Pandemic Response and Religion in the United States represents an initial archiving of online materials related to religion and the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Materials are organized by thematic category and can be searched by keywords. This database will encourage further research into religion and pandemic response. We hope that such research will in turn serve to guide policy decisions by religious organizations and governments. It will also serve as a foundation for teaching about religion and health, disaster response, and other key issues at the high school and college levels. This project was made possible by a WMU Meader Presidential Endowment Covid19 Response Grant. The project’s principle investigator (PI) is Dr. Stephen Covell and the co-PI is Dr. Diane Riggs. Data was collected by the following graduate students in the Department of Comparative Religion: Cameron Borg, Gerald Brooks, Jarrett Stalinger and Emily Warren.
Submissions from 2020
Are COVID-19 Restrictions Inflaming Religious Tensions?, Geneive Abdo and Anna L. Jacobs
COVID-19 Guidance for Faith-Based Institutions, Nathan A. Adams IV
Religion During and After Coronavirus: Individualism or inclusive solidarity?, Frank Adloff and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
COVID-19 and Islamic Burial Laws: Safeguarding dignity of the dead, Ahmed Al-Dawoody and Oran Finegan
One German Church Service Resulted in More than 100 Coronavirus Infections, Zeeshan Aleem
As States Crack Down on Gatherings, Some Religious Exemptions Could Keep Pews Full, Liz Alesse
Amid Coronavirus, Governor Whitmer Must Close Dangerous House of Worship Loophole, American Atheists
Americans United For Separation of Church and State Letter to Governor Whitmer, Americans United
Are Churches and Other Houses of Worship Offering Services? What are the Social Distancing Requirements?, America: State of New Jersey
After a Few Lawsuits and Defiant Services, More Chicago-Area Houses of Worship Gradually Reopening After Months of COVID-19 Shutdown, Javonte Anderson
Ohio Churches, Houses of Worship Begin to Reopen After Trump Declared Them Essential Services, Natasha Anderson
A Joint Statement: Gender, faith, and COVID-19, Anglican Communion, ACT Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, World Council of Churches, Side By Side, act, The Girls Brigade, We Will Speak Out, Christian Aid, United Society Partners in the Gospel, DCA, and Presbyterian Women Aotearoa New Zealand
Anglican Communion Calls for COVID-19 Responses to Tackle Gender Inequalities, Anglican Communion and Episcopal News Service
Fresno Church to Remain Open Despite Governor Orders to Shut Down Indoor Services, Bryant-Jon Anteola
Special Report: COVID-19 impacts Chinese Buddhism, state control, and soft power, Yoshiko Ashiwa, David L. Wank, and Religion & Diplomacy
Coronavirus Outbreak Linked To West Virginia Church Grows To Over 40 Cases, Associated Press and KDKA CBS Pittsburg
Court Upholds California Ban on Church Services in Coronavirus Pandemic, Associated Press and The Los Angeles Times
Court Blocks Kentucky Governor's Ban on Mass Church Gatherings, Rashaan Ayesh
After Rural Church Files Federal Lawsuit, ‘Free Exercise of Religion’ is a Permitted Essential Activity Under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Modified Stay-At-Home Order, Antonia Ayres-Brown
Revised Guidance for Places of Worship, Back on Track Indiana- State of Indiana
Aftermath and Flourishing? The Role of Religion in a Post-Pandemic Public Square, Chris Baker and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
NY’s Reopening Plan Must Include Religious Services (Your Letters), Cheryl Baldwin and Syracuse News
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia bars international pilgrims for Hajj, BBC News
Berkley Center-Content related to economics, Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Religion and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social welfare, Berkley Center-Georgetown University
South Korean City Sues Religious Sect for Mass Covid-19 Infections, Bernama
Be Safe. Places of Worship, Be Safe Chicago- City of Chicago
For Most Churchgoers, Controversy Between Religious Freedom and Public Health is Not Real, Kraig Beyerlein and David Nirenberg
Harder to Find Hope as Clergy get Latest SC COVID-19 Data and Projections, Brad Bloom
Boca Raton Community Mikvah: Mikvah form, Boca Raton Community Mikvah
Principles for Effective Sacred Public Partnerships During COVID-19, Chelsea Langston Bombino and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
COVID Christmas: Packed church wait-lists, live-streamed services and increased giving, Michelle Boorstein and The Washington Post
Why the Supreme Court Cited the Doctrine and Covenants in this Week’s Key Religious Liberty Decision, Hal Boyd
Religious Freedom Clashes With Public Health Enforcers, Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Jewish Law During a Pandemic: The 35 Responsa of Rabbi Hershel Schachter Issued Due to COVID-19, Michael J. Broyde and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Jain Monk’s Welcome Sparks Covid-19 Scare, Brut.
