PopeWatch’s parish priest has apologized for shutting the local church during the Covid lockdown. He said that he did it under obedience, but it was wrong and he should not have done it. Would that he was joined by Bishops, Cardinals and a Pope.
PopeWatch: Clericalism at its Worst
- 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.
Our Holy Church was built upon the blood of martyrs–starting with Christ–its founder. In view of the CDC’s admissions of overreacting, and the almost-eager complicity, without a whimper of resistance, in closing down the Mass (and even singing), can our Church today ever be considered a church of martyrs–at least that portion above the parish level? One has to wonder what the effect that has upon potential and future converts
Was shutting the doors and denying the Sacraments a sin? If a Bishop gives a sinful order, is the priest obligated under obedience to carry said order out? If a priest who shut the doors feels guilty, goes to Confession, but is denied Absolution because “shutting the doors was not sinful,” then what?
If a priest who shut the doors feels guilty, goes to Confession, but is denied Absolution because “shutting the doors was not sinful,” then what?
Find a sane confessor. Common sense, not twisty hair-splitting, works best on both sides in the Confessional.
Haven’t seen any bishops resign after confessing they knew McCarrick was abusing seminarians, don’t expect any action on this either.
It was plain by the end of June, 2020 that the mode of transmission was indoor air. At that point, there should not have been a parish in the country without a tent and folding chairs set up on the side lawn for their own members and for any town parish without a lawn or permits to use local parks.
Churches in the Diocese of Peoria with masks and social distancing were reopened the first week of June in 2020.
Our parish lost many devout parishioners because the priest opened up later than other parishes. Our then governor, Northam, sent agents to churches to check and to report on pastors regarding 6′ separation for social distancing, masking, non singing, etc.
Bishops were complicit w the governor, in shutting churches. Baptists in the next town were only congregation that met on one Easter; they prayed in their parking lot. Not even a bell was rung on one Easter morning at our church. A foretaste of things to come if the Dems win in NOV.
They won’t even use a virus as an excuse.
When my co-counsel and I sued to reopen church attendance in Kentucky, the only Plaintiffs we could find were Baptist churches. The Bishops in Kentucky wanted no part of it. Same thing happened when we challenged parochial school closings. The Baptists were more than willing to fight for their right of free exercise. Catholics, not so much. I guarantee every single one of the complicit bishops still went shopping or entered a store during the pandemic, yet they shut down the Mass for months. We are led by hirelings at best, and wolves at worst.
Roman bishops only apologize after the massive jury verdict leaves them no option.
Otherwise, grotesque failures of leadership are treated with the same sense of culpability regular people with adequate moral compasses take for bad weather on the other side of the globe.
Apologize?!? I’d be happy if they’d just remove the hand sanitizer from the Altar of Sacrifice!
I guarantee every single one of the complicit bishops still went shopping or entered a store during the pandemic, yet they shut down the Mass for months.
I suspect the Bishops have domestic staff. In our house, we shopped for groceries in person but otherwise ordered online.
My pastor only closed the church for Mass for about 3 weeks but we could still go in to pray. Then he started parking lot Mass but by May we were in the church and had weekday all day adoration going. He promised to never ever close the church for Mass again.
The charade revealed which priests could be disregarded as flakes and which ones actually cared and who could be trusted.
The bishops’s liturgist informed him that Mass could be celebrated outside only if an consecrated altar were used. So we only had Communion services, 4 of them because the churches had started opening up. The Eucharist was given through a small window in a clear shower type curtain. Too little too late for many parishioners.
Of course before COVID there was a huge funeral Mass under a tent with a vested cafeteria table set upon a dais. Same for the celebration Mass of the 125th anniversary of the Mission’s founding. Different bishop and 5 priests concelebrating on a vested cafeteria table on a dais..
Wasn’t Jenky still bishop in Peoria back then? And isn’t he supposed to be one of the “good guys”?
“remove the hand sanitizer”
And give up the solemn Rite of Purell-ification? Never!
CAG, Thanks for bringing up hand sanitizer on the altar. I’m going to start taking Communion in my hands as I cannot stand the chemical smell of the sanitzer when taken on the tongue
I would like to hear a reversal of backing the mRNA vaccines. Those that were segregated, fired and harassed because refusal to take the vax, justice.
I would like to know if the Vatican invested in Pfizer, if so, when and how much. I would like to know the same for my diocese and the USCCB.
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