Coronavirus forces Brooklyn’s Catholic churches to cancel mass
In times of crisis, people often flock to churches for solace. But the coronavirus pandemic is upending religious life in Brooklyn.
Just two days after announcing that churches would be open and that attending mass would be optional for Catholics, the Diocese of Brooklyn went even farther and canceled masses altogether. The diocese oversees Catholic churches in Brooklyn and Queens.
The diocese issued a statement on March 15 explaining Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s decision to mandate a complete moratorium on church gatherings during the fast-moving coronavirus crisis.