Free Republic

Gov. Andy Beshear has had his COVID restrictions on religion rebuffed by a judge once already.November 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky is standing firm along with other Kentucky bishops in keeping Catholic churches open in the face of Governor Andy Beshear’s non-binding request that houses of worship close during a tightening of gathering restrictions lasting through Dec. 13. Kurtz, who likewise rejected the governor’s request to close houses of worship for two weeks in August, told WDRB News that he and other state bishops “will not be suspending public liturgies, but encourage all to act...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is downplaying the significance of a Supreme Court decision blocking him enforcing stringent attendance limits on religious institutions in Covid hot spots. “That Supreme Court ruling on the religious gatherings is more illustrative of the Supreme Court than anything else,” Cuomo said on a Thanksgiving morning briefing call. “It’s irrelevant from any practical impact.”

Alas, we have a victory for religious freedom in the COVID lockdown era. The Supreme Court recently ruled that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo illegally targeted churches in his COVID lockdown order—and Justice Amy Coney Barrett was the deciding vote. In the 5-4 decision, the Court ruled Cuomo’s edict violated First Amendment rights (via NYT): The Supreme Court late Wednesday night barred restrictions on religious services in New York that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had imposed to combat the coronavirus. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the court’s three liberal members in...

BREAKING: Supreme Court votes 5-4 to grant Catholic Diocese and orthodox Jews' request to block Gov. Cuomo's attendance limits at houses of worship in New York. Chief Justice Roberts joins the three liberal justices in dissent.

At least two people were killed and others seriously wounded Sunday night in a stabbing rampage at a church here. Police said there were no services going on at the time. They said "unhoused" people had been brought inside to get them out of the cold. San Jose police tweeted around 8:47 p.m. that officers were responding to the Grace Baptist Church. It's near the San Jose State campus, CBS San Francisco reports. They then tweeted that at least two victims had died. Mayor Sam Liccardo said police had a suspect was in custody but police later said that wasn't...

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 18, 2020 / 04:01 pm MT (CNA).- As some states and cities reinstate restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus, a survey has found that Americans believe places of worship should not be subject to harsher regulations than are businesses. The Becket Fund released Nov. 17 its second annual Religious Freedom Index, a study tracking Americans’ perspectives on religious freedom. The index examines six categories of American thought on religious liberty: Religious Pluralism, Religion and Policy, Religious Sharing, Religion in Society, Church and State, and Religion in Action. A majority of respondents in their...

While the United States was reeling last week from an utterly chaotic election, the Vatican decided it was the right moment to publish its long-awaited report into disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The mammoth document is a nauseating account of clerical coverup, cowardice, and complicity that prioritizes subtle finger-pointing and deflection over real accountability. Those expecting an explanation of how a serially accused predator was catapulted through the church hierarchy despite serious allegations and rumors of assault and indecent behavior will be left not merely disappointed but disillusioned.Equally unsatisfactory is its failure to disclose the extent to which this highly...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled "Prayer" are closed to debate of any kind.

Denver Newsroom, Nov 18, 2020 / 03:40 pm MT (CNA).- Two church buildings— one Baptist, one Catholic— were damaged by fires in apparent arson attacks Sunday morning in Brewster, a town in central Washington. Sacred Heart Catholic Church suffered some fire damage near the sanctuary from an incendiary device dropped through a broken window early Nov. 15. New Testament Baptist Church, located a block away, suffered more serious fire damage to its interior the same morning. Investigators have deemed the fire at Sacred Heart to be intentional, police say. The police have not yet made the same pronouncement about the...

California's Grace Community Church announced that Los Angeles County health officials have cleared the congregation of causing a COVID outbreak this summer. "We are glad to announce that we received a notice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Thursday, November 12, saying that we have been cleared of COVID-19 outbreak," the church said on its website. "After a thorough investigation, Public Health officials have decided to rescind all outbreak-related requirements and restrictions on Grace Community Church."The Los Angeles Times targeted Pastor MacArthur's church in a recent article, condemning his congregation for causing a coronavirus "outbreak". According...

