: A priest applauds to show his gratitude to medical staff and essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic outside Lenox Health Greenwich Village on May 15, 2020 in New York City. COVID-19 has spread to most countries around the world, claiming over 308,000 lives with over 4.6 million infections reported. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Noam Galai/Getty
A priest applauds to show his gratitude to medical staff and essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic outside Lenox Health Greenwich Village on May 15, 2020 in New York City.

Amid deeply polarized views on how society should respond to COVID-19, Catholic thinkers propose measured approaches that recognize the need for care of body and soul.