The world-wide restrictions on public events to deal with the coronavirus pandemic are the latest blow to Pope Francis, whose pontificate has been struggling in recent years to sustain the progressive hopes that the Argentine raised early in his reign. The pandemic has hindered Pope Francis’ ability to communicate his teachings and promote his causes, Read more
Bolstered by scientific evidence, virtue ethics can help nations reopen not just economically but morally, too, according to a post in The Conversation. New Zealand is held up as an excellent example of virtuous pandemic policymaking even considering its advantages in having wealth, low density and no land borders say Mary Elizabeth Collins and Sarah B Read more
Staff at the Pope John XXIII hospital in Bergamo — once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy — announced they had no more patients with coronavirus in their intensive care unit. After 137 days of trying to keep critically ill patients alive, staff gathered July 8 for a moment of silence to remember Read more
Europe and the United States experienced firsthand the brunt of the pandemic, witnessing its tremendous death toll and impact on society. But some Catholic nuns, on the front lines in helping the poor and vulnerable, described on Tuesday (June 23) the challenges and human cost of fighting COVID-19 in the developing world. “We didn’t even Read more
The Vatican COVID-19 Commission says a “tsunami” of humanitarian crises is threatening world peace. These crises have been caused by the coronavirus emergency, conflict and decreased security around the globe, Vatican cardinal , Peter Turkson says. Echoing Pope Francis, Turkson is calling for a global ceasefire during the pandemic. This way, assistance can safely be Read more
A Russian court on Tuesday fined a coronavirus-denying monk who has challenged Kremlin lockdown orders for spreading false information about the pandemic. The court in the Ural Mountains region ordered Father Sergiy to pay 90,000 rubles ($1,250). The 65-year-old monk, who has attracted nationwide attention by urging followers to disobey church leadership and ignore church Read more
Daniel Thorson went on a solo meditation retreat for 75 days in a small Vermont cabin, cut off from the outside world without a phone, internet, or contact with others. While Thorson spent his time in isolation meditating, he had no clue about the major changes going on in the outside world. Read more
Places of worship in Ireland have been exempted from the country’s indoor gathering restrictions. The relaxation of the rules responds to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin’s concerns about the feasibility of enforcing the restrictions. Ireland’s Phase Three set a limit of 50 people for indoor gatherings and 100 people for outdoor gatherings. In Phase Four Read more
Prince Charles has praised the “wonderful work” of religious communities during the coronavirus pandemic. The 71-year-old royal has been “so deeply struck” by the way people have demonstrated “fundamental human compassion and decency” and set differences aside to provide “vital” support to local communities. He said at a virtual multifaith conference hosted by the Commonwealth Read more
The Church in Colombia is likely to be bankrupt by August, the Archbishop of Bogota, Luis José Rueda, says. The financial crisis is a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has caused chaos in Colombia’s healthcare system. Rueda says “three months of zero income and 100 per cent of expenses” will cause diocesan Read more