Catholic bishops from South America are warning that the pandemic will engender “a humanitarian and environmental tragedy” is something is not done to alleviate conditions particularly in the Amazon basin.
Coronavirus
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Extreme caution tops checklists for Catholic colleges to reopen in fall
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported May 18 that 68% of 600 colleges and universities were planning to reopen with in-person education in the fall, while 10% were waiting to decide. An online format was the choice for 7% of schools.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
At Sunday Mass, pope offers prayers for sanitation workers
During Sunday Mass on May 17, Pope Francis publicly thanked all those workers who help sanitize hospitals and neighborhoods during the pandemic and offered prayers for their work and safety.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
St. Peter’s Basilica reopens to the public
Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the tomb of his sainted predecessor, John Paul II, on the occasion of the centenary of the Polish pope’s birth. For the first time since the pandemic started, the general public was admitted into St. Peter’s Basilica, but with sanitary protocols observed.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Brazil’s top bishop: Without solidarity, Brazil could become new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic
In an exclusive interview conducted over email with America, Archbishop Azevedo criticized Brazilian politicians “in different stances of power” who have “minimized the effects of the pandemic.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
New emergency aid bill would cut most benefits to Catholic schools
Disallowing emergency aid to one part of an affected community and allowing it for another runs contrary to long-held social policy, Catholic education advocates said.
Posted inFaith
Social distancing and the sacraments: How the coronavirus pandemic has changed our sense of communion
What that community looks like these days has changed, most notably in the inability to gather to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Vatican task force says millions risk hunger problems during pandemic; calls for ‘creative solidarity’ to solve global problems
Pope Francis asked the group to ‘prepare the future’ not ‘prepare for the future.’
Posted inFaith, News
U.S. Catholic dioceses release plans for reopening churches
Catholic leaders in several states have announced guidelines for resuming public Mass, reports Michael J. O‘Loughlin, but social-distancing practices are not going away any time soon.
