RICHMOND, Va. — A number of churches, faith-based schools and businesses have signed an open letter to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, asking him not to enforce the so-called “Virginia Values Act” in a way that attempts to “force” Christians to violate their deeply-held convictions under penalty of law that includes up to $100,000 in fines […]
LEESBURG, Va. — Three Christian schools and two of the churches that operate them, along with a pregnancy care center network, have filed a preemptive lawsuit to challenge the 2020 “Virginia Values Act,” which they say would prohibit them from firing those whose lifestyles are contrary to the ministries’ purpose and mission. “The Virginia Bill […]
(The Christian Institute) — Police in the U.K. have apologised to a pastor after bursting in on his service broadcast and incorrectly telling him that he was breaking coronavirus regulations. On Nov. 20, two officers interrupted Daniel Mateola’s service in Milton Keynes, claiming there were too many people assisting with the broadcast and that they […]
MOSCOW, Idaho — A religious gathering at City Hall in Moscow, Idaho resulted in several arrests after some of those gathered were taken into custody for not complying with police directives after defying COVID-related restrictions, including not wearing masks — a mandate that was extended to Jan. 5 by city council. According to the Moscow-Pullman […]
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In an article recently published by USA Today, three professors at Case Western Reserve University — two of whom are doctors — call for COVID vaccinations to be mandatory, with no allowance for religious objections. They also suggest that “disincentives” be imposed to ensure compliance, from the revocation of certain government benefits, to […]
(KTLA via CNN Wire) — While you can still attend in-person church services in California, you can’t sing. The state, to curb a rapidly worsening pandemic, has temporarily banned singing and chanting in places of worship. “Practices and performances present an increased likelihood for transmission of COVID-19 through contaminated exhaled droplets and should occur through […]
MINNEAPOLIS (The Daily Beast) — Flames and black smoke poured into the sky here early Thursday as protests over the death of George Floyd took a violent turn, with multiple local businesses and residential buildings near police headquarters set ablaze and at least one person fatally shot in the area. Minneapolis Police spokesman John Elder […]
(Newsmax) — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that Democratic California Gavin Newsom’s ban on in-person church services during the coronavirus pandemic can stand. In a split ruling, the court said the government’s emergency powers supercede what in typical times would be fundamental constitutional rights, the Washington Times reported. The lawsuit, filed by […]
(Fox News) – President Trump on Friday announced that new Centers for Disease Control guidance will classify houses of worship as “essential,” as he called on governors to allow them to open “right now” after being closed during the coronavirus lockdowns. Trump announced the policy for churches, synagogues and mosques, during a short briefing at the […]
PORTLAND, Ore. (The Oregonian) — In a late Monday ruling, the Oregon Supreme Court stepped in to put a hold on a dramatic decision by an eastern Oregon judge that declared not only Gov. Kate Brown’s restrictions on church gatherings “null and void” but all her “Stay Home Save Lives’’ coronavirus emergency orders. State Supreme Court Presiding […]