PRAYERS AND PROPHECIES

In this piece for the New York Times, I write about how religious groups are mobilizing to help fight the coronavirus.

As always, the government’s reaction is mixed–some religious groups (the state-approved ones) are welcome to donate mostly money, while others (underground groups) are being prevented from helping. And as usual there’s little role for real on-the-ground help. In other words, religions are welcome to send money but not people.

It’s another example of the government’s wariness of civil society and ultimately hobbles the relief effort.