On March 25, hoping to suppress the spread of the coronavirus, India began the world’s largest lockdown, affecting 1.3 billion people. But the sudden move to close down all but essential services threw millions out of work and began a desperate exodus of migrant and day laborers out of the big cities.
Kevin Clarke
Kevin Clarke is America’s chief correspondent and the author of Oscar Romero: Love Must Win Out (Liturgical Press).
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Lebanon’s economy was already reeling. Coronavirus may push it into collapse.
As much as 75 percent of Lebanon’s population is in need of emergency assistance.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
How Catholic aid agencies are preparing for the pandemic in the developing world
Health work during a pandemic can be dangerous and the thought of falling ill themselves cannot be too far from the minds of medical and sanitation teams. But thousands of other relief and development staff and volunteers will face many of the same risks and fears.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Who counts? The 2020 census faces a tough recovery from Covid-19.
The U.S. census has long had trouble counting groups like young children, reports Kevin Clarke, and the coronavirus is likely to throw the accuracy of the data into deeper doubt.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Catholic leaders to Trump: Coronavirus pandemic not an excuse to crack down on immigration
“We cannot let this moment of pandemic, which calls us all to unity as God’s children, become the occasion for further prejudice, exclusion and injustice.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
In Easter message, Pope Francis proposes ‘universal basic wage’
Pope Francis said in an Easter Sunday message that the coronavirus epidemic could also be an opportunity for affluent societies to re-evaluate patterns of consumption and exploitation.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
C.R.S. gears up for global response to coronavirus pandemic
While the Covid-19 pandemic provokes a series of unprecedented measures, other ongoing challenges to human life and dignity—drought, famine, armed conflict and poverty among them—are not offering a time-out from the suffering they inflict.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Covid-19 and a drought force a Jesuit school in Micronesia to end school year early
Father Baker, president of Xavier High School in Micronesia, knew how strongly the school featured in the lives of his students, but he was not prepared for the reaction after he called students together and shared the bad news that the school was ending early.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
With all eyes on Covid-19, refugee suffering continues in Greece, Turkey and Syria
Conditions at overcrowded refugee camps in Greece have become desperate, and Turkey has revived threats to renege on an agreement with the European community and to open its border allowing refugees through to Europe.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Catholic leaders urge Congress to act on escalating coronavirus crisis
Archbishop Coakley asked legislators that special consideration be offered “those most vulnerable: the poor, the elderly, the homeless, those in prison or detention facilities, immigrants and refugees, and those with severe underlying health conditions.”