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.
Religious Freedom
Critical religious liberty disputes expected for 2021
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.
Washington Archdiocese sues over D.C.’s 50-person cap on church attendance
The Archdiocese of Washington has petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to lift the 50-person cap on indoor religious gatherings in D.C.
Court says N.Y. pandemic limits on houses of worship restrict religious freedom
In a 5-4 decision issued just before midnight Nov. 25, the Supreme Court lifted the pandemic restrictions on congregation sizes at houses of worship imposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Christians, Muslims again top list of faiths facing hostility worldwide
Christians top the list for countries where they face either governmental or social hostility, according to a new report issued Nov. 10 by the Pew Research Center.
Vatican extends provisional agreement with China on naming bishops
The Vatican and the Chinese government will extend an agreement signed in 2018 regarding the appointment of bishops.
Brooklyn Diocese ‘extremely disappointed’ court sided with new COVID-19 limits
After a federal judge sided with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in its court fight against the state’s latest restrictions on houses of worship, the Brooklyn Diocese “is extremely disappointed” but is considering its “appellate options,” Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in a statement.
China at center of meeting between Pompeo, top Vatican officials
After two weeks of communicating through the media, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke face-to-face about China, the topic of a major difference of opinion.
Catonsville Trinitarian lifts up persecuted Catholics in China
Trinitarian Father Stan De Boe recalls meeting a relentless anti-Communist bishop in China who suffered four decades of political imprisonment.
San Francisco Catholics urged to speak up about ‘punitive’ limits on Mass
San Francisco’s archbishop is calling on all parishes in the archdiocese to each gather parishioners to participate in eucharistic processions to U.N. Plaza next to City Hall Sept. 20 “to witness to the city that faith matters.”
Report abuse learned in confession or go to jail, says Australian state
A new law requires priests in the state of Queensland to break the seal of confession to report child sex abuse to police or face three years in jail.
In new term, Supreme Court once again takes up religious liberty
As part of what seems to be a new trend for the Supreme Court, it will once again take up a religious liberty case in its new term with oral arguments Nov. 4 in a case about a Catholic social service agency excluded from Philadelphia’s foster care program for not accepting same-sex couples as foster parents.