social distancing Archives

New App puts missal in the palm of your hands

Mar 16, 2021

When Catholic churches nationwide reopened last summer after a months-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parishioners followed along empty handed, as the missals typically found at each pew were removed so people wouldn’t touch the same surfaces.

By John Lavenburg

As Texas and Mississippi lift COVID restrictions, bishops voice caution

Mar 8, 2021

Catholic prelates in Texas and Mississippi will, for the most part, maintain COVID-19 precaution mandates at their parishes despite recent announcements from each state’s governor that restrictions will ease.

By John Lavenburg

High court tells Santa Clara it can’t bar in-person worship

Feb 27, 2021

The Supreme Court is telling California’s Santa Clara County that it can’t enforce a ban on indoor religious worship services put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

By Associated Press

Bishop: Maine governor’s new order on religious gatherings ‘unacceptable’

Feb 23, 2021

Maine Gov. Janet Mills’s Feb. 12 executive order that she explained would expand limits on church gatherings does little to help the state’s Catholic churches, Bishop Robert P. Deeley of Portland said.

By Catholic News Service

Justices: California can’t enforce indoor church service ban

Feb 6, 2021

The Supreme Court is telling California that it can’t bar indoor church services because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it can keep for now a ban on singing and chanting indoors.

By Jessica Gresko

Europe’s Christmas dilemma: risk empty chairs next year?

Nov 28, 2020

Europe’s nations are struggling to reconcile cold medical advice with a tradition that calls for big gatherings in often poorly ventilated rooms, where people chat, shout and sing together — providing an ideal conduit for a virus that has killed over 350,000 people in the continent so far.

By Raf Casert

Brooklyn Diocese asks high court for injunction on limits on indoor worship

Nov 14, 2020

The Diocese of Brooklyn Nov. 12 filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court for an injunction against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order limiting the size of a congregation for in-person services at Catholic churches and other houses of worship.

By Catholic News Service

New Mexico diocese to cease Sunday Mass amid virus surge

Oct 23, 2020

One of the oldest Catholic dioceses in the United States will again be foregoing Sunday Mass indefinitely as New Mexico marks its latest surge of COVID-19 cases.

By Associated Press