The head of the Vati-can’s coronavirus taskforce said that humanity is facing “a tsunami of humanitarian crises” caused by the con-vergence of medical, eco-nomic and environmental factors.

This tsunami “has spread and spared no human life and no institution,” said Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, who also heads the Vatican department for Integral Human Development, and in the wake of the pandemic and its lockdowns domestic violence, discrimination, prejudice, and global conflicts have all “reared their ugly head.”

Cardinal Turkson spoke these words during a July 7 Vatican press briefing, in which he added that the world is currently “facing one of the worst humanitarian crises since the Second World War.”
The cardinal noted his appreciation for the recent United Nations appeal for a global ceasefire, insisting that “there should be only one battle in the world: the battle against COVID-19.”

“Political tensions are rising, because of the decline in employment or the restrictions on movements,” he suggested, adding that the commission recognizes that “there can be no peace without reconciliation and healing.”

Cue the soundtrack from film adaptations of the Dickens classic, because what Pope Francis has given us, ladies and gentlemen, is a Tale of Two Cities… only the settings aren’t London and Paris, they’re Beijing and Ankara.
We’re in the middle of July, which means most of Italy, including the Vatican, is down-shifting in preparation for the August holidays. Though a Pope can make news anytime he wants, in reality about the only time he’s on the public stage is for his noontime Sunday Angelus address, and the last two have been humdingers.
The headline was what the pope didn’t say. An advance text circulated by the Vatican included a passage about Hong Kong which Francis chose to skip, fueling endless speculation about whether China had somehow exercised pressure on the Vatican, or whether the Pope maybe got cold feet.
On July 13, by way of contrast, the story was what the Pope did say that wasn’t in the advance text. He spoke out on Turkey’s decision to revert the fabled Christian basilica of Hagia Sophia from a museum to an active mosque, a move which had been strenuously resisted by Turkey’s small Christian co-mmunity centering on the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
“I’m thinking of Santa Sophia … I am very pained,” he said, in language that did not appear in the advance version of his remarks circulated by the Vatican Press Office.
So, the obvious question presents itself: Why did Francis speak out on Hagia Sophia, but bite his tongue on Hong Kong? In all likelihood, the distinction, at least in part, has to do with who’s most likely to be paying attention and most likely to be unhappy: Turkey, in the case of Hagia Sophia, and China with regard to Hong Kong.
In other words, it’s the difference between Ankara and Beijing.
To begin with, Turkey is a regional power while China is a global superpower. Diplo-matically, there’s a lot more to lose in fraying relations with Beijing than Ankara.

Nearly every bishop responding to a survey said the coronavirus pandemic has seriously affected the celebration of the sacraments and rites and sacramental preparation programs in their dioceses.
Confirmations, first Communions, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and other sacramental preparation were the ministries most often cited by the bishops as being affected, according to the survey conducted by the Centre for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.
In addition, six out of 10 bishops said that since March when restrictions on ministry and Mass attendance were put in place, the morale of priests, lay ecclesial ministers, deacons and chancery staff has been at least somewhat affected, according to the findings released on July 9.

Titled “Ministry in the Midst of Pande-mic,” the survey asked bishops about six areas of concern that have arisen in dioceses since the pandemic caused public Masses to be suspended and the celebration of sacraments to be restricted or postponed.

The questions focused on the pandemic’s effect on dioceses; special pastoral provisions issued by dioceses; financial concerns raised by the pandemic; actions to address a diocese’s financial health; the pandemic effect’s on parish assessments; and diocesan technological assistance to schools and parishes.
CARA staff members mailed the survey to bishops in 177 archdioceses and dioceses and 20 eparchies on May 18 and followed up with a mailing June 8 to those who did not respond. Overall, 116 bishops, 59%, had responded by the release of the report. About 60% of diocesan bishops responded and about 50% of eparchial bishops responded, the report’s authors said.

CARA officials said the results of the survey were likely affected by whether a bishop responded while his diocese or eparchy was in total lockdown or as restrictions began to be lifted.

