Pathway Baptist Church holds a worship service at the Calvert Drive-In Theatre, Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Calvert City, Kentucky. Attendees remained in their vehicles. Photo by Nathan Brandon/Studio 270 Media
Need to know: Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Churches go back to the future with drive-in services in the time of the coronavirus
Congregations from a variety of denominations in Kentucky, Texas, Washington and Minnesota are taking the drive-in approach at their churches, encouraging members to park their cars on church property and tune in to the service on their radios. Pathway Baptist Church did them one better.
Pope Francis will offer plenary indulgence in response to coronavirus
Pope Francis announced he will be delivering an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing and indulgence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As offerings dwindle, some churches fear for their future
As weekly contributions drop as in-person worship services are canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak, some churches are bracing for cutbacks in programs and staff.
Conservative churches need to get the social distancing memo
Some churches that are staying open despite the pandemic need to trust that closing our churches is not about fear; it’s about love, writes Colby Martin.
Why some keep believing when Trumpian prophecy fails
Empirical evidence to the contrary doesn’t matter to true believers, writes Mark Silk.
Salt Lake City airport tightens rules for greeting missionaries returning from abroad
Salt Lake City officials have announced tougher restrictions on families and friends meeting Mormon missionaries returning from abroad after many well wishers flouted official guidelines, thronging an airport parking lot over the weekend with welcome-home signs and balloons.
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Catholic Cardinal Burke says faithful should attend Mass despite coronavirus
Cardinal Raymond Burke said that if supermarkets remain open then so should churches.
Is St. Corona the patron saint of pandemics?
No, St. Corona is not the patron saint of pandemics — yet.
Virus prompts churches meeting in schools to find new ways to preach, pray
Pastors of newer churches are faced with the dilemma of figuring out how to reach and keep new members without ‘pressing the flesh,’ one expert said.
More views from RNS
Please stop meeting Mormon missionaries at the airport
Last night hundreds of people gathered at the Salt Lake City airport to welcome Mormon missionaries home, despite social distancing instructions from the state of Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Dear Liberty University board: Please stop Jerry Falwell Jr. before it’s too late
Jerry Falwell Jr. plans to reopen Liberty Univerity to students, faculty and staff. It's time to stop him from making a terrible mistake, writes Marybeth Davis Baggett.
Tom Brady’s leap of faith
(RNS) — Once a devoted acolyte of Bill Belichick, the Pats' Hall of Famer has put himself in the hands of a trainer/spiritual guide once labeled a ‘snake oil salesman.’
