Pope Snubs Bishops’ Bid to Open Churches

Church Militant ^ | 4/28/20 | Jules Gomes

[marshmallow]

Bp. Giovanni D'Ercole: 'Give us the right to worship, or we'll take it'

VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) - Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to obey government orders easing the Wuhan virus lockdown after Italian bishops protested that they "cannot accept" the state trampling on "the exercise of freedom of religion."

"During this time, when we desire to get out of quarantine, we pray to the Lord to give His people, to all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience to the provisions [of the law], so that the pandemic does not return," the pontiff said, as he began celebrating Mass on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI), which has a reputation of cozying up to the state, unexpectedly issued a condemnation of new government protocols which permit a number of secular activities to resume on May 4, but "arbitrarily exclude the possibility of celebrating Mass with the people."

A day later, Bp. Giovanni D'Ercole, head of the diocese of Ascoli Piceno, attacked Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte for imposing a "dictatorship" on the Church.

"People have a right to pray. Preventing people from public worship is arbitrary. It is dictatorship, because freedom of religion is one of the fundamental rights and there can be no concession made to this freedom. ... We have been forced to have funerals like dogs and people have suffered," he stated.

[Shady]

He is the ultimate Humbug.

[Tennessee Nana]

Hmmmmmmmmm

Obey Caesar or Obey God

WWPD ???

Which Would Paul Do ???

[Skywise]

He’s waiting for permission from China.

[sphinx]

Never let a crisis go to waste. Francis sees his opportunity and he’s taking it.

[EC Washington]

The coward Bishops of Ohio announced today that no public Masses will be available during the Month of May. The church will stay locked up.

[livius]

That’s our Frankie!