Scientific research suggests that prayer has the power to calm the mind, increase resistance to temptation and make people happier.
One thing prayer can't do, however, is stop the coronavirus. So far, two members of one Sacramento church have died from COVID-19. Four other members of the church are infected. It's important to note that these infections took place before Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials issued stay-in-place orders on March 19.
In Sacramento County, 71 members of the Bethany Slavic Missionary Church near Rancho Cordova have tested positive for the coronavirus. One person has died and the church's pastor is sick, but the leaders of the church _ which has members in Yolo and Placer counties _ have refused to communicate with county health leaders.
The coronavirus is hitting the faith community hard. More than 100 of Sacramento County's 314 coronavirus cases are connected to churches, said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County's health chief. This fact prompted county health officials to issue "a special plea for congregations to stop holding services and prayer groups," according to the Sacramento Bee's Tony Bizjak and Dale Kasler.
Sacramento is not the only place where the coronavirus has killed or sickened people of faith. In Washington state, 60 members of a church choir attended practice despite the fact that the virus was spreading in nearby areas. "Nearly three weeks later, 45 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or ill with the symptoms, at least three have been hospitalized, and two are dead," according to the Los Angeles Times.
In Arkansas, nearly three dozen people who attended a church event got the coronavirus. In North Carolina, "multiple cases" of infections have been linked to a church meeting that took place despite a stay-at-home order from Gov. Roy Cooper. In Illinois, 10 people at one church tested positive for the virus. In Virginia, one pastor died of COVID-19 after downplaying its seriousness and accusing the media of "pumping out fear."
In Italy _ a country where 83% of the population is Christian _ at least 13,155 people have died from COVID-19. This includes over 50 priests.
This much is certain: The coronavirus spreads through droplets from infected people, and it does not discriminate based on nationality, race, creed, color or religion. Yes, it can infect you in church. Yes, it can sicken or kill the faithful. Yes, religious leaders who insist on holding church gatherings despite the high risks are putting lives in danger.
Unfortunately, some pastors around the country have decided to make the coronavirus a deadly test of faith for their members. They are publicly defying stay-at-home orders and insisting on in-person church services. Despite a rising number of dead or infected churchgoers, a few selfish pastors around the country are putting their prideful egos ahead of what's best for their congregations.
In Lodi, Calif., for example, Pastor Jon Duncan has pledged to hold church services in defiance of the rules.
"We are going to meet as often as we can meet," said Duncan, invoking the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
But state and local officials have the constitutional right to issue stay-at-home orders to protect public health. They have also canceled gatherings in parks, restaurants and gyms. Lodi police are rightly threatening to shut down Duncan's services.
Police in Louisiana and Florida recently arrested two megachurch pastors who went ahead with large church gatherings in defiance of public health rules. The Florida pastor, "diehard Donald Trump supporter Rodney Howard-Browne," held another church service after his release. On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally issued a 30-day stay-at-home order after weeks of deadly delay, but he exempted churches. He essentially gave careless pastors permission to spread the virus.
But let's be clear: Good pastors protect their flocks. Pastors who willfully expose their congregations to this deadly virus do not deserve the title. Church leaders who insist on putting lives at risk should be jailed _ and their congregants should find new leaders who respect the sanctity of their lives.
This is not an easy thing to say. Faith plays an important role in American life, and bans on gatherings offend our common sense of freedom and individual rights. But in a public health emergency, "social distancing" rules are necessary to save lives. Besides, the rules ban all large gatherings, not just those in churches.
In this holy season of Easter, Passover and Ramadan, prayer plays a critical role. And people of all faiths can still pray in their homes, pray on the phone or take part in worship services through video services like Zoom and Skype. Nothing prevents believers from calling upon the calming and soul-healing power of prayer in these troubling times. In fact, the world could use a few extra prayers right now.
