Pandemic Response and Religion in the United States represents an initial archiving of online materials related to religion and the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Materials are organized by thematic category and can be searched by keywords. This database will encourage further research into religion and pandemic response. We hope that such research will in turn serve to guide policy decisions by religious organizations and governments. It will also serve as a foundation for teaching about religion and health, disaster response, and other key issues at the high school and college levels. This project was made possible by a WMU Meader Presidential Endowment Covid19 Response Grant. The project’s principle investigator (PI) is Dr. Stephen Covell and the co-PI is Dr. Diane Riggs. Data was collected by the following graduate students in the Department of Comparative Religion: Cameron Borg, Gerald Brooks, Jarrett Stalinger and Emily Warren.
Submissions from 2020
4 Nuns, 3 Employees at Convent of Sisters of the Holy Cross Test Positive for COVID-19, 16 News Now WNDU
Are COVID-19 Restrictions Inflaming Religious Tensions?, Geneive Abdo and Anna L. Jacobs
Rethinking Mikvah Attendance in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Carmella Abraham
Religion During and After Coronavirus: Individualism or inclusive solidarity?, Frank Adloff and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Islamophobia Is Making the Coronavirus Crisis Worse, Ravi Agrawal
'It’s a very different Ramadan': How coronavirus has upended ancient rituals, Gay Alcorn
One German Church Service Resulted in More than 100 Coronavirus Infections, Zeeshan Aleem
As States Crack Down on Gatherings, Some Religious Exemptions Could Keep Pews Full, Liz Alesse
Even as Coronavirus Keeps Us from Churches, Faith Appears to be Growing. Here’s Why, Cynthia M. Allen
Around the World, Nuns on ‘Front Lines’ of Coronavirus Pandemic, Elise Ann Allen
Are Churches and Other Houses of Worship Offering Services? What are the Social Distancing Requirements?, America: State of New Jersey
What Hermits Can Teach Us About Isolation, Hephzibah Anderson
Ohio Churches, Houses of Worship Begin to Reopen After Trump Declared Them Essential Services, Natasha Anderson
A Joint Statement: Gender, faith, and COVID-19, Anglican Communion, ACT Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, World Council of Churches, Side By Side, act, The Girls Brigade, We Will Speak Out, Christian Aid, United Society Partners in the Gospel, DCA, and Presbyterian Women Aotearoa New Zealand
Anglican Communion Calls for COVID-19 Responses to Tackle Gender Inequalities, Anglican Communion and Episcopal News Service
COVID-19 outbreak: Jain community distributes masks in Mumbai, ANI News and Youtube
Resources During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Talking Points for Parents: The delay of First Communion, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Praying Together Over Zoom: How religion sounds during a pandemic, Laura Arenschield
Coronavirus Outbreak Linked To West Virginia Church Grows To Over 40 Cases, Associated Press and KDKA CBS Pittsburg
Christians and Muslims in Algeria “Maintain Links” Despite Lockdown: Bishop of Constantine, Jude Atemanke
Coronavirus: Non-religious people are more likely to survive Covid-19, new figures claim, Martin Bagot and Shivali Best
Zen on Zoom: Community meditation moves online, Joan Bailey
A Pastor Confessed to his Church he was Tired, and he Planned a Break. Then, the Coronavirus Hit D.C., Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Sip from the common cup? On Ash Wednesday, coronavirus and the flu have religious leaders tweaking rituals., Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Virus Lockdown Changes How Hindus Celebrate Holy Period, Biswajeet Banerjee and Gary Fields
National Day of Prayer, Reshaped By Pandemic, Includes Interfaith and Online Events, Adelle M. Banks and Crosswalk.com
‘Did I Miss Anything?’: A man emerges from a 75-Day silent retreat, Ellen Barry
Who Do People Trust For Coronavirus Info? In Zambia, It's Nuns On The Radio, Pranav Baskar
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia bars international pilgrims for Hajj, BBC News
India Coronavirus: Amarnath Pilgrimage Cancelled Due to Covid-19, BBC News
Conversations Continue Regarding Mecklenburg County’s Black Community and COVID-19, Bria Bell
The Social Distance Powwow, Heather Benson, Lori Walsh, and Whitney Recountre II
Berkley Center-Content related to economics, Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Be Safe. Places of Worship, Be Safe Chicago- City of Chicago
Seeing Ourselves in the Face of Others: Environmental Racism and COVID-19 | Faith in Place, Elena Bettis
For Most Churchgoers, Controversy Between Religious Freedom and Public Health is Not Real, Kraig Beyerlein and David Nirenberg
Muslims Across U.S. Finding New Ways to Celebrate Eid Amid Coronavirus, Musadiq Bidar
Can you Find God in a Zoom Call? Communities of Faith get Religion on Tech in COVID-19 Crisis, Todd Bishop
The Book of Ruth: A story about famine offers a powerful lesson for a pandemic, Mijal Bitton and The Forward
Harder to Find Hope as Clergy get Latest SC COVID-19 Data and Projections, Brad Bloom
Boca Raton Community Mikvah: Mikvah form, Boca Raton Community Mikvah
Church Donations have Plunged Because of the Coronavirus. Some Churches Won’t Survive, Michelle Boorstein
Covid-19 has Killed Multiple Bishops and Pastors within the Nation’s Largest Black Pentecostal Denomination, Michelle Boorstein
Coronavirus: Pope's closeness to nuns affected by Covid-19, Linda Bordoni
After Decades of Service, Five Nuns Die as Virus Sweeps Through Convent, Julie Bosman
COVID-19 Creates Challenges for Muslim Community, Especially During Ramadan, Adrienne Broaddus
Jewish Law During a Pandemic: The 35 Responsa of Rabbi Hershel Schachter Issued Due to COVID-19, Michael J. Broyde and Berkley Center-Georgetown University
Jain Monk’s Welcome Sparks Covid-19 Scare, Brut.
