High court rules against Trump administration’s plan to end DACA June 18, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Hispanic Ministry, News, World News In one of the most anticipated cases of the term, the Supreme Court June 18 ruled against efforts by the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.
Supreme Court stops Texas execution for inmate’s religious liberty June 17, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Prison Ministry, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court granted a last-minute stay of execution for Texas death-row inmate Ruben Gutierrez June 16, saying the state prison officials need to reexamine their rule that bans clergy from being with prisoners to the execution chamber.
Supreme Court says federal law protects LGBT workers from discrimination June 15, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, World News In a 6-3 vote June 15, the Supreme Court said LGBT people are protected from job discrimination by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
USCCB, other Catholic groups urge court to protect faith-based foster care June 8, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and a few Catholic Charities agencies have joined more than 30 other religious groups, states and a group of Congress members urging the Supreme Court to protect Philadelphia’s faith-based foster care.
Supreme Court rejects appeals to lift restrictions on congregation size June 1, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Supreme Court, World News A divided Supreme Court May 29 chose not to intervene in an emergency appeal by a church in Southern California to lift COVID-19 restrictions that limit congregation sizes.
Death penalty opponents decry first execution carried out amid pandemic May 20, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Respect Life, World News Catholic advocates against the death penalty spoke out against Missouri’s May 19 execution of a death-row inmate, Walter Barton, whose death by lethal injection was the first execution to happen during the pandemic.
Fauci to Jesuit high school graduates: ‘We will get through this’ May 15, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, World News Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is used to addressing the country about steps to contain the coronavirus, but in mid-May he spoke directly to graduates of the nation’s 60 Jesuit high schools with words of encouragement and congratulations.
Divided court examines if religious schools exempt from discrimination laws May 12, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News In oral arguments May 11, the Supreme Court examined, and seemed divided about, laws governing church and state in its look at two California Catholic schoolteacher firings where the teachers claimed they had been victims of job discrimination.
Divided court reexamines insurance coverage of contraceptives May 7, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed divided May 6 over Trump administration rules that give employers more ability to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage in their health plans.
Court to hear Little Sisters, Catholic school cases by teleconference April 14, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News For the first time in its history, the Supreme Court announced April 13 it will conduct 10 oral arguments by teleconference in May. Among the arguments it will hear are cases involving the Little Sisters of the Poor and California Catholic schools.
Disappointed, but hopeful, thousands unable to join church this Easter April 9, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Uncategorized, World News The disappointment of not being able to celebrate Easter Mass in churches across the country this year might be most strongly felt by the thousands who planned to join the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
Catholic Church responded to plagues with penance, prayers April 4, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, World News Although the coronavirus pandemic brings to mind plagues from centuries ago, both with quarantines, fast-spreading diseases and deaths, there is one big difference on the spiritual side: Today’s pandemic is not, save but a lone voice or two, described as God’s punishment on humanity.
