Steve S,

<<What to do during a pandemic? Back off the Religious "Discrimination" Bill.>>

In my understanding, the two issues are not connected. Treatment options for the pandemic will need the participation of the religious-based private hospital systems AND the public hospitals. Government has admitted this: 'Australia’s Catholic hospital system has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an unprecedented deal to merge Australia’s state and private hospitals to fight the Covid-19 pandemic', http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/catholic-hospitals-join-pandemic-fight/

The Religious Discrimination Bill is needed: 'Protection received: discrimination against a person on the basis of religious activity is unlawful', http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/14/religious-discrimination-bill-what-will-australians-be-allowed-to-say-and-do-if-it-passes

Galen, you prayer has been answered. The government has included a trip to the bottle shop among the several reason why you may leave your confinement.
David

Luke,

<<The church can help people impacted by the pandemic, not with prayers, but jobs.>>

You have denigrated one of the most important Christian disciplines - prayer. Jesus, the Saviour who ministered to the poor, taught,

'Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say [the Lord’s prayer]' (Luke 11:1-2).

Jesus also was a "carpenter" and was called a "carpenter's son" (Matthew 13:54-57; Mark 6:1-3).

A church I attend serves brekkie to children twice a week, on their way to school.

<<Are churches doing enough for the poor, the ones usually impacted the most by any crisis?>>

My answer is ‘No’. Some are.

<<How quickly can places of worship utilize the skills, talents and resources of their parishioners. They may not even know how many talented people they have, or what they do or how to contact them.>>

Do you attend a church to know the answer to this question?

<<The church’s most important role now may not have anything to do with theology. The jobs they provide might be the most important role>>

Please don’t overlook the fact that a church’s ministry to the poor is based on its theology. World views develop from belief systems.