When it came to specific sacraments, 99% of bishops said confirmation had been very much or somewhat affected; 99% said that about first Communion; 92%, about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process; and 94%, about other sacramental prepa-ration programs.

The uncertainty and restrictive measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic caused an increase in prayers and religious fervor in Italy, a recent study said.

The study, which was released on May 22, was conducted by the State University of Milan, to “daily monitor public opinion during the COVID-19 emergency” and the impact it “has had on the religiosity of Italians.” After lockdown restrictions forced churches to close their doors, “the frequency of prayer and participation in religious services increased, although these could be attended only virtually,” the report stated.

The study was based on interviews with 4,600 people across Italy from April 20 to May 15. It showed the highest percentage increased in prayer during the pandemic was among Catholics who did not attend church at least once a week; 16 percent more of those who reported going to Mass at least once a month, but not every week, said they prayed each day during the pandemic.

The study, which asked participants about their behaviour prior to the pandemic, reported an 11 percent increase in daily prayer among what it described as “nominal Catholics,” those who said they were Catholics but seldom or never went to Mass.

However, it added, “the growth of religious practice was primarily influenced by the most acute phase of the crisis. In fact, the frequency of prayer decreases with the reduction of those infected.”

Those who had a family member infected by the coronavirus “significantly increased their participation in religious services and prayer,” it said. Participation at Mass – in person before the pandemic and online during it – was only minimally different for people over the age of 45, the study said. However, there was an increase of 17 percent in Mass participation among those under 45.

Moldova’s powerful Orthodox Church has warned the country’s government against using a potential vaccine against Covid-19 on the population, claiming that a “global anti-Christ system” plans to take remote control of people via 5G technology.

The Church said it felt great concern about “technology allowing people to be micro-chipped through a vaccine that would insert nanoparticles that interact with 5G waves into their bodies and allow people to be remotely controlled.” It delivered the warning in a statement to parliament, President Igor Dodon and Prime Minister Ion Chicu.

The statement repeated claims made by far-right groups in Europe and groups in Russia that 5G technology may have been responsible for the Covid-19 outbreak – and that Microsoft boss Bill Gates intended to profit from it by developing a vaccine that enables Microsoft to control people. Moldovan journalist Madalin Necsutu told The Tablet that the Church was “trying to kill two birds with one stone” with its intervention. One was to strike “a general conservative tone, fighting ‘Western liberal values’ and in this regard, a vaccine,” whole the other “was about internal politics – to divert public attention from a recent leaked video showing the President allegedly taking a bribe from a fugitive oligarch.”

He added: “The Church is a close ally of President Igor Do-don and acts as his election agent in the presidential elections.”

Swiss Bishop Charles More-rod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian to succeed the present episcopal vicar.

On 1 August, Marianne Pohl-Henzen will succeed the present episcopal vicar for the German part of the diocese.

Pohl-Henzen (60) studied theology and philology at university and has three children and four grandchildren. For the past eight years, she been the right hand of the present episcopal-vicar of the German-speaking vicariate (region in the diocese) of Fribourg, Fr Pascal Marquard, who is moving to Zurich.

The diocese has announced that in her new post, she will be “the person responsible in the vicariate/diocesan region in the bishop’s name.” In other words, as from 1 August, she will re-present the bishop in the vicariate and will be a member of the episcopal council.

Vatican News first called her an “episcopal vicar” but later withdrew the term. According to church law, only priests can become episcopal vicars. Church papers are now calling her an “episcopal delegate” or “episcopal adjutant.”

She herself recalled in a KNA interview, that, unlike her predecessor, she would not be able to administer confirmation, install parish priests or hold funerals for priests, “that is anything to do with Sacraments and liturgy.”

Churches in Northern Ireland may soon be rolling out “drive-through” services in a bid to serve their congregations during the current coronavirus lockdown.

