Dispatches

The roughly 2,500 Catholic hospital chaplains ministering in the United States are integrated into the medical teams at many hospitals, and they are responding to the chaos engendered by the coronavirus crisis in various ways.

“As long as they remain in their territories, they can be somewhat safe. But their reservations must be closed to non-indigenous persons.”

Among the emergency provisions are increases to family benefits, a six-month interest-free pause on student loans and a biweekly payment of $900 for sick or laid-off workers without employment insurance or sick leave.

In London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has asked the faithful to “dig deep into our traditions and our resources to make sure that our prayer maintains a eucharistic heart and a eucharistic center,” citing a tradition, little engaged in recent times, of “spiritual communion.”

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.

Many hope the church will repeat that activist role as political divisions depress the economy and the living conditions for average Zimbabweans, and as a severe drought threatens a hunger crisis for millions this year.