Relying on Science, Compassion and Communication to Make Covid-19 Decisions: Clergy Are Demonstrating the Power of All Three

The mantra coming out of the White House with respect to our Covid-19 crisis remains as unchanged as it is insane: “It’s going away.”

Only the second line of this mantra has differed over time — but not much in substance. It’s morphed from “open the economy” to “open the churches” to “open the schools” to “play football.”

Taking a close look at the behavior and beliefs of one group as members negotiate the pressures we’re all facing is enlightening and has much to teach us.

Back in May, there was enormous political pressure for houses of worship to open. We saw two striking things at the time. Some congregations actually opened — and they received a great deal of attention for doing so. The Covid-19 outbreaks that rather quickly followed and that were attributable to the decisions to open also received a great deal of attention.

The second thing we saw (and as I explained at the time) was that the vast majority of houses of worship opted to remain closed and to continue to conduct services virtually. Indeed, although these congregations didn’t receive nearly as much attention, they opted to follow the best advice scientists had to offer and thought it prudent…