Falling virus figure halts St John the Divine plan

A PLAN to use the Episcopal Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York, as a field hospital (News, 9 April) has been cancelled. The joint initiative between the cathedral and the charities Samaritan’s Purse and Mount Sinai was discontinued last week after rates of Covid-19 in the city started to fall. The cathedral’s Sub Dean, Canon Patrick Malloy, said: “Mount Sinai has decided that, given the way the curve is falling, they could make better use of the money elsewhere.”

Attacks on Khartoum church under investigation

THE charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide has reported that attacks on a church in Khartoum, Sudan, are being investigated by commissioners appointed by the Sudanese government. Assailants tried to burn down the church of the Sudan Church of Christ in a series of incidents last December and January, and church leaders received threats from Muslim extremists. The investigation has been slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cardinal Pell gives first interview after release

PACardinal George Pell arrives at the Good Shepherd Seminary, Sydney, on Holy Wednesday after spending 405 days behind barsCARDINAL GEORGE PELL gave his first interview this week after his 2018 conviction for child sexual abuse was quashed (News, 9 April). He told Sky News that during the trial he “became so incensed at the way prosecutors dealt with [two witnesses]” that he thought it best to maintain his silence in court. “I thought that if I were to get in there I’ll have such a go at that fella because of this outrage,” he said. Asked what he thought motivated the person who had accused him, Cardinal Pell said: “I don’t know. I wonder whether he was used. I don’t know what the poor fellow was up to.”