Priests in Ireland are preparing post-lockdown plans for their parishes so they will be ready when coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on public worship begin to ease. The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, says reopening churches for worship “has serious public health concerns and we have to make sure that we are ready for them.” One of Read more
The pandemic has highlighted that immigrants are essential to the fabric of our society, Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ says. Czerny, who has been the under-secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development’s Migrants and Refugees Section since 2017, is urging people to develop local solutions to address the needs of immigrant and refugee Read more
Churches aren’t necessary to practice our faith, a Catholic priest has told US president Donald Trump. Trump takes the opposite view to Fr Edward Beck, and says he considers houses of worship and their religious services essential. “The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to Read more
On Monday the prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced that beginning Friday up to 100 may gather in places of worship. Following the prime minister’s announcement Mass – restricted to 100 people – is able to resume from this Friday at noon. On Monday night Steve Lowe, Bishop of Hamilton and New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference Read more
Cell phone towers across New Zealand are being set on fire, and authorities believe the attacks are linked to the increasing proliferation of conspiracy theories connecting 5G networks to the coronavirus pandemic. David Farrier joined anti-5G Facebook groups after receiving online abuse for appearing in a pro-5G commercial. He told The Project that memberships in Read more
Priests and brothers of the Redemptorist community who live and work at a Houston parish have tested positive for coronavirus, leading the parish to close after having reopened earlier this month. Five out of seven members of the Redemptorist community at Holy Ghost parish tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend, according to a statement from Read more
Migrant workers have been hit hard in Queenstown, many facing redundancies and high rents in the wake of Covid-19. Association leader Dennis Navasca and his wife moved to Queenstown about six years ago with hopes to start a new chapter of their lives. He said that the future is now uncertain. Continue reading
Public Masses have resumed in Rome, 10 weeks after they were closed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Although public worship is permitted, additional safety protocols have been instigated to ensure any remaining coronavirus infection does not continue to spread. “To receive Communion again as a family was the culmination of our every prayer and Read more
France’s religious gathering ban must be lifted within eight days, says the French Council of State. The Council is France’s highest administrative court. Currently, all gatherings in places of worship are banned except for funerals, which are limited to 20 people. After receiving many complaints, the Council ruled on Monday that the ban on religious Read more
Faith can prosper even when the only services available are online, a new Pew Research survey shows. Even though the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has seen places of worship in the United States – as elsewhere – close for several weeks, many have livestreamed their services online. In April this year the Pew Research Centre (via Read more