CNA Staff, May 19, 2020 / 12:10 am MT (CNA).- A federal judge has blocked the North Carolina governor’s order limiting most church services to 10 people or fewer, saying it was a double standard to limit religious services but not similar activities under anti-coronavirus restrictions. For his part, Gov. …

CNA Staff, May 15, 2020 / 02:01 pm MT (CNA).- Specific guidelines for reopening churches during the coronavirus pandemic were excluded from a set of documents released by the CDC this week, possibly due to religious freedom concerns, according to a report by the Associated Press. Six one-page documents released …

CNA Staff, May 4, 2020 / 10:00 am MT (CNA).- The Justice Department (DOJ) is backing a small community church suing Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, arguing that the state cannot single out churches for public health restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Lighthouse Fellowship Church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore filed suit …

By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Jan 16, 2020 / 03:55 pm (CNA).- The White House announced new rules from nine federal agencies Thursday to help ensure that religious groups have equal access to public benefit programs. On Jan. 16, Religious Freedom Day, President Donald Trump announced the rules “to protect …

by Christine Rousselle Washington D.C., Dec 18, 2019 / 06:00 pm (CNA).- The U.S. Supreme Court will decide two religious freedom cases concerning Catholic schools during its upcoming term, the court announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The court consolidated the cases Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. …

By Courtney Mares Mosul, Iraq, Dec 19, 2019 / 03:01 am (CNA).- The Great Al-Tahira Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Bakhdida remains charred black inside, five years after the Islamic State plundered and set it aflame; however, in 2020 the Syriac Catholic cathedral will be restored as Iraq’s largest Christian community …

By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Dec 17, 2019 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- The White House hosted dozens of Catholic leaders on Monday afternoon for an internal briefing on life and religious freedom issues. The off the record briefing, held in the Indian Treaty room of the Executive Office Building, focused …

By Matt Hadro Frankfort, Ky., Nov 1, 2019 / 07:30 am (CNA).- The Kentucky state Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a Christian business owner who declined to serve an LGBT pride festival, and who was punished by a local government for discrimination. “Today’s decision makes clear that …

By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Nov 4, 2019 / 12:13 pm (CNA).- Democratic primary candidate Pete Buttigieg has said that religious freedom must be curbed if it is used to “harm,” prompting calls for clarification about what the presidential hopeful considers grounds for restricting religious practice. Adam Wren, a reporter …

Every week during the harvest season, Steve and Bridget would participate in their local farmers’ market. Selling their organic fruits and advertising their farm’s other family-fun activities was a growing part of their business. One day, a question came up on their public Facebook page concerning their religious beliefs. They …