Alterations in Religious Rituals Due to COVID-19 Could Be Related to Intragroup Negativity: A Case of Changes in Receiving Holy Communion in the Roman Catholic Community in Poland

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various domains of everyday life, including important religious rituals. In the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, reception Holy Communion was substantially altered. suggestion Polish Episcopal Conference and diocesan bishops to receive on hand during pandemic, while receiving tongue had been default form before pandemic. present studies investigated whether alterations resulted intragroup negativity. A total 376 Catholics participated two online studies. most ambivalent emotions toward their community were experienced by followers who recognized only. Intergroup bias occurred within “hand only” “mouth groups consisted out-group favoritism (within only”) derogation (“mouth perception orientation. empathy “spiritual reception” groups, which reported less those infected with SARS-CoV-2. highest legitimacy authority agreed upon supporters both forms Communion.