Maine's Catholic Churches Continue Mass Attendance, While Ecumenical Group Urges Online Services

The National Catholic Register ^ | 1/7/22 | Christine Rousselle

[marshmallow]

Access to the Eucharist is one of the motivating factors for keeping churches open.

PORTLAND, Maine — The Diocese of Portland will continue to permit attendance at Mass, even as the state’s Council of Churches has urged all services to move online in light of a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

“This isn’t about sending care packages or Hallmark cards (though those are certainly nice),” said Maine Council of Churches Executive Director Jane Field in a statement published Jan. 4.

“For starters, it’s about making the difficult and necessary decision to return to virtual online worship services only and refrain from in-person church gatherings during this deadly surge. It’s also about sending a clear message from the pulpit that getting vaccinated, boosted, and wearing masks when in public is a moral imperative for anyone who follows the commandment to love their neighbor,” she added.

Further, said Field, churches should “offer up [their] church building as a pop-up vaccine clinic site.”

Field, a Presbyterian minister, has served Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopalian congregations throughout the northeast. She was the pastor at Faith Lutheran Church prior to becoming the executive director of the Maine Council of Churches.

Going online, promoting vaccines, and taking other steps is “how faith communities can best help reduce the spread of COVID, which is the only way to provide effective and meaningful relief and support to weary and overrun hospitals and their staff,” she said.

[Tudorfly]

Maine Council of Churches is a liberal group. Discount their opinion accordingly.