[Catholic Caucus] Canceling Catholicism Until Further Notice

American Spectator ^ | March 15, 2020 | George Neumayr

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Canceling Catholicism Until Further Notice

What happened to the “field hospital” of Pope Francis?

Early on in his papacy, Pope Francis likened the Church to a field hospital. But the analogy hasn’t held up amidst coronavirus fears. The diocese of Rome has suspended Masses through April 3. The idea of closing churches during a crisis is a peculiarly modern one. The ancient impulse during a crisis was not to abolish worship but to increase it.

In the age of the secularized Catholic Church, deference to the state, which prioritizes the body over the soul, is the order of the day. Even in America, where the risk of infection from coronavirus remains low, bishops close to Francis have also shut Church doors.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[Rashputin]

"The ancient impulse during a crisis was not to abolish worship but to increase it."

The ancients in charge weren't perverts with their HIV under control thanks to expensive drugs but still in a high risk group due to fragile immune systems.

JMHo

[DeplorableGirl]

The plague wasn’t under control.
People still worshipped.

[Don Corleone]

You don’t have to be in church to pray and ask God for his help.

[Berosus]

I have heard that in the Middle Ages, a clergyman named St. Malachy predicted how many popes there would be, and that Francis fills the last number. Perhaps this is how the Catholic Church ends, by closing its doors and not bothering to reopen them later?

[MurphsLaw]

Lest we forget.....Christ promised to build his Church FOR US, for ALL ages... .... We are the Church.....granted there has to be a human hierarchy to maintain the Church through the ages......as it has done..... But if those who trace their pastoral care back to the Disciples no longer wish to carry on the Church TRIUMPHANTLY..... Than they need to step aside...... For the Church will prevail against the Gates of Hell...AS WELL AS this latest strain of Flu we must run for our lives from...... WE are the church.... Let's remember this always....

[Rashputin]

Sure, but there were nearly all Catholics in charge back then. Now, not so much.

I hear Bergie did walk the empty streets blessing someone or something as he went. I didn't see whether he wore a mask, hazmat suit, or just had the streets disinfected ahead of himself.

With any luck at all he and the college of Cardinals, . . . but I digress.

Regards

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yesterday I attended the Christening of a friend’s grandson at a very prominent church in this diocese.

The Mass had been canceled. The 8 families were separated into groups of 2 and those baptisms moved around to different parts of the church grounds (we ended up in the convent chapel).

There were signs on the door stating that until further notice Confessions would be heard IN THE PARKING LOT. Seriously.

[Jim Noble]

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer has a service for “In Time of Pestilence” and a recommendation to receive Holy Communion more frequently.

But that was written by believers.

In 1979, it was eliminated.