The Supreme Court decision is a major win for school choice advocates and the church’s efforts to serve poor and marginalized communities, writes Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami.
Religious Freedom
State Department report says China among worst offenders of religious freedom
The Chinese government recognizes five official religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism. Members of each of these religious groups must register before they can participate in religious services.
Religious freedom commission says U.S. cannot ignore northeast Syria
The independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission said it aims to defend the universal right to freedom of religion abroad and makes policy recommendations to the U.S. administration.
Ignore the optics. Trump’s executive order could jump-start the cause of global religious freedom.
President Trump may be a flawed messenger, but his administration is making significant progress in promoting global religious freedom, writes Daniel Philpott of the University of Notre Dame.
Bishop Hying says cap on worship size ‘unjust,’ stifles church’s mission
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, Wis., has openly disagreed with local government’s pandemic advisory of limiting the number of congregants at Masses as interfering with “our pastoral mission.”
Churches worldwide try to balance religious freedom, protecting health
In the United Kingdom, some bishops have criticized a government policy to place churches in the same high-risk category of public places as pubs, restaurants and theaters, which will not be allowed to reopen until after July 4.
Cardinal Cupich: How Vatican II can help us navigate the politics of a pandemic
For the Catholic community, the penetrating vision of the Second Vatican Council identifies a clear pathway of public engagement and conscience formation.
Justice Dept. says California’s pandemic plan should open churches sooner
The U.S. Department of Justice claims that the state of California’s coronavirus opening plan is hampering the rights of people to resume religious services.
Poll shows a partisan split over coronavirus-era religious freedom
The poll found Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say prohibiting in-person services during the coronavirus outbreak violates religious freedom, 49% to 21%.
Divided court examines if religious schools exempt from discrimination laws
In this case, the court is asked to determine if the fired teachers fell under the “ministers” category and were therefore exempt from job discrimination protections.
