Faith and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Meet the Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist encouraging her fellow Christians to get vaccinated
By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 19, 2021
(RNS) — Written in epidemiologist Emily Smith’s friendly, informational voice, the Facebook page has grown to more than 96,000 followers.
With Pope Francis’ blessing, Catholics pressed Biden White House to waive vaccine patents
By Claire Giangravé and Jack Jenkins — May 10, 2021
(RNS) — 'Pope Francis is very involved,' said the Rev. Augusto Zampini, one of the directors of the Vatican’s COVID-19 Commission.
Half of US Mormons are COVID-19 ‘vaccine hesitant’ or ‘vaccine refusers,’ study shows
By Jana Riess — May 6, 2021
(RNS) — The study finds Mormons believe in vaccinations in general, and they trust their church leaders to do the right thing. Yet church leaders have been urging members to get the COVID-19 shot, and half don't want to.
LifeSiteNews removed from Facebook for violating COVID-19 misinformation policies
By Jack Jenkins — May 5, 2021
(RNS) — The ultraconservative website, which often features faith content, was removed for ‘repeatedly violating our COVID-19 policies,’ a Facebook spokesperson told RNS.
At Orange County mosques, they come for the halal tacos and stay for the vaccination
By Alejandra Molina — April 28, 2021
(RNS) — Activists working on Latino & Muslim unity are holding vaccination events at Islamic centers where Muslims can break their Ramadan fast while feasting on halal tacos.
Christian nationalism is a barrier to mass vaccination against COVID-19
By Monique Deal Barlow — April 1, 2021
(RNS) — Some who identify as Christian nationalists believe they will be protected from any disease.
Franklin Graham unfazed after evangelical base blasts him for encouraging vaccines
By Yonat Shimron — March 26, 2021
(RNS) — Graham's March 24 Facebook post uncovered a deep divide among evangelicals, many of whom are suspicious of COVID-19 vaccines. His organization, Samaritan's Purse, is managing vaccine clinics in Boone, North Carolina.
Faith and the COVID-19 vaccine: ‘Don’t throw away your shot’
By Julie Schonfeld — March 23, 2021
(RNS) — 'The mayor's office called, wanting to take a shot with me, but the mayor was too slow. When he called I had already gotten my shot!' said Pastor Clarence C. Moore, senior pastor of the New Era Church in Indianapolis.
7 ways a national COVID-19 day of mourning can help us heal
By Jamie Aten and Kent Annan — March 12, 2021
(RNS) — Public days are a way to be with each other during and after suffering as we step into the new normal that is ahead.
A Los Angeles pilot program will vaccinate hundreds within 2-mile radius of a Catholic church
By Alejandra Molina — March 11, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A pilot program aims to vaccinate 600 eligible people who live within a two-mile radius surrounding St. Brigid Catholic Church, a Black and Latino parish hit hard by COVID-19 in South Los Angeles.
Survey: Churchgoers say they plan to return to in-person services
By Yonat Shimron — March 10, 2021
(RNS) — Many churches are already meeting in person, but attendance has typically been smaller to accommodate for social distancing. That will likely change, a Lifeway Research poll suggests.
US bishops discourage Catholics from getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine if given a choice
By Jack Jenkins — March 2, 2021
(RNS) — 'If one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s,' the statement read.
New Orleans archdiocese urges Catholics to avoid new Johnson & Johnson vaccine
By Jack Jenkins — March 1, 2021
(RNS) — The archdiocese said the vaccine is 'morally compromised' because it utilized cells with a decades-old link to an aborted fetus.
Latino churches in Los Angeles County will now serve as COVID-19 testing sites
By Alejandra Molina — February 26, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Through a partnership with the county, Latino congregations now offering this service are St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Whittier and Centro de Vida Victoriosa, an Assemblies of God church in East LA.
After California ruling, some are worshipping indoors, others still think it’s too risky
By Alejandra Molina — February 12, 2021
(RNS) — 'We’re going to hold on until we feel better about it,' said the Rev. Austin Doran, of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Los Angeles County.
