The small Middle Eastern nation of Qatar now has one of the world’s most strict coronavirus restrictions. Those who go out in public without a face covering now face up to three years in prison and a fine of about $40,000. The Gulf country made the announcement on Qatar state TV this weekend. Authorities have Read more
A Kenyan bishop said testing potential coronavirus vaccines on his countrymen could disrespect human dignity, and amount to a breach of the country’s constitution, especially if Kenyans are not fully informed of the risks involved in testing new drugs. “Whereas the Covid-19 pandemic is a grave matter at hand, it should not in any way Read more
It was a poignant moment for the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Project to be able to bless workers and the Cathedral site ahead of its first physical work. Due to COVID-19, the country is still under physical distancing restrictions, so only a few people were permitted on the site. In a first for the project Read more
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on religious leaders to join together in countering “inaccurate and harmful messages” as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. In a May 12 video meeting on the role of faith leaders in addressing the challenges of the current health crisis he pointed out how “extremists and radical groups are Read more
The leader of the opposition Simon Bridges has sent an open letter to the prime minister. It begins: I write to you on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who practice many different faiths and religions, who continue to be unable to gather in any meaningful way for worship this weekend because Read more
One of San Francisco’s oldest churches has joined the chorus of complaints that Zooming is not safe – with a lawsuit claiming its bible study class was “Zoombombed” with pornography. “The footages were sick and sickening – portraying adults engaging in sex acts with each other and performing sex acts on infants and children, in Read more
Pope Francis is being accused of “blasphemy” and “sacrilege” by some Catholics for participating in an interfaith prayer Thursday with Muslims, Jews and Christians, calling on God to end the coronavirus pandemic. The Abu Dhabi-based multifaith Higher Committee on Human Fraternity formed after the pope’s historic visit in 2019 to the Arabian peninsula. Its nine Read more
A UK Catholic diocese has launched what is believed to be the UK’s first-ever Mass available to listen to directly by phone. The new service has been provided specifically by the Middlesbrough diocese for Catholics without internet access, following on from the success of online services, introduced after the suspension of public mass earlier this Read more
Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki has criticised the decision by the Government to continue the ban on large gatherings and has vowed to hold a service at his South Auckland base this Sunday. In a statement to media, Tamaki slammed the decision to restrict gathering to a maximum of 10 people as “Nanny-State” and said that Read more
The Epidemic Response Committee met with the Cancer Society, Funeral Directors Association and representatives of the palliative care sector today. Cancer Society medical director Dr Chris Jackson began the meeting. He said the lockdown has kept people with cancer and immune-suppressive issues safe. However, there have been problems, around people getting treatments, being away from Read more