Corona
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Central Europe
Tensions in Swiss churches about Covid regulations
The umbrella of German-speaking free churches in Switzerland is thinking about going to court against the new Covid regulations. It seems that the passes and limitations give too much tension to the local churches. That is the news that is reported by Regards protestants. The organisation Freikirchen.ch wants to get…
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Western Europe
French parliament adopts controversial bill on vaccine rules
The French parliament approved a bill that makes vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory for healthcare workers. The bill ensures a further tightening of the corona measures in the country as well. From August onward, people must show a vaccination certificate via a so-called ‘corona pass' in catering establishments and if they…
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European Union
Birth rates Europe plummet amidst pandemic
The number of newborns in Europe decreased significantly during the pandemic, a United Nations study concludes. Since October 2020, data from nineteen European countries and the United States have shown a “strong decline in the birth rate” compared to the same months of the previous year, writes German daily Frankfurter…
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Northern Europe
Suicide rate Norway remains stable during pandemic
The corona pandemic did not lead to more suicides in Norway in 2020. Studies in other countries point in the same direction. Popular expectations might have been different, but those numbers are exactly as expected. That says chief physician Marianne Sørlie Strøm at the Cause of Death Register at the…
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Christian Life
Does vaccination fit in God's providence? Three Dutch pastors give a different answer
For Reformed pastors in the Netherlands, vaccination is not always easy. Some argue that a vaccine is an instrument of God’s fatherly care. Others would see it as conflicting with God’s providence. Three ministers explain their position: Rev. J. A. Weststrate, Rev. P. Mulder and Dr R. van Kooten.# “Inoculation…
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Christian Life
Dutch research: Digital church service can remain valuable after Covid
Many churches use digital facilities during the Covid pandemic. Camera and microphone serve the people at home. Digital church services can also be valuable after the crisis. That is the conclusion of theology student Mark Joosse and professor of Practical Theology Hans Schaeffer of the Theological University of Kampen (TUK).…
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Eastern Europe
Russian Jewish Congress outraged after actor compares Covid restrictions with Holocaust
Yuri Kanner, President of the Russian Jewish Congress, expressed his anger on Yegor Beroev. The Russian actor compared restrictive measures for people unvaccinated from Covid-19 with the Holocaust. Kanner told Russian news outlet RIA Novosti that he is willing to take the actor on a tour of Holocaust-related places in…
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Eastern Europe
Mandatory vaccination for Russian worker
Russian workers who refuse Covid-19 vaccinations in areas where they are compulsory could be forced to take unpaid leave, warns Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov. Following Moscow, several regions have introduced compulsory vaccination against Covid-19, the Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda reports. The authorities order businesses and institutions involved in retail, education,…
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Western Europe
Dutch government tries to push vaccination in Bible Belt
The Dutch Ministry of Health plans to boost the enthusiasm for corona vaccination in the so-called Bible Belt. “This has top priority for minister De Jonge,” says his spokesperson in the Dutch Reformatorisch Dagblad. But she can't say anything about concrete steps yet. “We won't say to these people: this…
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Northern Europe
Corona leads to drop in std's in Norway
The corona year has led to a drop in sexually transmitted diseases (std’s) in Norway. This reports the Danish Kristeligt Dagblad referring to the annual report from the Norwegian health board. The number of gonorrhoea cases was 1,045 in 2020, while there were 1,704 cases in 2019. That is a…