Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki has criticised the decision by the Government to continue the ban on large gatherings and has vowed to hold a service at his South Auckland base this Sunday. In a statement to media, Tamaki slammed the decision to restrict gathering to a maximum of 10 people as “Nanny-State” and said that Read more
Posts Tagged ‘COVID-19’
Epidemic Response Committee discusses palliative care
Thursday, May 14th, 2020The Epidemic Response Committee met with the Cancer Society, Funeral Directors Association and representatives of the palliative care sector today. Cancer Society medical director Dr Chris Jackson began the meeting. He said the lockdown has kept people with cancer and immune-suppressive issues safe. However, there have been problems, around people getting treatments, being away from Read more
Auckland parish finds a way to share the Eucharist
Thursday, May 14th, 2020At Holy Family Parish in Te Atatu Mass is Live-streamed at 10 am each day. It is not open to the public; the Church remains closed during Mass. However, after Mass, Communion is given at the door of the Church. After Sunday Mass Communion will also be given to those who come to the main Read more
As coronavirus death rates multiply, monks are giving away caskets
Monday, May 11th, 2020But the Trappist monks of New Melleray Abbey are not closed off from the world’s troubles. Last week, in response to the coronavirus, the 22 monks living in the abbey, about 13 miles from Dubuque, decided to offer pine caskets Continue reading
Science identifies dangers in congregational singing
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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
Just because the economy is reopening doesn’t mean churches should
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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
Cardinal condemns Sweden’s relaxed pandemic approach
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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
COVID-19: Church singing proves fatal
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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
COVID conspiracy leaves Cardinal clambering
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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
Lockdown destroys nuns’ business
Monday, May 11th, 2020
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