The Hajj in Times of Epidemics, Marjo Buitelaar
Iowa Religious Leaders Express Concern Over Restarting Church Services, Mike Bunge
The Great Shutdown 2020: What churches, mosques and temples are doing to fight the spread of coronavirus, Daniel Burke
Churches Sue Whitmer, Claim Coronavirus Orders Hinder Religious Gatherings Despite Exceptions, Gus Burns
Boko Haram's Shekau Labels Anti-COVID-19 Measures an Attack on Islam in Nigeria, John Campbell
Indiana Funeral Homes Making Restrictions to Protect Employees and Loved Ones During COVID-19 Pandemic, Aaron Cantrell
More than 12,000 Catholic Churches in the U.S. Applied for PPP Loans – And 9,000 got them, Christina Capatide
Group Plans To Sue, Saying If Malls Are Allowed Open, Churches Should Be Too, CBS Minnesota
Checklist for Communities of Faith, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Community and Faith-Based Organizations: Plan, prepare, and respond, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Considerations for Events and Gatherings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Funeral Guidance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Quickly Changed Its Guidance on Limiting Choirs at Religious Services, Bill Chappell
Saudi’s Hajj Cancellation for Covid-19 is Not the First Time a Plague has Disrupted Muslims’ Pilgrimage, Ken Chitwood and Quartz Africa
Rev. Al Sharpton Urges Black Faith Leaders To Forgo In-Person Holy Week Services, Tanya A. Christian
Activists and Pastors Sue Texas Governor over Stay-at-home Order, Justine Coleman
Churches Were Eager to Reopen. Now They Are Confronting Coronavirus Cases., Kate Conger, Jack Healy, and Lucy Tompkins
Protocol for Places of Worship: Appendix F, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health
Coronavirus Illinois Stay-at-Home Order for May: Mask requirement, religious service changes and more, Julian Crews
COVID-19 and the Constitution: How the Bill of Rights Is being tested by the Coronavirus, John Curran, Jake Gardener, and Jeffrey Ding
It Won’t Be That Hard to Get People to Accept the Mark of the Beast, David W. Daniels
No, the Mosques Aren't Open: A deliberate campaign of anti-Muslim smears and misinformation is gathering pace, Gregory Davis
Coronavirus Panic Over 'Big Tent Revival' Religious Gatherings, Eric DeGrechie
Indoor Religious Services Once Again Prohibited in Berkeley Because of Rise in COVID-19 Cases, Francis Dinkelspiel
After Lobbying, Catholic Church Won $1.4 Billion in Coronavirus Aid, Reese Dunklin and Michael Rezendes,
Responses to COVID19 in Buddhist Communities of Contemporary China-Preliminary findings, Daigengna Duoer and The Jivaka Project
In Our Opinion: The right to worship should never be cast aside in a pandemic, Editorial Board
The Kano COVID-19 Deaths: Forced relocations and disinformation creates widespread confusion (Part II), Nwachukwu Egbunike and Global Voices
The Kano COVID-19 Deaths: Stories untold (Part I), Nwachukwu Egbunike and Global Voices
British Muslims Held for Two Months in India Claim Religious Persecution, Hannah Ellis-Petersen and The Guardian
Love Your Neighbour: Islam, Judaism and Christianity come together over COVID-19, Mohamed Elsanousi, Burton L. Visotzky, Bob Roberts, and World Economic Forum
Coronavirus and Sharia Law: Divide over closure of mosques and ban of Friday prayers in Idlib, Enab Baladi
Coronavirus: Muslim Council urges people to avoid communal Eid celebrations, Harry Farley
Coronavirus: Places of worship to reopen for private prayer, Harry Farley
CDC Quietly Revises Coronavirus Warnings on Reopening Religious Sites, Adds First Amendment Note, WIll Feuer
COVID-19: First Liberty's Response, First Liberty
Iowa Religious Leaders Call on Churches to Avoid Gatherings Despite State Loosening Rules on Services, Charles Flesher
WMU Researchers Creating National Database of Religious Response to COVID-19, Erin Flynn
Trump Declares Houses of Worship ‘Essential,’ Pressuring Governors to let Them Reopen: The president’s order could set off a constitutional clash over one of the core tenets of the First Amendment, Quint Forgey, Rachel Roubein, and Myah Ward
God Will Protect Me.’ Here’s how Religious Americans View the Coronavirus Pandemic, Haley Fowler
Coronavirus vs. Freedom of Religion: Can stay-at-home orders keep you from church?, Hayley Fowler
Coronavirus Brought Me Back to Reporting on Religion, Lily Fowler
Blamed For Coronavirus Outbreak, Muslims In India Come Under Attack, Lauren Frayer
The Pandemic and the Global Future of Religion, Paul Freston and Religion & Diplomacy
Trump Calls for Memorial Day Church Reopenings but Sends Mixed Signals on Enforcement, John Fritze
Black Pastors Say They Have Trouble Accessing SBA Loan Program, Tom Gjelten
Many Houses Of Worship Have Sought Government Aid, Surveys Show, Tom Gjelten
NIH Director Tells Churches To Do The 'Altruistic, Loving Thing' And Stay Closed, Tom Gjelten
As Quebec Nuns Die of COVID-19, Government Vows to Help, Francois Gloutnay
Minneapolis to Allow Broadcast of Muslim Call to Prayer Over Loudspeakers During Ramadan, Anthony Gockowski
Covid-19: UN urges unity and service on Buddhist feast of Vesakh, Robin Gomes
The Right to Worship: Church and state clash over religious services in the coronavirus era, Laura Hancock
What Islamists Are Doing and Saying on COVID-19 Crisis, Andrew Hanna
Sheboygan County Outbreak Highlights Risks Of Reopening Church During Pandemic, Megan Hart
Buddhist Advisor Sues to Stop Execution Citing COVID-19 Risk, Danielle Haynes
WMU Team Creates National Database to Document How Religious Groups are Handling COVID-19, Tarvarious Haywood
Religious Leaders Must Not Be Tempted to Jump on the Reopening Bandwagon, H A. Hellyer
Illinois Churches, Places Of Worship Allowed To Resume Services After Pritzker Backs Down, Alex V. Hernandez
A ‘Breakdown of Trust’: Pandemic Corrodes Church-State Ties in Russia, Andrew Higgins
Watch: Social distancing norms flouted as crowd welcomes Jain monk in MP, Hindustan Times
Balancing Religious Freedoms and Public Health Protections During the COVID-19 Pandemic, James G. Hodge Jr., Hanna Reinke, and Claudia Reeves