Michael S. Ariens is a professor of church and state for the school of law at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He wrote the essay “Religion in the Courtroom” for the book Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices (ABC-Clio, 2002).

Gregory Baylor is director of the Christian Legal Society and said outlawing sacramental tea would be the equivalent of banning the wine served at a Roman Catholic Mass.

Vegetarian Friends is a Quaker organization dedicated to helping Quakers and others keep a vegetarian diet. The group publishes a monthly journal, The Peaceable Table.

The Universal Equalitarian Church is based on the principle that all species are created equal. It is based in Lamar, Mo.

July 5, 2013, Episcopal News Service article about homelessness in Canada and the responses of the Anglican and Lutheran churches.

The Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare is a volunteer organization of clergy and lay people within the Episcopal Church who would like to raise awareness of animal welfare in Episcopal congregations.

Read a Nov. 6, 2007, Los Angeles Times article about the faith community’s growing receptiveness to animal-welfare concerns.

Read a July 18, 2008, article in the Columbia Missourian about the religious underpinnings for Rabbi Yossi Feintuch’s decision to be a vegetarian.

Read a June 25, 2010, article from the United Methodist News Service about churches’ efforts to aid animals.