Thursday's News & Ideas - 5/7/2020

Many houses of worship have sought government aid, surveys show
NPR: Surveys show that about a quarter of Protestant congregations and more than a third of Catholic parishes successfully pursued loans under the first round of the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program.

Spiritual care at the front lines of the pandemic
Sojourners: In a typical work week, members of Amy Canosa’s spiritual care team spend about 70 percent of their time attending to patients and 30 percent offering care to staff. COVID-19 has nearly flipped that ratio.

How far can the government go to help religious objectors? The Supreme Court hears arguments on this tricky question
Deseret News: Justices heard oral arguments in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

How can we make our political polarization less destructive?*
Christian Century: Ezra Klein suggests structural changes. Darrell West suggests talking to each other.

Muslim doctors fight COVID-19 -- and Islamophobia -- on the front lines
HuffPost: Muslim medical workers continue to provide essential services in the U.S. and around the world -- even while fasting for Ramadan

The Spark

A new doctor faces the coronavirus in Queens
A front-line physician at Elmhurst Hospital sees how closely socioeconomic status is tied to the disease, and tries to help patients who are dying without their families, The New Yorker says.

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