New York Archives

Judge stops pandemic capacity limits placed on New York synagogues

Feb 12, 2021

A federal judge in Brooklyn Feb. 9 permanently blocked New York state capacity limits for worship at Orthodox synagogues in areas with high rates of COVID-19 infections.

By Catholic News Service

Saga of Happy the Elephant proof nothing is alien to Catholic concern

Feb 5, 2021

In a 1979 address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope (now Saint) John Paul II declared, “Nothing human is alien to the Christian.” What Happy’s case demonstrates anew is that in all honesty, John Paul could have stricken the word “human” from that sentence.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Death of 9 nuns highlights toll of coronavirus in convents

Jan 9, 2021

Through the month of December, mixed in with joyful Christmas messages, death announcements filled the Facebook page of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a coronavirus outbreak took its toll in a residence for retired and infirm nuns.

By Mary Esch

COVID-19 kills 9 nuns at New York convent within a month

Jan 1, 2021

Nine nuns have died of causes related to COVID-19 at an upstate New York convent in just over a month, county officials said.

By Associated Press

Court upholds religious challenges of NY pandemic limits

Dec 29, 2020

A federal appeals court on Monday upheld challenges to New York state’s attendance restrictions at houses of worship to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

By Associated Press

Supreme Court rules against NY coronavirus restrictions

Nov 26, 2020

As coronavirus cases surge again nationwide the Supreme Court late Wednesday barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.

By Jessica Gresko

New York state sues Buffalo diocese over priest misconduct

Nov 24, 2020

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday sued the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and two former church leaders, alleging they covered up allegations of sexual misconduct and misused charitable assets by supporting predatory priests who were allowed to retire or go on leave.

By Carolyn Thompson

New York state says limits on indoor worship aimed at gatherings, not religion

Nov 20, 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order limiting the size of a congregation for in-person services at Catholic churches and other houses of worship does not target religious gatherings on “the basis of their beliefs,” but is based on “the documented fact of their COVID-19 super-spreader potential.”

By Catholic News Service