The governor and two churches that sued over a stay-at-home order have reached a temporary truce in a case that entangles the coronavirus outbreak with issues of religious liberties. Wichita, Kansas — Gov. Laura Kelly filed a joint motion this weekend with two churches suing her over stay-at-home orders, signaling…
Federal judge says Mississippi church can hold drive-in services
Mississippi state leaders plan to sue Chinese government over coronavirus outbreak Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here . A federal judge in Mississippi ruled Friday that the First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs can stay open for drive-in services…
Greenville Co. Schools appeals court’s decision to award AHA $456K in lawsuit over prayer at graduations
(FOX Carolina) (Greenville, SC/FOX Carolina) – Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees said Friday the district had filed an appeal on the court’s recent decision in the lawsuit filed by the American Humanist Association. On April 14, the 11-page order handed down from the U.S. District Court for South Carolina…
How shelter-in-place orders can still comply with religious liberty | Opinion
On Fire Christian Church has moved services outdoors, offering a drive-in fellowship, so the congregation may worship while social distancing. Louisville Courier Journal Case law as well as state statutes leave religious liberty well protected. Public officials should take note before regulating church services. U.S. District Judge Justin Walker of…
Kenneth D. Wald: Religious groups should follow CDC guidelines
Apr 19, 2020 at 12:02 AM A number of religious organizations — mostly evangelical Protestant denominations — have issued challenges to state or local "shelter in place" regulations that prohibit religious gatherings. These challenges have no legitimate position in law. Yes, the U.S. Constitution has two provisions that might seem…
Op-Ed: Yes, the government can restrict your liberty to protect public health
Demonstrators oppose stay-at-home orders during a rally last week at the Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Despite such challenges, the government has broad constitutional latitude to impose restrictions to protect public health. Can the government restrict individual liberties to stop the spread of COVID-19? It’s a question being raised by protesters…
Federal Judge Delivers Blow To Kansas Governor’s Church Gathering Ban
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (Photo by Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images) A federal judge delivered a blow to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s (D) ban on church gathering Saturday, allowing two local churches to conduct in-person, though socially-distanced, services. “Plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the form of denial…
Federal judge blocks Kan. limits on in-person church gatherings
Michael Stavola The Wichita Eagle WICHITA, Kan. — A U.S. District Court of Kansas judge issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday against part of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order that limited church gatherings to 10 or fewer people, a ruling that paves the way for in-person religious services without…
Federal Judge Blocks Kansas Rule Limiting Religious Gatherings Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Pastor Jerel Hagerman conducts a drive-in “car church” Easter service in the parking lot of Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 12, 2020 in Yucca Valley, California. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial…
Judge Rejects Freedom of Assembly/Association Challenge to New Mexico Limit on In-Person Worship
I blogged below about Judge Browning’s Free Exercise Clause analysis; but the church also raised an assembly clause challenge to the ban on gatherings of more than 5 people in places of worship. Such a challenge, if accepted, would have applied to nonreligious gatherings, too, but the judge rejected it…
Opposing Church Closures Becomes New Religious Freedom Cause
State and local restrictions on religious gatherings, introduced as measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, have emerged as a top religious freedom issue and prompted a flurry of new lawsuits charging that such measures violate the First Amendment or state religious freedom statutes. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a…
Legal Firm representing Godspeak and Temple Ner Simcha sends demand letter to Ventura County Board of Supervisors
By Michael Hernandez NEWBURY PARK—Pastor Rob McCoy announced on Thursday’s “Fireside Chat” that the Tyler & Bursch legal firm has sent a demand letter on behalf of Godspeak Calvary and Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha (Westlake Village) seeking a rescission of the April 9 th public health order…
Breaking: Judge Grants Restraining Order Against Louisville, KY Mayor in Dispute Over Drive-in Church Service on Easter
LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Justin Walker granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing Louisville, Kentucky Mayor Greg Fischer from blocking On Fire Church from holding drive-in services on Easter. The TRO was filed yesterday in the United States District Court…
County sued over mask requirement, ban on in-person religious gatherings
A San Francisco-based law firm is suing San Bernardino County over its order that residents must cover their faces in public and its ban on in-person religious gatherings. A letter sent by Dhillon Law Group on Wednesday, April 8, to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, says the order…
Kenneth D. Wald: Religious groups should follow CDC guidelines
Apr 14, 2020 at 12:03 AM A number of religious organizations — mostly evangelical Protestant denominations — have issued challenges to state or local "shelter in place" regulations that prohibit religious gatherings. These challenges have no legitimate position in law. Yes, the U.S. Constitution has two provisions that might seem…
Religion Triumphs Over Virus Rules, Raising Judge’s Profile (2)
A woman follows along in her bible during the sermon at a drive-in service on April 5 in Louisville, Ky. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic limiting gatherings of people, churches have responded with alternate ways to have their services. Restrictions discriminate against religion Lengthy opinion possibly could have been avoided…
CHRISTINE FLOWERS: Thank God for Supreme Court’s look at same-sex foster parents
A few years ago, an LGBTQ couple approached Bethany Christian Services and expressed an interest in becoming foster parents. Bethany Christian, which maintained a contract with the city of Philadelphia to provide foster care, turned them down based on a religious opposition to same-sex unions. The Inquirer ran a story…
The origin of the current voucher calamity in Ohio, Part VII
Comments (0) Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding www.ohiocoalition.org A group of taxpayers in the Cleveland area filed a case against the Cleveland voucher program pleading that the government could not pay tuition for students to attend religious schools. The local federal district court and the 6th…
Why The Government Can Shut Down Church Gatherings During Pandemics
Below is my column in The Hill newspaper. This weekend the Kansas Supreme Court ruled with the Governor in upholding her order to close church services over 10 persons. That is particularly notable since, as mentioned in the column, Kansas is a state with enhanced protections for the free exercise…
Kentucky court rules for Louisville church
LOUISVILLE, KY – On Saturday afternoon before Easter, Federal District Judge Justin Walker issued a temporary restraining order against Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer’s ban on "religious services, even if the congregants remain in their cars during the service." On Fire Christian Center is represented by First Liberty and a Louisville…
DOJ: ‘Expect action’ on government regulation of religious services amid COVID-19 outbreak
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Jay Town joins Jon Scott to discuss how criminals take advantage during a pandemic. Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here . The Justice Department (DOJ) may take action next week against…
DOJ: ‘Expect action’ on government regulation of religious services amid COVID-19 outbreak
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here . The Justice Department (DOJ) may take action next week against local governments that have cracked down on religious services as widespread parts of the country are shut down due to the coronavirus…
Breaking: Judge Grants Restraining Order Against Louisville, KY Mayor in Dispute Over Drive-in Church Service on Easter
LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Justin Walker granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing Louisville, Kentucky Mayor Greg Fischer from blocking On Fire Church from holding drive-in services on Easter. The TRO was filed yesterday in the United States District Court…
DOJ: ‘Expect action’ on government regulation of religious services amid COVID-19 outbreak
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here . The Justice Department (DOJ) may take action next week against local governments that have cracked down on religious services as widespread parts of the country are shut down due to the coronavirus…
Federal judge denies church’s bid to hold Easter service despite coronavirus stay-home orders
Federal courthouse building in downtown San Diego.(San Diego Union-Tribune) Federal courthouse building in downtown San Diego. SAN DIEGO — A federal judge declined on Friday to allow a small Campo-based Christian church to assemble for Easter services on Sunday, turning aside a lawsuit the church had filed against San Diego…