Posted on 03/27/2020 3:33:47 PM PDT by ebb tide
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – During the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in the state of Ohio are considered an essential business and allowed to stay open. “Religious facilities, entities and groups and religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals,” are listed by the state as “essential businesses and operations” which may stay open.
The order of the Ohio Department of Health was issued on March 22, taking effect on March 24, and scheduled to last until April 6.
The bishops within the state of Ohio, organized as the Catholic Conference of Ohio, had already decided on March 16 to cancel all public Masses and liturgies, “at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.”
While all businesses and operations deemed by the state of Ohio to be “non-essential” were ordered to stop, a fairly lengthy list of exceptions included religious entities. Another exception were organizations providing charitable and social services.
Even though “religious gatherings” are explicitly permitted by the order of the Ohio Department of Health, the requirements of social distancing would still have to be practiced.
This includes “maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands.”
All of these measures could be observed in a Catholic environment, but the public may only leave the house for essential activities. The list of essential activities includes only “health and safety,” obtaining “necessary supplies and services,” “outdoor activity,” “certain types of work,” related to the list of essential businesses and operations, and “to take care of others.”
The order later clarifies that “essential travel” is defined as any travel “related to the provision of or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses and Operations, or Minimum Basic Operations.”
Legally, public Masses would not be a problem. Nevertheless, the bishops of Ohio never revoked their decision to cancel all public Masses.
“The bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass through Easter Sunday,” they wrote instead on March 16.
In their statement, the bishops claim that the decision was made “after consultation with the governor and health officials,” convincing the bishops “that this is the most prudent and necessary action.” Given the more recent order of the Ohio government, this might no longer be the case.
“This is a step that I wish we did not feel compelled to take,” said Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 17. “I realize it is yet another source of suffering in an already trying time. However, given the grave health risks we are currently facing, especially with regard to public gatherings, I believe it is a necessary step in the interest of the common good that will help to curb the spread of this virus.”
Cardinal Raymond Burke had a different emphasis in a statement released on March 21.
“We can provide more opportunities for the Holy Mass and devotions at which a number of faithful can participate without violating necessary precautions against the spread of contagion,” he wrote. “Many of our churches and chapels are very large. They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘social distance.’”
The former Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court within the Catholic Church, offered some practical advice, as well, stressing the role of the laity.
“If a church or chapel does not have a sufficiently large staff to be able to disinfect regularly the pews and other surfaces, I have no doubt that the faithful, in gratitude for the gifts of the Holy Eucharist, Confession, and of public devotion, will gladly assist,” he said.
“We can provide more opportunities for the Holy Mass and devotions at which a number of faithful can participate without violating necessary precautions against the spread of contagion,” he wrote. “Many of our churches and chapels are very large. They permit a group of the faithful to gather for prayer and worship without violating the requirements of ‘social distance.’”
The former Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court within the Catholic Church, offered some practical advice, as well, stressing the role of the laity.
“If a church or chapel does not have a sufficiently large staff to be able to disinfect regularly the pews and other surfaces, I have no doubt that the faithful, in gratitude for the gifts of the Holy Eucharist, Confession, and of public devotion, will gladly assist,” he said.
Ping
Seems to me they’re trying to kill off questions. I’m having trouble imagining any other motivation.
Televised Masses, no confessions, online monetary collections...
Anything to make life easier for the francisbishops. They can even cut down on their utility bills for their churches; which some are even locking up.
Glad to see some states making the right call here.
I think a lot of churches are going to be sadly disappointed when people don’t “flock back.” If it’s so easily cancelled and we can just live stream why bother.
I guess no one in the San Francisco Bay Area will be baptized this week. The closest church I could find open is over an hour away (I plan to go).
How pleased our enemy must be with no baptisms or communion for the foreseeable future. What a coup.
And no I don’t think we all have to get covid and die or risk God’s wrath. High risk can shelter and low risk can take precautions. I feel like the whole church has collapsed.
Some churches I don’t “blame” as they rent from places that have closed or they have fifteen members and ten are high risk. Ok.
As a Protestant I rarely find myself in agreement with a Cardinal! But he is right, when there’s a will there’s a way usually.
Matthew 18:20 - You don’t need a building filled with people. Just a few brothers and sisters in Christ. You can meet in the park and pray.
There are some good things happening.
The priest in our parish is doing drive through confession to provide the sacrament, and is putting the Monstrance in a window visible from an area of parking.
Great thing is - there are always cars there, hopefully we will all have greater appreciation of what we are unable to take part in right now.
Take care
Good for him and God bless him!
Our priest will have five services on Saturday and five on Sunday with no more than 3 or 4 families scheduled to attend each one, spaced far apart in the pews. The services will consist of confessions, Holy Communion and Eucharistic Adoration.
We are very fortunate.
Doesn’t sound like there will be any Easter Masses.
Cardinal Burke is right. Churches are huge. Masses are many.
But remember, please, “social distance guidelines” are only that: GUIDLINES.
NOT LAW.
That’s awesome.
He cancelled mass because the Catholic Church is inundated with weak minded men who were programmed by their feminazi mothers, starting in the 1960s, to be weak willed.
JoMa
I think that some will. It looks like Ohio will not. After reading Cardinal Burke’s letter, some bishops will start acting like bishops. Caring for the flock.... we will see.
Also you might want to check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjPblm8UhG0
OHIO PING!
Please let me know if you want on or off the Ohio Ping list.
Ohio says religious gatherings are ‘essential business,’ bishops cancel Mass anyway
LifeSite News ^ | March 27, 2020 | Martin Bürger
Posted on 3/27/2020, 6:33:47 PM by ebb tide
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