Vatican expresses concern about proposed Italian law on homophobia June 23, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The Vatican has informed Italy that a draft law to fight homophobia and discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity could violate the freedom of Catholics to teach and practice their faith.
Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic agency in foster case June 17, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News In a unanimous decision June 17, the Supreme Court said that a Catholic social service agency should not have been excluded from Philadelphia’s foster care program because it did not accept same-sex couples as foster parents.
Supreme Court upholds health care law’s individual mandate in 7-2 ruling June 17, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News In a 7-2 decision June 17, the Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to the Affordable Care Act, saying the states that sued over the law did not have the legal right to do so.
Indiana court dismisses former-Catholic high school teacher’s lawsuit May 11, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News An Indiana trial court May 7 dismissed the lawsuit of a former Catholic high school teacher in Indianapolis who said he was fired in 2019 because of his same-sex marriage.
Speakers say Equality Act ‘overly broad,’ will harm religious liberty March 26, 2021By Kurt Jensen Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, U.S. Congress, World News A March 22 online webinar on the Equality Act focused on criticism that the legislation is so vaguely worded it would harm religious liberty and obscure biological reality.
Doctors seek permanent relief from mandate to do transgender surgeries March 9, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Attorneys for doctors and hospitals argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit March 3 that they shouldn’t be forced to perform gender-transition surgeries required under the Affordable Care Act, stressing this is an issue of conscience.
Bishops: If passed, Equality Act will ‘discriminate against people of faith February 25, 2021By Julie Asher Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News If the House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, its mandates will “discriminate against people of faith” by adversely affecting charities and their beneficiaries, conscience rights, women’s sports, “and sex-specific facilities,” said the chairmen of five U.S. bishops’ committees.
Biden reestablishes White House faith-based partnership office February 16, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News President Joe Biden signed an executive order Feb. 14 reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships as a means to work with religious and secular organizations to help with COVID-19 and economic recovery and confront systemic racism.
California bishops welcome court’s ruling easing worship restrictions February 9, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News Two California Catholic bishops applauded the Supreme Court’s Feb. 5 ruling easing the state’s restrictions on indoor worship put in place with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catholic publication’s Twitter account locked over tweet about Biden nominee January 29, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The editors at a Catholic publication said they are uncertain why an automated social media post was deemed hateful and led their Twitter account to be locked.
Bishops say order on LBGTQ equality has implications for religious liberty January 25, 2021By Julie Asher Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News President Joe Biden’s wide-ranging executive order to extend existing federal nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ people exceeds the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2020 ruling on the issue in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, said the chairmen of five U.S. bishops’ committees.
Critical religious liberty disputes expected for 2021 December 31, 2020By Tom Tracy Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, U.S. Congress, World News History may show that religious liberties under the Donald Trump administration enjoyed an elevated level of support not seen perhaps since the administration of President George W. Bush.
