Posted on 03/14/2020 2:19:20 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Pope Francis on Friday reversed a decision to close all the Catholic churches in Rome amid Italy's coronavirus outbreak.
The pope on Thursday had made the decision to close all churches to prevent the disease's further spread. But after further conversation about the matter, he decided that leaving churches closed would pose the spiritual risk of making people "feel more isolated." Priests in Rome are now advised to discern for themselves whether or not to remain open.
"Be very close to the people of God, make each one feel loved and accompanied, help everyone to perceive that the Church does not close the doors to anyone, but that she worries that no 'little' person risks life or is forgotten," Cardinal Angelo De Donatis wrote in a letter to priests in Rome. "Also bring, with all the necessary precautions, the comfort of the sacraments to the sick, ensure the help for the needs of the poor and those who have no one to rely on, avoid all those situations of contact between people who can create a danger to health."
The letter came only hours after Francis said in a Friday homily directed at pastors that they should not take "drastic measures" to combat the threat of the coronavirus.
"Let's pray for this, that the Holy Spirit may give to pastors the ability for pastoral discernment so that they might provide measures which do not leave the holy, faithful people of God alone, and so that the people of God will feel accompanied by their pastors, comforted by the Word of God, by the sacraments, and by prayer," Francis said.
Italy has nearly 12,500 cases of coronavirus, and the country of 60 million people is on a nationwide lockdown. The country has the most cases of the virus in Europe.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
PING!
He closed them and reversed himself. No common sense.
Blind squirrel moment. The Churches should NEVER have been closed!
Which time was he infallible?
Good question!
Actually, infallibility as the Church interprets it, doesn’t apply in this case because he was not speaking “ex cathedra”, or “from the chair,” on matters of dogma. I think that’s only been done about 7 or 9 times (I could be wrong!) and the last time was in the 1950’s (again, I could be wrong!) I guess I need to check that out, now that I’m thinking of it.
I have to admit that he made the right call to reverse the decision.
Those continue?
He was right the first time. He will now have blood on his hands, if he didn’t already.
In our Archdiocese, Communion continues, but we don’t drink from the chalice. The Sign of Peace is no-contact - wave, nod, smile - last Sunday the deacon suggested the Vulcan hand sign. hahahaha
It strikes me as peculiar that Italy almost seems to be have been targeted with being the major European country with the most reports of this disease. Despite the fact that Francis made every effort to assure the Chinese Commies the church would work with that regime. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3787853/posts
He should set an example by mingling with many,many people.
Let’s hope he is right about this. I don’t think he is, but let’s hope so.
Its also one of the few times hes ever mentioned God or even anything of a religious nature in a public statement.
Guess the panicky pope decided to do the right thing and not continue to be chicken little.
You are right.
Hold two fingers up. Have the priest doling out the communion and those receiving wear gloves. There are ways. Have everybody bring their own bread. Bless it. Eat it.
No, the churches should never, ever close. Period.
What a donkey.
If it was up to me I would bring matzoh and the acknowledged finest red wine in the world. Romanee Conti. Costs a fortune but if I ever had a bottle it would be appropriate.
No, don’t close it. Keep it open then Communist Pope Francis finds out -
NOBODY come. Not even his personal charm would draw a crowd.
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