Seattle Archbishop Threatens Parish

Church Militant ^ | 11/20/20 | Kristine Christlieb

[marshmallow]

To mask or not to mask

STANWOOD, Wash. (ChurchMilitant.com) - Seattle's Abp. Paul Etienne is threatening to end public Masses at a rural parish if rebellious parishioners continue to refuse to wear masks.

Parishioners of St. Cecilia's in Stanwood were notified in an emailed letter on last week that their public Mass privilege would be revoked if parishioners didn't comply with the archdiocese's COVID plan.

Etienne made clear the consequences.

"If parishioners continue to violate safety protocols and remove their masks during the Mass, then permission for the celebration of public Mass at St. Cecilia parish will be retracted," Etienne wrote.

A Protracted Battle

This isn't the first time the archdiocese has had to interact with the parish over China virus compliance.

Helen McClenahan, managing director of communication, told Church Militant the archdiocese has been communicating with the parish since July on the topic of mask compliance.

In an email, McClenahan wrote, "Unfortunately, St. Cecilia parish has faced challenges in enforcing the safety guidelines. The archdiocese has received multiple emails and voicemails from concerned parishioners, volunteers and staff starting in July. Many report they do not feel safe going to Mass at St. Cecilia."

In August, the diocese ruled that anyone who cannot wear a mask be seated in a separate area outside the main portion of the church and that a distance of 12 feet be maintained between families. So non-maskers were moved to the parish hall where they view the Mass through a glass partition.

[Slyfox]

Just wait until Frankie gets his very own chosen cardinals together to work on even more changes in the Church to where it will not be recognizable.

[Newbomb Turk]

Government and Church leaders better figure out quick that they rest on the consent of the governed, and that as Americans it is our right to alter or abolish their position at will whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established.

Doesn't say anywhere in the bible that I have to follow a church leader who demands I bow to an unconstitutional government hack.

[Slyfox]

I went to a weekday Mass and the deacon who was serving with the priest, shortly before the consecration, reminded everyone to wear their masks and he looked directly at me and told me, in front of the entire Church, to go to the back of the Church and put on a mask. I sat there stunned of course and I did not move a muscle.

He also said that all who want to receive on the tongue will have to wait until after Mass to receive in the back of the Church.

The many weeks I went there for my once-a-week Mass, I watched an old lady sitting about 20 feet away from me, wearing an N-95 mask and every few minutes she would try to draw in a big breath - THE POOR LADY WAS STRUGGLING TO BREATH - and somehow I am the one causing problems.

Not going back there.

[flaglady47]

All of the parishioners should quit the church en masse (pardon the pun), and go elsewhere. Enough of this baloney. QUIT THIS CHURCH everyone who attends there, and do it together as in unity there is strength.

[frank ballenger]

Leftists heading Catholic and Protestant congregations push the “render under Ceasar” “Judge not let ye be judged” angle. Neither really applies.

Do we have laws,police,judges, juries, bailiffs,jails, prisons, guards, wardens and execution staffs? Yes. Then we judge here on earth. Otherwise, widespread bullying, beatings, stabbings, and shootings of abducted men ,women and children (sort of like BLM and Antifa CHOP zones).

The possibility of charity and true acts of kindness are only possible if the ones with the guns are the legally recognized law enforcement officers and military in uniform. We all live by their permission in society. Except in CHOP zones.

[tinamina]

I know that town quite well. There is no other Catholic Church for 20 miles probably. And they won’t let you inside without a mask either.

[tinamina]

I quit attending church services couple months ago when the priest said oh it’s so exciting we’re going to now allow 80 people in but you still have to wear a mask and you still have to sit 6 feet apart and oh yes we’re going to have coffee but you have to wear a mask and you have to sit 6 feet apart from whoever you’re drinking it with. Ok no fellowship, no singing, no community.
I am taking the stance that God did not give us a spirit of fear and the church is manifesting fear. What example is this?
One person in nine months in this church supposedly came down with the Covid.

[JerryBlackwell]

Almost as if the bishops and cardinals went out of their way to deny the faithful the sacraments