PopeWatch: Vaccine Passes
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.

Rather than bad no mask Catholics from Mass I would like to see them admitted but cordoned off. This would be a great opportunity for identification. Imagine the possibilities.
It certainly appears that the world’s god (not capitalized) is a political one…a parent substitute that cares not about their moral choices, however evil. Their political god must be an irrationally flexible one who has read every psych book many times and knows exactly how to please the unstable masses. Thankfully, I’m reminded of the Apostles, “But Lord, where would we go?”
There is a particular Parish in Sydney run by Franciscan’s in which the Parish Priest last year had banned anyone from entering WITH a mask on. They were also been offering “drive-thru” confession and “drive-thru” Communion during periods of lockdown last year when the Churches were shut. This year the Parish is in a LGA which is completely locked down. See the words from Padre in the Bulletin…May God multiply Priests like Father Sharah.
http://www.friarsofstfrancis.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21st-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time.pdf
http://www.friarsofstfrancis.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/21st-Sunday-in-Ordinary-Time.pdf
Unfortunately 90% of the Catholic bishops heads are so far up the donkey’s rear end I won’t be surprised at anything they do, including mandating vaccine passes. If they will make you wear masks at mass which is an insult to Jesus Christ there is nothing they won’t lower themselves to do. But bishops be for warned God will not be mocked forever.
I have a great faith that the Church as a whole will endure; individual parishes and priests not so much. That was killed when governors ordered that masses cease. It’s not just that they instantly complied, but that so few even tried to work within the orders. For example, I could only find one church in a hundred mile radius which tried things like drive in or outdoor masses to meet the letter of the ban while still allowing masses to continue. That sort of thing should have been common, but it was more common to see churches literally lock the doors to not even allow private prayer before the Eucharist (which went far beyond the terms of the ban.)
There is some pleasure in being on board a ship battered by storms when one is certain of not perishing. The persecutions buffeting the Church are like this. — Pascal
There’s a difference between churches restricting Mass attendance and restricting tourist visits. Tourism in Italy in general has been very restricted. If tourists are able to see the famous churches, that’s better than last year, when you couldn’t even stay at a hotel.
Grace (Episcopal) Cathedral in San Francisco sent an email to all its members (I had been a donor some years ago because of its music program) that henceforth admission to the Cathedral at any time will require presentation of a COVID pass, either the actual state-issued card or the facsimile copy on an IPhone.
(Doesn’t that discriminate against African -American people?)