Quarantining While Buddhist: ‘It’s more important to be kind than to be right’, Donna Bryson
Together While Apart: Compassion for the long haul, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Native Americans Cancel Sun Dances and Other Cultural Ceremonies to Halt Spread of Coronavirus, Andrew Buncombe
Iowa Religious Leaders Express Concern Over Restarting Church Services, Mike Bunge
The Great Shutdown 2020: What churches, mosques and temples are doing to fight the spread of coronavirus, Daniel Burke
People use Religion as a Coping Mechanism During COVID-19 Outbreak, Austin Burnett
Boko Haram's Shekau Labels Anti-COVID-19 Measures an Attack on Islam in Nigeria, John Campbell
"Ajahn Corona", Bhikkhuni Canda, Ajahn Brahmavamso, and Youtube
Quelling Demons and Disease in Japanese Art by Dr. John T. Carpenter, John T. Carpenter, Mary Griggs Burke, and YouTube.com
How One Church Is Handling The Coronavirus Outbreak, Annacaroline Caruso
'Church is more than a building': Chicago's Holy Week services move online during COVID-19 pandemic, Cate Cauguiran
Checklist for Communities of Faith, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FAQs for Administrators and Leaders at Community- and Faith-Based Organizations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
On Religion: Bethel and Fellow Believers Beneath the Bridge: Thousands flock to Sundial Bridge to worship during a pandemic, Doni Chamberlain
Federal Judge Rules New York Cannot Limit Religious Gatherings With BLM Protests And Businesses Reopening, Sophia Chang
COVID-19 Messages From the Kelim Mikvah and Mikvah Emunah Society, Cheryl Stern Community Kelim Mikvah and Kemp Mill Synagogue
Cyber Dharma: Celebrating E-Vesak in Singapore, Jack Meng-Tat Chia
Celebrating E-Vesak in Singapore, Jack Meng-Tat Chia and The Jivaka Project
Saudi’s Hajj Cancellation for Covid-19 is Not the First Time a Plague has Disrupted Muslims’ Pilgrimage, Ken Chitwood and Quartz Africa
Beloved Nun, Educator Loses Battle with COVID-19, Gina Christian
Praying About World Issues, Christian Science
Rev. Al Sharpton Urges Black Faith Leaders To Forgo In-Person Holy Week Services, Tanya A. Christian
Revelations from the Outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Shan Ci
Activists and Pastors Sue Texas Governor over Stay-at-home Order, Justine Coleman
Churches Were Eager to Reopen. Now They Are Confronting Coronavirus Cases., Kate Conger, Jack Healy, and Lucy Tompkins
Fudo Myo-o: The enduring power of a wrathful deity, Core Kyoto- NHK World-Japan
Kyoto Amulets: The embodiment of prayers for happiness, Core Kyoto- NHK World-Japan
Protocol for Places of Worship: Appendix F, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health
With Split Delayed, United Methodists Face a Year in Limbo, David Crary and Nation
30 New Covid-19 Cases in Croatia in Last 24 Hours, Including 10 Nuns, CroatiaWeek
Indigenous Arizonans Dance with Thousands Around World in Online 'Social Distance' Powwow, Chelsea Curtis
On Religion: Will the church survive COVID-19?, Dane Davis and Daily Press
Coronavirus Panic Over 'Big Tent Revival' Religious Gatherings, Eric DeGrechie
COVID-19 Cancels the Islamic Pilgrimage, Grounding a Lifelong Dream for Some N.C. Muslims, Anton L. Delgado
Spiritual Houstonians Embrace the Metaphysical During COVID-19, Hannah Dellenger
法鼓山芝加哥分會-Dharma Drum Mountain Chicago Center, Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association Chicago Chapter
Covid-19 – Practice Resources & Teachings, Dharma Insights, News-Sravasti Abbey
Indoor Religious Services Once Again Prohibited in Berkeley Because of Rise in COVID-19 Cases, Francis Dinkelspiel
Spiritual resources during COVID-19, Diocese of Grand Rapids
Catholic Homeschool Resources, Diocese of Kalamazoo
German Nuns Describe Search for Sacrament During COVID-19 Beyond “Dependence” on Ordained Men, Cameron Doody and Religious Women for Human Dignity
The Pandemic and the Will of God, Ross Douthat
Tiny Buddha Yoga Studios Seek Help for Long-Term Payments During COVID-19 Crisis, Mikhayla Dunaj
Magic Valley Dairy Days and Pagan Fest Both Move Online This Year Due to Coronavirus Concerns, Tetona Dunlap and Magic Valley
Responses to COVID19 in Buddhist Communities of Contemporary China-Preliminary findings, Daigengna Duoer and The Jivaka Project
Supreme Court Rejects Church’s Challenge to California’s Coronavirus Rules, Colin Dwyer
An Indigenous Perspective to COVID-19, Angelique EagleWoman
It’s Hard to Close Black Churches amid COVID-19, Elaine Howard Ecklund and Deidra Carroll Coleman
In Our Opinion: The right to worship should never be cast aside in a pandemic, Editorial Board