The global coronavirus situation has prompted some unexpected changes in the routines of various religious groups around the world, including the Latter-day Saints that made a big announcement on Thursday.
Latter-day Saints' Worldwide Gatherings Canceled
On Thursday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that all public gatherings around the world will be suspended amid ongoing CoVID-19 outbreaks, marking the first time a major religious group made an announcement affecting global branches.
According to the New York Times, the announcement halts worldwide services for over 16 million members of the religious sect for an unspecified period or until the coronavirus situation declines.
In the meantime, church leaders have encouraged members to conduct meetings remotely through the use of technology. Leaders are also mulling how sacrament rituals will be carried out at least once a month during the period of mass cancelation.
Archdiocese of Boston Pushes Through with Masses
While the Latter-day Saints have canceled all masses around the world, the Archdiocese of Boston will carry on with the usual but there will be several changes in the implementation of routine sacraments.
Instead of in the mouth, communion will be placed in the hands of Catholics, NBC affiliate WYCN-LD reported. Members who are at risk of contracting the CoVID-19 strain will also be excused from attending masses.
Aside from the changes in communion proceedings, local Catholic churches will also empty holy water fronts as part of the efforts to prevent coronavirus spreading among members. All water fronts will also be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected.
Members who opt to stay at home are encouraged to watch livestreaming services online through WatchtheMass.com.
Catholic Churches in Rome Shut Down
Meanwhile, in Rome, Catholic churches have been ordered to shut down amid the country-wide lockdown in Italy.
The decree was delivered by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the vicar for the Archdiocese of Rome representing Pope Francis. Previously, only masses were canceled but the churches remained open for worshippers.
However, the new decree will take effect on over 900 parochial and historic churches across Rome as part of the efforts to prevent potential CoVID-19 spreading among members.
The move came after the Italian government ordered all establishments except food shops and essential items stores, as well as pharmaceuticals, to shut down amid the lockdown.
Pope Francis has been streaming his Vatican speeches and blessing masses over the past several days following the spike in new coronavirus cases in Italy. The church closures in Rome will be effective until at least April 3.
Expert Talks CoVID-19 Impact on Religion
Public health expert and medical anthropologist Dr. Monica Schoch-Spana said in a Rolling Stone interview that compared to the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the coronavirus pandemic is somehow different due to the different options through which religious people can continue exercising their spirituality without gathering in large crowds.
Schoch-Spana said that religious groups can always find other ways to support and assist other people while also preventing themselves from being CoVID-19 carriers and also avoiding potential infection from others.
Some of the American clusters that saw confirmed coronavirus cases include 3 at the Christ Church in Washington, D.C., the Young Israel of New Rochelle in New York, and the Grace Church in Georgetown.
How the Stigma Started
The stigma around religious gatherings potentially being the center of coronavirus community-spreading came after the Shincheonji Church of Jesus' Daegu, South Korea branch saw one of the biggest CoVID-19 outbreaks outside China last month.
As of early March, the South Korean government confirmed that about 60 percent of the country's total confirmed coronavirus cases are Shincheonji church members. Prosecutors have since requested an investigation on church founder and leader Lee Man-hee.
Lee has since apologized in public, getting on his knees before the congregation, and revealing that the religious group is working with Daegu authorities in tracking down all members of the sect and find out how many in total are confirmed to have contracted the novel virus.
