Tuesday's News & Ideas - 4/12/2022

How COVID changed the clergy in New York*
The New York Times: As the city’s houses of worship hold in-person services again, faith leaders reflect on what the pandemic has taught them.

World Council of Churches faces calls to expel Russian Orthodox Church
Religion News Service: WCC head the Rev. Ioan Sauca has pushed back on the idea, but a growing chorus of Christian leaders is suggesting the group cut ties with the ROC.

Ukrainian nuns open monastery doors to those displaced by war
Associated Press: “After what we saw, (the monastery) is a paradise.”

Penance and plague: How the Black Death changed one of Christianity’s most important rituals
The Conversation: Amid the uncertainty of the 14th century, some Catholic institutions stopped working the way they were supposed to, fueling frustration. In particular, the unrelenting crises prompted anxiety about the sacrament of penance.

Reversing course on mask mandates*
Inside Higher Ed: Colleges across the U.S. are changing policies on mask mandates, reinstituting such requirements amid increasing coronavirus cases. Some see a direct link to spring break travel.

The Spark

How a forgotten bit of infrastructure became a symbol of civic pride
The salt box,* a winter fixture in Baltimore, was largely overlooked. But, during the pandemic, artists helped turn the humble object into a local celebrity, The New Yorker says.

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