“Unfortunately, a mask shields
our humanity. And because God created us in His image, we are masking that image. Masks also
make us anti-social. They interfere with relations. As the Catholic faith teaches, we are relational
beings. And our existence as relational beings points to the Holy Trinity. A mask is disruptive to
this essential element of the Catholic faith, and it is disruptive to the teaching of young children for
these and other reasons. Plaintiffs share these deeply held religious beliefs.”
Plaintiffs are making s*** up, says this Catholic.
If you are Catholic, then you should recognize that the statements of faith are correct. And indeed, the consequences of masking include shielding our humanity (our faces and personal expressions are part of what makes us unique individuals), decreased interaction (obvious, and the the other controls make it worse), and inhibit the interactions that we do have (more difficult to hear, read lips, and pick up on facial expressions). Last spring, I wrote something similar to our priest and bishop.
Masks are inhumane and should be a matter of choice for individuals, businesses, and churches.