Tag

Religious Freedom

All articles tagged with #religious freedom

politics10 days ago•2 min saved

Thousands Attend National Mall Prayer Rally as Founding-Faith Debate Envelops 250th Anniversary

Thousands gathered on the National Mall for Rededicate 250, a daylong Christian-centered prayer rally tied to the United States' 250th birthday, with Trump and evangelical leaders expected to speak. The event highlighted a ongoing debate over whether the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation, drawing pushback from religious-progressive groups who emphasize religious freedom and church-state separation; a Jewish rabbi and other faith leaders attended to represent religious diversity. Organized by Freedom 250 with White House backing, the rally faced scrutiny from Democrats over the nonprofit’s structure and finances, while counterprogramming and protests were planned by secular and faith-based critics.

via PBS|

#evangelicalism #politics #prayer-rally

immigration12 days ago•26 min saved

Trump moves to seize Mount Cristo Rey land for border barrier near El Paso

The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit to seize 14 acres at Mount Cristo Rey, a Catholic shrine near El Paso, to install border barriers and surveillance technology. The Diocese of Las Cruces says the move violates religious freedom and would damage a sacred site visited by thousands yearly; the government says the land is needed to secure the border and has offered about $183,000. Separately, construction of 30-foot border barriers south of the mountain is underway under a $95 million contract, highlighting a broader push to use eminent domain for border security.

via The Texas Tribune|

#border-wall #el-paso #eminent-domain

politics14 days ago•5 min saved

USDA employees sue over Easter message, alleging church-state separation violation

A federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California claims Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has adopted a pattern of sending proselytizing religious messages to USDA’s roughly 90,000 employees, highlighted by an Easter note praising Jesus. The suit argues this government-endorsed messaging coerces employees, excludes non-Christians, and violates the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act; it seeks to bar such religious communications and declare them unlawful, with backing from the National Federation of Federal Employees and allied groups.

via Politico|

#first-amendment #lawsuit #politics

world16 days ago•9 min saved

Northern Ireland Pastor Convicted for Reading John 3:16 Near Hospital in Abortion Buffer Zone

A 78-year-old retired pastor, Clive Johnston, was convicted of breaching a 100-meter safe access zone outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine by preaching a sermon, and fined £450. Supporters say the ruling threatens religious liberty and free speech amid abortion buffer zones, while Johnston vows to appeal as international observers voice concerns about censorship in the UK.

via Fox News|

#abortion-buffer-zones #free-speech #john-316

world27 days ago•3 min saved

Video of attack on French nun in Jerusalem triggers global condemnation

A video showing a violent assault on a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem near Mount Zion drew swift condemnation from Israel and France. The attacker, who appears to be Jewish, pushed and later kicked the nun as she lay on the ground; she sustained grazing but no serious injuries. Israeli police arrested a 36-year-old man and pledged zero tolerance to protect people of all faiths. The incident underscores rising hostility toward Christian communities in Jerusalem and broader concerns about religious freedom and harassment, with figures from the Religious Freedom Data Centre suggesting underreported incidents.

via The Guardian|

#attack-on-nun #christian-communities #france-condemnation

defense1 month ago•3 min saved

US Military Drops Universal Flu Shot Mandate, Emphasizing Personal Choice

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military will no longer require all troops to get the flu vaccine, framing it as medical autonomy and religious freedom. Service members can still opt in, and individual services may request to maintain the requirement within 15 days. The move follows the end of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2023 and comes amid a severe flu season; the Pentagon previously reinstated or re-accessed some personnel separated under the COVID-19 mandate, but overall vaccination rates among active-duty troops had been high.

via NBC News|

#defense #flu-vaccine #medical-autonomy

politics1 month ago•4 min saved

High Court weighs faith-based exemptions in Colorado’s universal pre-K amid LGBTQ protections

The Supreme Court agreed to hear St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy to decide whether Colorado can exclude Catholic preschools from its universal pre-K program for not enrolling children with same-sex parents, testing how religious freedom interacts with state anti-discrimination laws. Lower courts upheld the state's authority to require compliance, and the Trump administration backs the Catholic schools. The case appears unlikely to overturn Employment Division v. Smith but could clarify when states must grant exemptions in universal programs under RFRA and related doctrine, with Colorado’s program funded by tobacco taxes and aimed at providing 15 hours of preschool weekly.

