Copy Desk Daily, May 19, 2020

Recommended for you today, from the NCR/GSR/EarthBeat copy desk:

Different countries in Europe are opening up after the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and in-person Mass is starting to happen again, on various timelines and with varying restrictions. Read about what bishops' conferences and dioceses are doing to work with governments to provide people public faith outlets. The story from Jonathan Luxmoore is here.

You can read about what's going on in the U.S. in this regard, too: Archbishop refers dioceses to resources on public Mass, sacraments

Commentary from Massimo Faggioli: There are signs that the Catholic Church's response to the sexual abuse crisis is now getting at deeper, institutional questions. A unique example that could bring encouraging news has come from Australia. Read more.

"Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home" is turning five, and Global Sisters Report is happy to share this environment-related story: Instead of selling off 25 acres of prime urban real estate, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans went ahead with a visionary architect's plan to manage stormwater. Read about the Mirabeau Water Garden, with a planned groundbreaking in August.

More from Laudato Si' at five: It's been notable that Pope Francis' words in Laudato Si' have not been matched with as much action as one might hope. However, the church and its affiliates have a big lever that they can pull — the financial one. Methodist activist Bill McKibben says that the encyclical "emerged 25 years after scientists first made public the news that we were wrecking our planet by heating its atmosphere, and I can still remember the enormous relief that came with reading Pope Francis' words." Find out what advice he has for the pope.

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