public worship

A new Irish statutory instrument aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus makes meeting with a priest outdoors for the sacrament of confession a crime, according to a law professor at Trinity College Dublin.

The Indiana legislature has passed a bill declaring religious service to be “essential” during a state of emergency and prohibiting the imposition of a “substantial burden” on them without a compelling government interest.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has issued an urgent appeal to Catholics to get back into the habit of going to Sunday Mass.

The Irish bishops have sharply criticized the government for continuing to ban public worship, insisting that leaders fail to grasp the importance of religion for the people.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has written to Boris Johnson requesting the immediate closure of all places of worship to curb the spread of coronavirus cases.

The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has filed a federal lawsuit against Mayor Muriel Bowser over “unscientific” and “discriminatory” restrictions on public worship during the coronavirus pandemic.

Belgium’s Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne will meet with religious leaders Wednesday to work out more equitable coronavirus restrictions, following a court ruling that found current measures “disproportionate.”

Businessman Declan Ganley is challenging the ban on attending religious services under anti-COVID restrictions, insisting that the right to practice one’s faith is guaranteed by the Irish constitution.

The President of the French Bishops’ Conference said this week that suspending the public celebration of sacraments “undermines religious liberty,” one of the fundamental freedoms in the country.

England’s faith leaders have united in calling on the UK government to permit public worship during the forthcoming lockdown in England, insisting that such worship is “essential.”

The archbishop of Milwaukee has renewed Catholics’ obligation to attend Sunday Mass, ending a six-month dispensation from Sunday worship given during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vatican has issued a letter to the world’s bishops urging the resumption of public Sunday Masses, stressing that “it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life.”

Dozens of worshippers protested in San Diego Sunday against Gov. Newsom’s coronavirus orders prohibiting indoor worship, including gatherings in people’s homes.

Thousands of Christians in California are continuing to worship in public in defiance of Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus executive order banning public worship during the pandemic.

A Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) has sharply criticised Scotland’s left-separatist devolved government for allowing pubs to open ahead of places of worship as the country emerges from its coronavirus lockdown.

The Irish government will not lift its ban on public worship until July 20th, despite reopening restaurants, public libraries, opticians, and numerous other “non-essential activities.

Italy’s Catholic bishops’ conference (CEI) announced this week that an accord has been reached with the government for the re-initiation of public worship, with a series of restrictions.