Religious studies expert available on church's decision to cancel mass, limit funerals in response to COVID-19

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University's Chair of Religious Studies Cristina Traina is available to comment on the Catholic Church’s response to COVID-19. A professor of religious studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern, Traina studies Christian theology and ethics with emphasis on Roman Catholic and feminist thought.

Since March 3, the Chicago archdiocese has told Catholics that love for their neighbors morally obliges them to stay home from church -- if they are sick. On March 12, they added that anyone over 60 is excused. Today, March 13, the archdiocese announced that Mass will not be said in parishes at all. Most recently, a decision was made to limit funeral services, visitations and burials to no more than 10 attendees.

Reporters interested in interviewing Professor Traina should contact Erin Karter at erin.karter@northwestern.edu or (mobile) 312-273-0277 to arrange an interview.

Quote from Professor Traina


“Unexpectedly, Catholics’ Lenten fast now includes fasting from the Eucharist. Moments like these make us aware of the incredible centrality and physicality of Catholic communal worship. Touching neighbors at the sign of peace, holding hands at the Lord’s Prayer, signing themselves with holy water as they enter the church, drinking from a common chalice -- all of these practices are on hold during the epidemic, removing the sense of touch from what is traditionally a 5-sense experience.”