Articles of interest about religion - Dec 1

***THE VIRUS

A COVID-19 Vaccine For Children May Still Be Many Months Away

These are the places you're most likely to catch COVID-19 this winter

Is shopping in stores safe during the pandemic?

***RELIGION & THE VIRUS 

"I'm listening to God, not the WHO": Pastor Robert Jeffress rejects holiday restrictions

Fresno bishop warns Catholics against stem cell-based COVID vaccines, including Pfizer’s

Church patriarch dies from Covid-19 after leading open-casket funeral of bishop killed by the virus 

Tennessee mayor won’t require COVID masks until Holy Spirit says so

Christian Songwriter Is Fed Up With Believers Who Refuse To Wear Masks

Tequila bar applies to become church amid COVID-19 lockdown rules

Catholics Are Fighting Among Themselves About a COVID Vaccine

***RELIGION AND POLITICS

Georgia Senate runoff dividing state’s Christians

Biden plans swift moves to protect and advance LGBTQ rights: Prominent religious conservatives say this could require some faith-based organizations to operate against their beliefs

N.C. pastor who led march to polls is charged ($$)

***RELIGION & THE LAW  

Supreme Court blocks strict COVID-19 restrictions on New York houses of worship

Supreme Court won't get involved in Louisiana pastor's case

Appellate ruling scraps conversion therapy bans in Miami Beach, cities across Florida 

***DENOMINATIONS

Progressive United Methodists announce new denomination: Liberation Methodist Connexion

Researcher Says the Episcopal Church Will Cease to Exist by 2050 Due to Declining Attendance, Membership 

***MEGACHURCHES

California megachurch associate pastor dies of COVID-19

County deals setback for Willow Creek Wheaton to build megachurch near Cantigny Park

Andy Stanley responds to critics over closed church: We’re doing pretty good

Senior Pastors resign from Charismatic megachurch

Thankful: Megachurch minister’s wife awaits a transplant

***RELIGION IN CHINA

China mulls new rules on foreigners to 'prohibit religious extremism' CNN Digital Expansion 2017. James Griffiths

China Targets Muslim Scholars And Writers With Increasingly Harsh Restrictions

***RELIGION & RACIAL ISSUES

Pastors Launch Church-Planting Network for ‘Black and Brown Neighborhoods’