It is seriously funny that animals and birds roam free while we humans sit in cages. What is the Earth telling us? I haven’t the faintest idea. But I do sense the whisper of the Divine Presence with this pandemic. Some of us are being called back home to the love from which we came. Read more
Some Catholic priests are changing the sacramental liturgy prescribed for anointing the sick so they can administer the sacrament by proxy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In this practice, a nurse or family member takes on the act of anointing the patient while the priest prays over them. Some Church leaders have spoken out against Read more
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic could result in America’s next spiritual revival, says a megachurch pastor. Despite the lockdowns aimed at preventing the often deadly virus’s spread, “the doors for the church have never been more open”, Pastor Greg Laurie says. His first online service when the lockdown started was watched by 250,000 people. Since then, Read more
Italy’s bishops’ conference is demanding the government lift its ban on public Masses now the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown is being eased. On Sunday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a gradual resumption of normal life in Italy. To date, COVID-19 has led over 26,000 deaths in Italy and infected almost 200,000. For the meantime, Prime Minister Read more
People want to make him New Zealander of the Year. He has a twitter account and tweeting his memes and a fan base dubbed “Bloomers”. He has had a song written about him; hand towels bearing his image have sold out, but you can still get the T-shirts and tote bags. Colleagues describe him as Read more
A mounting humanitarian crisis is brewing in Queenstown with thousands of migrant workers trapped there with no money for food or rent. The Salvation Army says with most migrants unable to return to their home countries due to travel and lockdown restrictions, the situation is becoming akin to a “refugee crisis” – with about 6,000 Read more
The decimation of the Pacific’s tourism industry by Covid-19 could plunge thousands of people into poverty, according to a new assessment by the International Labour Organisation. Thousands of jobs in countries like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are dependent on visitor numbers, which have fallen to zero. Thousands of jobs have already been lost, with resorts Read more
Religions are inherently optimistic. That is why, despite the mess in the world, they proclaim an order, and celebrate it with repeated rituals. Even in a pandemic, religions see a world where “the facts are friendly”. Christians, along with Jews and Muslims, see the Creator as infinitely – and quite literally so – greater than Read more
There are numerous uncertainties surrounding these days of Covid-19 in Aotearoa-New Zealand and across the globe. From a social work perspective, it is hard to know where to begin, with the burdens carried by social workers in the present, or with the possibilities facing the planet in the longer run. Whichever we chose, there is Read more
“An Easter of Solitude”: This is how Pope Francis, standing alone in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica, described what the holiest day of the year would look like for many Catholics as the coronavirus pandemic forced churches to close and their members to stay at home. As the pope was speaking, Mariana Scavo, 32, ate Read more