church and state
How a Supreme Court bent on protecting religion could harm it
By Benjamin Spratt and Joshua Stanton — December 1, 2020
(RNS) — Even if the Supreme Court allows church and synagogue doors to remain open, it cannot fill the pews.
Defiant Louisiana pastor arrested over coronavirus protest
By Stacey Plaisance — April 21, 2020
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Spell already faces misdemeanor charges for holding in-person church services despite the ban on gatherings.
The Constitution and sacred texts agree: We must worship together from a distance
By Rachel K. Laser — April 10, 2020
(RNS) — Just as religious entities must abide by building codes, churches, mosques and synagogues must follow public health orders.
Churchgoers flock to hear Louisiana pastor despite virus ban
By Melinda Deslatte, Stacey Plaisance, and Chevel Johnson — April 1, 2020
CENTRAL, La. (AP) — Pastor Tony Spell has confirmed that he is facing misdemeanor charges, but said the summons wasn't deterring him.
Death penalty decision answers lingering questions about how Barr’s faith affects his politics
By Charles C. Camosy — July 26, 2019
(RNS) — The worry that Barr might impose his private religious views on federal matters has apparently been overblown.
In remote Appalachia, liberal Christians gather at Wild Goose to pray — and plan
By Jack Jenkins — July 15, 2019
HOT SPRINGS, N.C. (RNS) — As the religious left exerts an unaccustomed influence on politics, this Christian festival has begun to draw recognizable names, including presidential candidates.
Pentecostal pastors vow to fight proposed Uganda church regulations in court
By Tonny Onyulo — April 30, 2019
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — Pentecostal pastors in Uganda vow to fight new rules that would require clergy to have formal theological education and would force all churches to register or close down. The proposed policy mimics similar rules enacted in Rwanda in 2018.
‘Yellow vest’ protests test English-speaking Catholic church in Paris
By Tom Heneghan — December 14, 2018
PARIS (RNS) — A thriving English-speaking Catholic parish in Paris finds itself in the middle of angry protests against the government.
Banned from meeting in church, Rwandan worshippers gather at home
By Tonny Onyulo — September 6, 2018
KIGALI, Rwanda (RNS) — An estimated 8,000 churches and 100 mosques have been closed in what some say is a human rights violation, but which the government defends as a move to require clergy to meet modest standards for education.
How would Brett Kavanaugh rule in Supreme Court religion cases?
By Mark Silk — September 4, 2018
(RNS) — In the direction of accommodation, but it's hard to say how far.
Bavarian leader puts crosses in state offices
By Tom Heneghan — June 7, 2018
(RNS) —The governor of Bavaria in southern Germany has ordered that Christian crosses be displayed at the entrances to government buildings across his state. The measure, designed to woo conservative voters away from the burgeoning anti-immigrant AfD party, has drawn criticism from church and state alike.
Satanic Temple plans to sue Arkansas over Ten Commandments monument
By Yonat Shimron — April 26, 2018
(RNS) — The Satanic Temple, which claims it has 100,000 members around the world, has become a vocal defender of religious freedom.
When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?
By Bobby Ross Jr. — March 23, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) — Those who study the issue say it's hard to tell exactly how such rules governing adoption affect the numbers of children placed in 'forever' homes.
Battle over religion in public schools waged in one of America’s fastest-growing cities
By Bobby Ross Jr. — February 26, 2018
McKINNEY, Texas (RNS) — The controversy has been simmering since last summer when a school superintendent prayed at a pulpit adorned with a Christian cross — during a mandatory school employee meeting at a church.
Private school vouchers are a threat to religious freedom
By Maggie Garrett — February 14, 2018
(RNS) — Vouchers primarily fund private religious schools. That means they take taxpayer money collected from everyone and use it to pay for the religious education of a few. No one should be compelled to fund the religious education of another.
