Churches rejoice as worship ban declared unlawful
The Scottish government’s treatment of churches during the pandemic has been unlawful – so ruled Lord Braid in a judgment handed down today from Scotland’s top civil court.
A coalition of 27 faith leaders, alongside Glasgow priest Canon Tom White, had challenged the proportionality of the ban in a legal challenge earlier this month.
The ruling could prevent similar blanket bans on public worship from being imposed in the future by Holyrood.
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Further coverage of the decision in Scotland
- Sturgeon suffers courtroom blow over church lockdown rules
– Spectator - ‘I’m overjoyed’: Catholic priest wins legal challenge to blanket ban on public worship
– Catholic News Agency - Government ban on churches in Scotland ruled unlawful
– Premier - Scottish government loses court challenge over ‘draconian’ limits on worship
– Scottish Legal News - Scotland’s Covid lockdown ban on church services breached human rights, judge rules
– Telegraph (£)
Religious Freedom & Free Speech
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– Catholic News Agency - Pakistan: Life sentence for Christian changed to death penalty
– Evangelical Focus - Pakistani lawmaker faces wrath for negating minorities’ persecution
– UCA News - Cries for help from Nigerian Catholics: Batlles over land, cattle, honour and religion
– On Religion - Sri Lanka: Over 20 NGOs against the re-introduction of the anti-conversion law
– Human Rights Watch Foundation
Marriage & Family
- Cuba makes headway in Code that will address same-sex marriage
– On Cuba News - US: After Supreme Court victory, Colorado baker in court for declining gender transition cake
– Catholic News Agency - Half of younger Koreans see no need to have kids after marriage
– Korea Herald - UK: Trans community will be included in so-called conversion therapy ban, Equalities Minister Liz Truss says
– ITV News - Despite child marriage being illegal in Egypt, it is still all too common
– Arab News
Sanctity of Life
- Judge in Argentine province declares abortion law unconstitutional
– Catholic News Agency - UK: Government must reverse ‘reckless’ DIY abortion policy, says pro-life coalition
– Christian Today - UK: One year on from home abortions
– The Critic - Pro-life and gender issues of concern to Church in Venezuela
– Vatican News - New Zealand passes bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and stillbirth
– Huffington Post
