Corona
-
Western Europe
French President “really wants to annoy” non-vaccinated
In France, President Emmanuel Macron has caused a stir. In an interview with the French daily Le Parisien on Tuesday, he said he wanted to “annoy the non-vaccinated until the end”. “In a democracy, the worst enemy is lies and stupidity. We put pressure on the non-vaccinated by limiting for…
-
Central Europe
German church seems to favour compulsory vaccination
In Germany, more and more church people are arguing in favour of compulsory vaccination against the coronavirus. The Protestant EKD president Annette Kurschus has said she is in favour of a vaccine obligation. This is reported by the press agency Idea. It is expected that the new German government of…
-
Northern Europe
Corona sceptics seem to concentrate in independent churches
People from independent churches are more receptive to corona scepticism than members of the folk church. That’s the impression of observers in Scandinavia. But nobody has facts or numbers. The Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad writes about Birthe, a lady from one of the so-called free churches. During the first wave…
-
Southern Europe
Patriarch Bartholomew tests positive for coronavirus
Bartholomew I, the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, has tested positive for the coronavirus. He is doing “well”, despite several recent health problems. The infection was noticed during a routine medical examination in Istanbul. According to the office of the archbishop of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarch is showing mild…
-
Central Europe
Holland and Germany consider mandatory Covid vaccination
The Dutch Ministers of Economic Affairs and Climate, Social Affairs, and Employment see vaccination as the structural way out of the worldwide health crisis. Therefore, they advise the cabinet to research the pros and cons of mandatory vaccinations, the [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://www.rd.nl/artikel/955924-ministeries-willen-onderzoek-naar-vaccinatieplicht) reports. The Departments point out that the psychological health…
-
Central Europe
Austrian bishop: Don't compare corona with the Nazi era
The Austrian bishop Hermann Glettler calls it “dangerous” to compare the current debate about corona measure with the Nazi dictatorship. There must be a better understanding of different groups in society. The Catholic clergyman from Innsbruck said that in an interview with the Tiroler Tageszeitung. In Austria, the government has…
-
European Union
European churches struggle with vaccination for Christmas services
German immunologist Harald Renz advises churches to work with compulsory vaccination for the Christmas services in church, [PRO](https://www.pro-medienmagazin.de/immunologe-empfiehlt-mindestens-2g-regel-fuer-weihnachtsgottesdienste/) reports. Across Europe, churches struggle with Christmas services amidst a pandemic. With such a so-called 2G system, only vaccinated people or those who recently recovered from Covid-19 are allowed to enter. Renz…
-
Eastern Europe
Russian patriarch: You don't get sick in church
The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia mourns the fact that the Covid pandemic has led to lower church attendance, [Orthodox Christianity](https://orthochristian.com/143301.html) reports. The Patriarch emphasised that people should not be afraid of getting sick in church. He made his statement following the Divine Liturgy at the Christ the Saviour…
-
Central Europe
Austria's bishops: 'Temporary' vaccine mandate permissible as last resort
The Catholic bishops in Austria have issued a joint statement supporting compulsory vaccination against the coronavirus. The churchmen said this should be limited in time and a “last resort” to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday. Among others, kathpress and Catholic News Agency write about it. In the statement “Protect.…
-
Northern Europe
Norwegian government talks to religious people about vaccination
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health holds talks with particular religious groups to raise the vaccination rate among these people. This is what chief physician Preben Aavitsland of the Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) says to the Norwegian newspaper Vårt Land, after being asked about the connection between unvaccinated and coronary heart disease.…