Posted on 05/17/2021 12:01:37 PM PDT by lightman
The Catholic churches in the Harrisburg area are among the many establishments that are relaxing mask requirements for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
In a press release, the Diocese of Harrisburg announced that “in continued alignment with local, state, and federal health guidelines, effective immediately, all fully vaccinated parishioners no longer need to wear masks when attending Mass.”
“This move comes after the state of Pennsylvania immediately adopted the recent recommendations from the CDC regarding fully vaccinated people,” the press release said, referring to the Center for Disease Control’s announcement last week that fully vaccinated people are safe to go without masks in most situations.
The press release adds that those who have not been fully vaccinated should still take all precautions, and that clergy and ministers will still be masked any time during services that they are near members of the congregation.
Capacity limits on gatherings for mass will also be lifted the weekend of May 29-30, though the press release notes that the diocese’s dispensation from the obligation of in-person mass attendance remains.
“I encourage all our faithful, especially if you are in good health and have resumed other public activities, to begin returning to Mass,” said Bishop Ronald Gainer in the press release. “While we still have a challenging road ahead, now is the time to start coming together as one Catholic family to thank God for our many blessings.”
One of the few good things about PA Governor Wolf is that he has always specified "religious organizations are exempt" from any numerical or percentage capacity limits.
Too bad hierarchs can't read the fine print.
Nobody ever mentions those with naturally acquired immunity.
Wolf didn’t do that out of the goodness of his heart. The religious exemption for those orders is written into the Pennsylvania constitution.
Exactly. What is the deal?
The capacity limits are going to hurt the Church for a long time. People stopped going and I’m afraid the younger congregants (20-35 year old) will not come back. You’re absolutely right, they never should have been done in the first place. Also, how in God’s name will they know whether or not you took the jab? Another stupid rule no one will comply with.
I’ve had people tell me I should get the vax because, even though I’ve had Covid, I could “get it again”.
I guess they missed that day in health class (or med school!) when the subject of how immunity is acquired was discussed.
The Church showed little interest in providing the sacraments this past year.
Everyone had most likely had the flu at least once in their life. Everyone will get BatFlu at least once. Many people will get it again if their immune systems don’t fight it off. Vaccinated as well as Recovered Non-Vaccinated people’s immune systems will try to fight it and its variants off again and again.
Many Bishops undermined their own mission and argument that this life is not what is important but the next life. They ran and hid to preserve their own skin.
They should all have to change their zuchettos and rabats to be a shade of yellow.
“Also, how in God’s name will they know whether or not you took the jab? “
There is that little matter of the Eighth Commandment...bearing false witness.
Our archbishop enacted the similar policy, unvaccinated please wear masks, fully vaxxed OK, and said we’re on the “honor system” and no discrimination or questioning can occur.
My point is: Why do I need the immunity from a vaccine when I have immunity from the actual virus?
Science.
do you truly believe it is a sin to lie about being vaxxed?
Yes.
Less so if the vax question is being posed 12 or 13 days after the final dose instead of the “magic” 14.
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