'A kind of brainwashing': Brazil's Catholic Church fights COVID-19 denialism
A second wave of COVID-19 infections has swept Brazil over the past few months, taking the average number of daily deaths to more than 2,500 and causing the collapse of the health care system in several cities.
As the crisis grows, Catholic Church leaders face great challenges in helping those in need and in fighting pandemic denialism, which is often supported by the man many blame for the chaos in the country, President Jair Bolsonaro.
"Unfortunately, many Catholics are influenced by political groups that don't have a critical opinion regarding that state of affairs," Fr. Geraldino de Proença, from the Apucarana Diocese, told NCR. "Christians in general are very susceptible now to fake news about the pandemic in Brazil."
The church has been trying to denounce the government's mismanagement of the pandemic in different fronts, joining major civic organizations and focusing on concrete measures to help those on the margins.
After Vatican decree, over 100 theologians pledge to support same-sex couples
More than 3,000 Catholic theologians, clergy, laypeople and organizations have pledged to support LGBTQ couples in the face of the recent Vatican decree banning priests from blessing same-sex unions.
The pledge, which was launched by the Catholic support group New Ways Ministry, affirms the faith and dignity of LGBTQ individuals and couples.
The pledge also urges Pope Francis to repeal the Vatican decree, released March 15 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with the pope's approval.
"There's a groundswell of support for same-sex couples within Catholicism that we're seeing," said Fordham University professor Cristina Traina in an interview. "What we're seeing is not just the whim of the weak, but a deep-seated and broader response that is indicative of the Holy Spirit moving."
More background:
- A Vatican decree saying priests can't bless same-sex unions is another tricky move in Francis' tightrope walk of upholding church teaching while also trying to extend a warmer welcome to LGBTQ persons.
- Responding to a March 15 Vatican decree banning priests from blessing gay unions on the premise that God "cannot bless sin," LGBTQ Catholic couples and advocates talked to NCR about their reality.
More headlines
- Donations for sisters' homes for the disabled have declined in Pakistan, not only because of the fragile economy, but because COVID-19 has prevented traditional charity visits from Catholic parishioners.
- A bishop, an archbishop and several Catholic groups and leaders released a letter March 31 with the Human Rights Campaign condemning discrimination and violence against transgender people and affirming their dignity.
- Sr. Rose Pacatte reflects on her 2019 experience in Jerusalem as she enters this Holy Week: "It was the memory of seeing the expanse of the former Temple of Jesus' times, the excavations below revealing ancient streets where Jesus may have walked, and praying at the Western Wall that connected with me during the Gospel reading on Palm Sunday."
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