The Salvation Army is concerned that cultural and spiritual wellbeing was not being considered alongside physical wellbeing, in the Health Response Bill. “This Bill worries us deeply. There is no allowance or trust for religious gatherings, which further indicates this Government’s low view of spirituality as a fundamental part of overall wellbeing,” Salvation Army Māori Read more
Many of us have heard about the dangers of choral singing, especially because of the Skagit Valley Chorale in Mount Vernon, Washington. The choir held a careful rehearsal in March, its members each standing six feet apart. Later, 45 of 60 attendees contracted the virus and two died. While there could be a host of Read more
Some states are beginning to lift COVID-19 restrictions, like releasing residents from stay-at-home orders, reopening retail and hospitality businesses with limited capacities, and even allowing elective surgeries. Research has shown that many people are struggling with feelings of isolation and loneliness. People are longing to get back to life as “normal” after weeks of physically Read more
Sweden’s pandemic approach and the risk it poses to the vulnerable is worrying, says Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm. Unlike most countries, Sweden has chosen a more relaxed approach to preventing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In an open letter to Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Arborelius and other Christian leaders have asked Read more
Despite precautions coronavirus (COVID-19) has swept through a community choir in Washington State in the US. Even before Washington State had announced social distancing rules, the choir members had agreed nobody would attend practice if they had even a hint of illness and they’d keep themselves well apart. Then the choir’s conductor emailed singers that Read more
Cardinal Robert Sarah is implicated in a petition signed by Catholic conservatives claiming the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is an “overhyped pretext to deprive the faithful of Mass and impose a new world order”. Sarah (pictured), is head of the Vatican’s liturgy office and is supposedly the highest-ranking signatory. However, he claims he never signed the Read more
Not even those living a monastic life are immune to the effects of coronavirus. The Carmelite sisters may live in a “permanent sort of lockdown” but the Covid-19 pandemic has reached behind the monastery’s high concrete wall to impact their daily life. “We are very much in the same boat as everyone else right now Read more
Italian authorities on Thursday (May 7) gave the go-ahead for public Masses starting May 18, after the government and Catholic bishops struggled to find an accord that would ensure safety measures amid the coronavirus pandemic. A protocol allowing Catholic faithful to attend Mass was signed Thursday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte; the president of the Read more
Singapore is trying a new way to get its residents to stay away from each other. On Friday, the government announced it would start deploying Spot, Boston Dynamics’ famous yellow and black canine robot, at one local park. The four-legged robot “dog” will patrol the area starting this weekend and broadcast a pre-recorded message to Read more