Iowan Who Cited Religious Beliefs in Refusing to Wear a Mask is Denied Jobless Benefits
An Iowa man who refused to wear a COVID-19 face mask at work because it violated his religious beliefs is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a state judge has ruled.
Faith Groups Criticize State Efforts to Create Religious Exemptions to Pandemic Rules
Twenty-seven faith groups released a joint letter Monday urging state legislatures not to pass laws to “exempt houses of worship and religious gatherings” from “emergency orders related to public health issues and emergencies such as COVID-19.”
High Court Creates New Religious Exemption to COVID Rules in California
In an unsigned order from the Supreme Court’s “shadow docket” late Friday (April 9), five justices on the high court ordered California to lift restrictions on religious gatherings in homes — even as the same restrictions remain on any other gatherings in homes.
Burmese Baptists Organize Multiethnic Diaspora Rally in DC Against Coup in Myanmar
On Saturday, Baptist immigrants from Myanmar plan to meet in Washington, D.C., for a mass protest against the coup in Myanmar. Organizers expect about 800 to 1,000 participants, including groups from churches in New York, Minnesota, and about nine churches in the Washington, D.C., area.
Texas Faith Leaders Condemn New Election Bills as Jim Crow Dressed Up in a ‘Tuxedo’
Faith leaders in Texas condemned a pair of controversial election bills Wednesday working their way through the state Legislature, accusing lawmakers of trying to “dress up Jim and Jane Crow in a tuxedo.”
Alabama Revises Voter Form with Religious Oath, Lawsuit Ends
An atheist group asked a judge Wednesday to end its federal lawsuit against the state of Alabama since officials have revised its voter registration forms, which required an oath to God.
Faith Leaders Call for Elimination of Senate Filibuster
A coalition of faith leaders and activists on Monday demanded the elimination of the Senate filibuster, wading into a crucial debate in Washington with a 50-50 Senate and President Joe Biden eyeing ambitious legislation.
5 Faith Facts as Baylor & Gonzaga Square Off for NCAA Hoops Crown
March Madness ends tonight with the ultimate church league showdown. The game features teams from Baylor University, the world’s largest Baptist university, and Gonzaga University, one of the nation’s 28 Jesuit Catholic schools, dueling it out for the NCAA title in a climactic ecclesial clash.
Vaccine Skepticism Runs Deep Among White Evangelicals in US
Vaccine skepticism is more widespread among White evangelicals than almost any other major bloc of Americans. With White evangelicals comprising an estimated 20% of the U.S. population, resistance to vaccination by half of them would seriously hamper efforts to achieve herd immunity.
Georgia Faith Leaders to Leave Water Bottles around Capitol in Protest of New Voter Laws
Faith leaders in Georgia are fighting back against a new law that bans offering food and water to people waiting in line to vote, with many voicing opposition or planning protests against a statute they say targets people of color.