President Donald Trump speaks with reporters about the coronavirus in the Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, May 22, 2020. Trump announced his administration now considers houses of worship to provide “essential services.” (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Need to know: Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Trump declares places of worship ‘essential,’ setting up standoff with governors
‘I call upon governors to allow our churches and places of worship to open right now,’ President Trump said.
With two swift moves, Pope Francis rekindles hope for financial reform
Tranquil on its surface, as COVID-19 has shut down nearly all activity in its churches, museums and offices, the Vatican has nonetheless been quietly dealing with its troubled finances during the pandemic.
From Illinois to Puerto Rico, Latino Muslims navigate faith and quarantine among their non-Muslim families
While COVID-19 has disrupted in-person worship services for all people of faith, it has further impacted Latino Muslim converts whose religious community can be exclusively outside their households.
More than $689,000 raised for small churches at risk of closure during COVID-19
Although the relief fund will end at the end of the month, the initiative will transition to regional, city and state-based ‘Churches Helping Churches’ efforts.
The Best Ramadan Ever? Lockdown makes space for spiritual growth
This lockdown presents us a with unique opportunities for deeper spiritual growth through patient introspection and self-assessment, writes Omer Bajwa.
Ramadan: German church opens doors for Muslim prayers
A church in Berlin has opened its doors to Muslim worshippers unable to fit into their mosque under new social distancing rules.
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In reversal, White House tells CDC to post church guidance
WASHINGTON (AP) — After refusing for weeks to release reopening guidance for churches, the Trump administration on Thursday abruptly changed course — with the president saying he had instructed health officials to put the advice out.
‘God would not have brought you this far to kick you to the curb now’
For Andi and Al Tauber, life among refugees and men living on the street is filled with music, kindness, and a lot of experience with "the God of compost."
How two Mennonite musicians turn street ministry into a song
Mennonite musicians Andi and Al Tauber, bring kindness, music, and love to their work with refugees and male sex workers.
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On Memorial Day, let’s honor fallen health care workers
(RNS) — People don’t use the battlefield phrase ‘the front lines’ for nothing. On Memorial Day, health care workers who have died in the fight against COVID-19 are our new heroes.
Mormon pioneer grit helped prepare me for this pandemic
"Even though I’m not attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints anymore, I had a moment of real gratitude that I’d been raised to have a year’s supply of food," says guest columnist Mette Harrison.
The perils of in-person worship
(RNS) — This week, it was reported that a couple of churches in the South had reclosed after reopening for in-person worship.