As COVID-19 infection rates have begun surging once again throughout much of the state, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania has issued a statement suspending in-person church services until next year. The statement, issued by Bishop Audrey Scanlan on Nov. 14, stated that COVID-19 infection rates “are as high- and higher- now than ever and they show no sign of decreasing. Pennsylvania’s rates of infection are now four times what they were from our summer’s lowest ebb, and two of the counties in our diocese are among the top ten counties for virus transmission in the Commonwealth.” 59 of Pennsylvania’s...

Church said restrictions targeting houses of worship violate the First AmendmentThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn is turning to the Supreme Court over coronavirus restrictions that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo imposed that include limits on how many congregants can gather for religious services. The emergency court filing, submitted Thursday, compares the prohibitions houses of worship face with the relative freedom afforded to many businesses under an order that Cuomo issued in October, in which he designated color-coded zones with varying degrees of limitations. “While this Executive Order effectively closes churches and other houses of worship, all businesses deemed 'essential'...

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- As the COVID-19 pandemic surges again in the United States, churches are fighting state and local orders that cap attendance at services at lower numbers than allowed at nonreligious places and events, such as stores and protests. Governors and other officials who issue the orders say the restrictions are necessary to minimize the spread of coronavirus. But religious institutions across the United States have filed numerous court challenges since the spring arguing that the different capacity limits and social distancing requirements for them are unconstitutional. U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., has introduced a bill that would...

The Los Angeles Times featured a story on Thursday about a wedding in Maine, which the CDC believes “likely” caused a COVID-19 outbreak, to argue that people should reconsider their small holiday gatherings. “If you want to know why public health officials are so nervous about how much worse the COVID-19 pandemic will get as the holiday season unfolds, consider what happened after a single, smallish wedding reception that took place this summer in rural Maine,” the article states. The LA Times claims that while only 55 people were actually at the reception, one guest reportedly spread the virus before...

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — The family of a Westmoreland County church member questions whether his, and other deaths from COVID-19, could have been prevented. Michael May became sick last month after attending a memorial service for his daughter at a church in Sewickley Township. May and three other members of that same church tested positive for the coronavirus and died within two weeks of one another. The pastor told Channel 11 all four members who died were elderly with underlying health conditions. May’s cousin, Lisa Reichert, believes there’s more to the story. “I was at the service, and a gentleman...

A handful of protestors heckled Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden outside his Delaware church on Sunday — telling the former veep he was a “disgrace” to the Catholic faith, photos and video shows. Three people were spotted outside St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville holding signs decrying Biden’s position on abortion, in a photo posted on Twitter by Bloomberg News politics reporter Jennifer Epstein. “Joe no devout Catholic supports abortion,” one of the signs read. As Biden entered the church, according to Epstein, the protesters told him to “repent for your soul” and “repent for Beau’s soul,” referring to...

Borat benefits a house of worship — “very nice!”In the new straight-to-Amazon-Prime sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan — amid a load of political commentary — the fictitious Kazakh television journalist travels to America with a gift for Mike Pence: his teenaged daughter, Tutar. According to the plot, both daughter and dad (portrayed by ambush comedian Sacha Baron Cohen) believe if their mission fails, he will be executed.Amid the zany twists and turns, he places Tutar in the charge of a kindly Christian woman named Jeanise Jones.And...

LOUISVILLE, KY; A Louisville man was arrested after allegedly causing damage to a historic church. In a letter to parishioners, the pastor at Saint Martin of Tours Church said the man broke into the sanctuary late Sunday night and caused extensive damage to the altar. An on-duty security guard was able to detain the suspect until officers arrived. Police have not identified the suspect. The church will be closed for a few days while the damage is assessed, the pastor says. Officials say the pastor and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz will be working with the archdiocesan insurance company on repairs.

The Vietnamese Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a “total loss” after being burned during Black Lives Matter protests and riots on Tuesday night, according to news reports and video footage released Wednesday.

A church service has been stopped by police after worshippers were told they were breaking strict lockdown rules in Wales. Churchgoers filled the packed hall yesterday despite 'firebreak' rules banning gatherings including religious ceremonies from taking place. Naomi Mclennan filmed the moment officers entered the New Hope Community Church in Llanrumney, Cardiff, and told people they had to leave.