OXFORD, England -- A commission of Catholic bishops warned religious freedom is threatened in the European Union, as restrictive laws are imposed in the wake of COVID-19.
A year into COVID and Martyrs’ Shrine director Fr. Michael Knox is looking ahead, imagining how we might pray after the pandemic comes to an end.
Grey zone worship restrictions relaxed
Restrictions on places of worship in grey lockdown zones will be loosened and churches will be able to host services with up to 15 per cent of their capacity as of March 15.
Editorial: A hopeful reality
How many times over the past year have you heard the phrases “getting back to normal” and “putting COVID-19 behind us”?
A year of COVID — a time of learning and caring
Fr. Wilson Andrade’s smile is as broad, his laugh as ready and his intense interest in people as alive as it ever was. But he confesses that a year of lockdowns, online Masses and separation from his St. Ann’s parishioners in Toronto’s East Chinatown neighbourhood hasn’t been easy.
Speaking Out: What have we learned from a year of COVID?
The landmark one-year anniversary dates for COVID-19 in Canada are Jan. 25 and March 8 — the former being the day we recorded our first official pandemic case, and the latter being the first death.
Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'
VATICAN CITY -- For believers, the ability to practice their faith and receive spiritual guidance are "the highest of essential services," and pandemic practices over the past year have shown they are not automatically super-spreader events, the Vatican foreign minister said.
Iraq tightens restrictions ahead of Pope’s visit
VATICAN CITY -- Two days after the Iraqi government announced stringent COVID-19 precautions, including the closure of mosques and churches “until further notice,” the prime minister met with the Vatican nuncio to discuss preparations for the scheduled visit of Pope Francis.
B.C. lawyers seek to ease restrictions on churches
VANCOUVER -- Catholic lawyers in the Archdiocese of Vancouver are adding their voices to the growing numbers calling for the B.C. government to end its ban on worship services.
Bridging the great vaccine divide
A small Canadian startup hopes to help to bridge the COVID-19 vaccine divide between rich and poor nations.
Tam asks for church aid in bringing end to pandemic
The end of our long COVID crisis may be in sight, but until we get there churches and faith leaders still have a job to do, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam told over 1,300 faith leaders on a Jan. 20, nationwide Zoom call.
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations in mid-January, giving priority to its health care workers, security personnel, employees who deal with the public and older residents, employees and retirees.
Ontario’s lockdown: ‘It does require sacrifices’
There’s no question the strain of the pandemic is hitting every area of Canadians’ lives as the year draws to a close.
Two Vatican cardinals test positive for COVID-19; one hospitalized
VATICAN CITY -- Two top Vatican officials -- Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello -- have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Italian media reported, and a Vatican source confirmed.
CDF: current COVID-19 vaccines morally acceptable without alternatives
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican's doctrinal office said that when alternative vaccines are not available, it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed or tested using cell lines originating from aborted fetuses.