Places of worship in the Augusta and Waterville areas are using a combination of virtual and in-person gatherings as key holy celebrations get underway a year into the coronavirus pandemic.
Religion and Values
Posted inNation & World, Religion and Values
Suicide bomb hits Palm Sunday Mass in Indonesia, 20 wounded
Police say the two attackers – who were both killed in the blast – are believed to have been members of a militant group with allegiance to the Islamic State.
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Posted inNation & World, Religion and Values
Where Islamic State ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild
‘The road to a full recovery may still be long, but I ask you, please, not to grow discouraged,’ Francis told a packed Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Religion and Values
Maine Catholic churches will increase capacity this month
Bishop Robert Deeley says Catholic churches will allow for 50% capacity at all Masses starting in late March.
Posted inNation & World, News, Religion and Values
Pope Francis, on historic visit, urges Iraq to embrace its Christians
The pontiff’s primary aim over the weekend is to encourage Iraq’s dwindling Christian population, which was violently persecuted by the Islamic State group and still faces discrimination by the Muslim majority, to stay and help rebuild the country devastated by wars and strife.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Religion and Values
Bishop calls for Maine’s Catholics to choose alternatives to Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Bishop Robert Deeley cites concerns about abortion-derived cell lines in connection with the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Posted inLife & Culture, Local & State, Morning Sentinel, Religion and Values
Religious leaders in central Maine split on Mills’ house of worship order
Under the governor’s order, houses of worship may now accommodate five people per 1,000 square feet of space, or up to 50 people, whichever is greater.
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Catholic Bishop Deeley says state’s new gathering size limit for churches is ‘unacceptable’
A spokeswoman for Gov. Janet Mills defends the recent updates to capacity limits after the bishop of the Portland Diocese says they will have little impact on most Catholic churches in Maine.
Posted inLocal & State, Religion and Values, Schools and Education
Maine ban on funding religious tuition goes to U.S. Supreme Court
So far, courts have sided with the state, which contends using taxpayer dollars to fund religious education violates the separation of church and state.
Posted inBusiness, Nation & World, News, Religion and Values
Sitting on billions, Catholic dioceses amassed taxpayer aid
As the pandemic began to unfold, scores of Catholic dioceses across the U.S. received aid through the Paycheck Protection Program while sitting on well over $10 billion in cash.