The innovative services, which have been popularised in the United States, were suggested as an alternative form of church gathering in a new proposal by the Northern Ireland executive outlining plans to gradually reduce lockdown restrictions.

The idea, which has been welcomed by Christian leaders across the country, may involve congregants gathering together in church car parks, windows closed, with the minister leading worship from a stage at the front.

Billy Jones, pastor of the Dunseverick Baptist Church, explained to The Telegraph: “Hopefully from May 24, I will be leading the sermon from a lorry which has a platform attached with a sound system. People can tune in to a specific radio frequency from their vehicles too if they want.”

“It will mean the local community can come together with a desire to encounter God and can enjoy the fellowship by expressing faith – even if it is from their cars.”

The Church of England has yet to comment on the potential for hosting drive-through services, while the Church of Scotland has completely ruled out engaging in the practice.

In the US, a drive-through service in Mississippi prompted intervention from the Department of Justice (DOJ) after congregants were issued fines for violating the state’s lockdown order. Attorney General William Barr was outraged after police showed up at Temple Baptist Church in Greenville and fined eight members $500 each for gathering to worship in their own cars.

A message at the scene that said, in part, “Bet you stay home now,” has led the police in Mississippi to suspect arson. First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs, Miss., after the fire. Credit… Kelly Mcmillen/Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, via Associated Press.

The burning of a church in northern Mississippi is being investigated as arson because of a spray-painted message at the scene that seemed to criticize the church’s defiance of coronavirus restrictions.

First Pentecostal Church had sued the city of Holly Springs, Miss., which is about an hour southeast of Memphis, arguing that its stay-at-home order had violated the church’s right to free speech and interfered with its members’ ability to worship.

After fire-fighters put out the blaze, the police found a message, “Bet you stay home now you hypokrits,” spray-painted on the ground near the church’s doors, according to Maj. Kelly McMillen of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. A photograph of the graffiti also appears to show an atomic symbol with an “A” in the centre, which is sometimes used as a logo for atheist groups.

A Hong Kong cardinal told CNA that changes to Hong Kong’s status in China could threaten the religious freedom of Catholics and other religious believers.

The legislature of China on May 28 approved a resolution to impose new “security laws” on its formerly autonomous region, Hong Kong— a move pro-democracy protestors and Catholics in the country fear will undermine Hong Kongers’ freedoms, including freedom of religion.

The new laws aim to criminalize anything Beijing considers “foreign interference,” secessionist activities, or subversion of state power, the Washington Post reports. The laws also could allow Chinese security forces to operate in the city.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, told CNA that he worries that the new laws will be used to subvert the freedom of religion that Hong Kongers currently enjoy.

Hong Kong has had broad protections for the freedom of worship and for evangelization, while in mainland China, there is a long history of persecution for Christians who run afoul of the government.

Most needed at the moment is prayer, Zen said. “We have nothing good to hope for. Hong Kong is simply completely under [China’s] control. We depend on China even for our food and water. But we put ourselves in the hands of God,” Cardinal Zen told CNA in a May 27 interview.

Hong Kong is a “special administrative region” of China, meaning it has its own government but remains under Chinese control. It was a British colony until 1997, when it was returned to China under a “one country, two systems” principle, which allowed for its own legislature and economic system.

The Vatican has disciplined another charismatic religious leader, exiling the founder of an Italian monastic community over governance problems.

Enzo Bianchi, a Catholic layman who founded the Bose Monastery in northern Italy, had enjoyed the blessing of three popes for his outreach to other Christians. He was appointed an ecumenical expert for Vatican meetings in 2008, 2012 and 2018, and Pope Francis named him as an adviser to the Vatican’s ecumenical office in 2014.

But the Vatican launched an investigation last year after what the community said were “a series of concerns from the Holy See that indicated a tense situation and problems concerning the exercise of authority by the founder, governance issues and the fraternal climate in the community.” Bianchi, 77, started the community during the 1960s and handed off its leadership in 2017, but apparently the transition didn’t go smoothly.