While the political debate on masks may never be settled, a large new study this week further solidifies the story from the realm of science: People who wear face coverings are less likely to spread COVID-19. Cases of in-school transmission were 72% lower in districts with mandatory masking during the late summer and fall of Read more
A Catholic bishop has dismissed a priest from his parish for not following his directives. In a letter informing parishioners about Father Peter Williams’s dismissal, Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington US said the matter concerned “his serious disobedience and disrespect shown to the office of the bishop,”. The “disobedience and disrespect” refers to Williams’s refusal Read more
Covid has closed St Mary of the Angels Church until March 20. The prominent central Wellington church is closed due to a positive case of Covid within the priests’ community. A March 7 notice on the parish’s website says the Church is closed immediately. Four priests live in the Marist community and all are fully Read more
Lockdown liturgy such as online Mass, walk-up communion and drive-in Eucharist during the liturgical lockdown have shown us the dominant culture of the Church. Where these practices became the default of bishops, the potential failure of the synodal process is high because these practices were made possible by sidelining the laity. What is the potential Read more
Churches are among the high risk places to avoid at present, say public health professor Nick Wilson and epidemiologist Michael Baker (pictured). As daily Omicron cases soar throughout the country, avoiding high risk places means steering clear of bars, restaurants, cafés, gyms, churches and protests. Retail shops, offices, lifts, stairwells, malls, community pools, public transport Read more
Wellington’s St Mary’s College is the second school adjacent to the parliamentary protest to close due to ongoing fears for its students’ and staff’s safety. The school will be closed until Tuesday 1 March. Wellington Girls’ College has also announced it will be shut until at least then, with the school citing an ‘increasingly volatile’ Read more
A religious objection to the Covid-19 vaccine by police and defence force personnel is part of a new challenge to the mandate in the High Court. The basis of their objection is about the use of aborted foetal cells. The cells, collected decades ago, are used to grow cells that the vaccines are tested on. Read more
Covid’s Omicron threat has seen a group of Taupō churches joining together to offer support, comfort and guidance to people isolated by the disease. The newly-established Taupō Churches-Community Support Hub is offering services to anyone in the community who is self-isolating or facing challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Churches-Community Support Hub comprises the Catholic Read more
Church attendance has fallen by a third since before the pandemic. Many regular worshippers have been attending only monthly since in-person services resumed this summer, a new study suggests. For its report Changing Church, the Evangelical Alliance surveyed 552 church leaders and 1676 church members, over ten days in October. Congregation sizes varied from fewer Read more
Funeral directors are concerned about the difficulties the new orange level pandemic restrictions will make for grieving families when they try to organise a ceremony for their loved ones. Although a more joyful occasion, people organising weddings will also face some difficult choices. In essence, under the new rules, families will have two choices. They Read more