Canada to be put on religious-freedom watchlist over COVID restrictions
(Tom Blackwell, National Post)
Friday, 10 June 2022
New vaccine may be option for troops with religious concerns
(Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press)
Free Exercise challenge to New Mexico COVID orders moves ahead
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Constitutional recognition of religious exemptions to vaccination requirements
(James G. Hodge, Jr., Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
China: Letters from lockdown: A Shanghai pastor on pandemics and persecutions
(Zhang San, The Gospel Coalition)
Weekly Highlight #208: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Finance, exemptions, conspiracies, and future uncertainties
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Monday, 6 June 2022
Saudi Arabia receives 1st foreign Hajj pilgrims since COVID began
(Al Jazeera)
Vaccine case roundup: Mandates across country largely upheld in recent court decisions
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Friday, 3 June 2022
St. Vincent workers who declined COVID-19 vaccine sue hospital for religious discrimination
(Johnny Magdaleno, Indy Star)
Weekly Highlight #207: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Faith to action’s repository on children and covid-19; looming food crises and religious coping; vaccine requirements in schools
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
Certiorari denied in church's challenge to Colorado COVID restrictions
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
7th Circuit hears oral arguments on reinstatement of doctor who refuses vaccination on religious grounds
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Doctor meets 7th Cir. skepticism in bid for vaccine exemption
(Robert Iafolla, Bloomberg Law)
COVID testing requirement survives Free Exercise challenge
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
No pseudonymity for challenge to Maine healthcare worker vaccine mandate
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Monday, 30 May 2022
Washington's state employee vaccine mandate upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 27 May 2022
6th Circuit en banc dismisses mask mandate challenge as moot
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Weekly Highlight #206: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: One million deaths and counting: covid-19's impact on religious communities, global vaccine inequities, digital technologies
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
University's vaccine mandate did not violate free exercise rights of students
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Monday, 23 May 2022
COVID-19: legislation and guidance updates from May 2022
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Friday, 20 May 2022
Court denies relief to Air Force members with religious objections to covid vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
India: Beyond vaccinations, Shanti Ashram provides holistic help for vulnerable communities
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
UK COVID-19 Inquiry: terms of reference consultation outcome
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Air Force Academy cadets face expulsion, repayment demand over vaccine refusal
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Monday, 16 May 2022
4 Air Force cadets may not graduate due to vaccine refusal
(Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press)
Space Force captain with religious objections to vaccine mandate is denied injunction
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 13 May 2022
For some people, religious leaders might be most effective at communicating the importance of COVID-19 vaccination
(Filip Viskupič and David Wiltse, The Conversation)
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