via Politico|

#colorado #education-funding #lgbtq

africa1 month ago•7 min saved

Historic Papal Visit to Algeria Signals New Era of Catholic-Muslim Dialogue

Pope Leo XIV will become the first pope to visit Algeria (April 13–15), touring the Great Mosque of Algiers, the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa and Annaba to frame the trip as a milestone for interfaith dialogue and Vatican-Algeria ties. The visit comes amid Algeria’s restrictive religious environment and a small Catholic community, and it ties Saint Augustine’s legacy to a broader symbol of reconciliation, while acknowledging the country’s history with Christian communities and the martyrs of Algeria.

via France 24|

#africa #algeria #catholic-church

world1 month ago•5 min saved

Palm Sunday entry barred at Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre triggers international outcry

Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and other Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a private Palm Sunday Mass, drawing swift criticism from the Latin Patriarchate and allies such as the United States, France and Italy. Officials cited safety concerns and access limits in the Old City amid security tensions, while Netanyahu said there was no malicious intent and vowed to try to partially reopen the site in the coming days.

via PBS|

#holy-sepulchre #israel-police #jerusalem

world1 month ago•8 min saved

Israel bars Palm Sunday Mass at Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre, draws international backlash

Israeli police barred Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land from privately celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, citing safety concerns as Jerusalem’s holy sites remain largely closed amid security tensions from the Iran war; the move drew criticism from the U.S., France, and Italy, while Netanyahu said there was no malicious intent and pledged to arrange limited access in coming days.

via Politico|

#church-of-the-holy-sepulchre #israel-police #jerusalem

world1 month ago•18 min saved

Jerusalem police bar Palm Sunday Mass at major church

Israeli police blocked Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at a Jerusalem church, disrupting the planned service as holy sites in the city remained shuttered ahead of Passover and Easter.

via AP News|

#catholic-church #israeli-police #jerusalem

world1 month ago•3 min saved

Cardinal Barred From Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday, the first such interruption in centuries, with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office citing safety concerns amid broader security tensions in the Old City. The two officials were traveling privately, the Latin Patriarchate said, and organizers noted there was no procession. Reactions from Italy, France and other leaders condemned the move as a violation of religious freedom, while Netanyahu’s office pledged a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the site in the coming days as Easter week continues.

via NBC News|

#church-of-the-holy-sepulchre #israeli-police #jerusalem

world2 months ago•175 min saved

Jerusalem Palm Sunday disrupted as church leaders barred from Holy Sepulchre for first time in centuries

Catholic leaders were blocked by Israeli police from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday, a move described by the Latin Patriarchate as a grave precedent and the first such restriction in centuries. The cancellation of the Palm Sunday procession comes amid broader security-related restrictions on holy sites in East Jerusalem related to the ongoing conflict, drawing criticism from Italy and prayers from the Vatican. Israeli authorities said the measures were for public safety, with plans to enable worship at the site in the coming days.

via cnn.com|

#church-of-the-holy-sepulchre #israeli-police #jerusalem

world2 months ago•5 min saved

Palm Sunday setback: Latin Patriarch barred from entering Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land were blocked by Israeli police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, a move they called an unprecedented and disproportionate restriction on worship, despite complying with restrictions; they expressed sorrow and warned it undermines the status quo and the faith of believers worldwide.

via Vatican News|

#holy-sepulchre #israel #palm-sunday

law2 months ago•4 min saved

Court Halts California Parental-Notification Rule on Trans Students

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked enforcement of California's policy that would bar educators from informing parents about a student's sexual orientation or gender identity without the student's consent, a win for parental rights and religious freedom as the case proceeds in lower courts; the decision featured a Barrett concurrence and a Kagan dissent and follows earlier injunctions in a dispute involving two Catholic families and LGBTQ issues in schools.

via The Washington Post|

#education-policy #law #lgbtq-rights