Monsignor Charles Pope is a long-time family friend, and recently presided over the marriage of my youngest, so I am admittedly biased.
Msgr Pope recently contracted Coronavirus, and the media seems to want to spin this as some sort of just retribution for daring to tell people that their souls are more important than their health, and that we can’t be ruled by fear.
My spin is that the media has this backwards. This isn’t a case of a man denying the risks and then falling prey to the virus. This is a case of a man who knew the risks and did his job anyway.
Monsignor Pope believes what he preaches — that life is to be lived, despite fear, and that church and community and the sacramental life are important. He knew he was putting himself at risk. He also knew he had a higher calling.
I have been somewhat astonished at the response of church leadership to this crisis. Yes, it’s serious. Yes, precautions need to be taken. Yes, there is a place for prudence, and “let us not forsake our own gathering together” is not a suicide pact.
But from my perspective, the response by many churches has been a little cowardly. Priests are called to care for souls, and sometimes that means telling people to man up and face the risks.
I think this Monsignor is a very sensible person.
Our priest is 74 years. He still has shrapnel in his body from Nam. A few years ago after Holy Week he went into surgery for a bad hernia which he gutted through. If you haven’t been to Holy Week services at an Orthodox church, it is a marathon.
We never stopped having liturgy, but for months it was limited to about 5 people and was broadcast to the rest. Somewhere around May, they started letting people in, but limited to about 30. People in attendance have to wear a mask. There’s a signup process. Our priest has been hearing confessions for maybe a month and now he’s hanging around after liturgy for an hour for any parish member who watched from home that wants to come up and receive communion. There is still a common spoon for communion. I was assisting two weeks ago and people are instructed to let the priest drop the communion into their mouth. Didn’t stop two people from closing down on it. The deacon and I just stared at each other in disbelief when that happens. Of course, the priest is the first to commune, but at the end he has to consume all that is left over. Since I help at the altar, I usually am the last to commune before the priest finishes everything. It’s interesting to read on Orthodox twitter, fb, and internet opinions about the transmissibility during communion. I know it is transmitted mostly via particles during respiration and speaking…and when people come up for communion, everyone is breathing on the priest and whomever is helping him.
Sounds like you have a good priest.
Attitudes towards the transmissibility of the virus from communion can be kinda funny. Some people seem to think God will automatically protect them. I don’t see any justification for that belief. On the other hand, if communion is what the church says it is, it should be worth the risk.
QUOTE: I have been somewhat astonished at the response of church leadership to this crisis.
I’ve been somewhat astonished at the obtuseness and lack of wisdom on the part of “some” church leaders. Some, not all, have acted like things should be “business as usual”. Yet, given the nature of this pandemic, it requires wisdom, creativity and selflessness.
There seems to be a fallacy that if the “building” is closed that “church” is closed. Scripture indicates believers are the “church”, not the edifice. Given that, the church can gather and worship in other ways during this pandemic (e.g., online streaming, smaller gatherings, home visits, outdoor services, indoor services with social distancing, wearing masks, etc). Yet, some feel that if they do “any” of those things they are demonstrating a lack of faith, succumbing to fear and capitulating to the evil empire (e.g., government/healthcare professionals). IMHO, that’s foolish. It’s not flawless faith and a badge of honor to do dumb things and “needlessly” risk the health of oneself and others. Even Jesus wouldn’t put God to the test and taught believers to follow His example.
So, YES, ministry needs to continue but it can be done creatively and doesn’t have to be void of things that can protect parishioners and others. It’s the height of selfishness for leaders and the “foolish few” to demand the “right” to conduct church services “as usual” and castigate others for taking precautions. In some cases, the wiser and more honorable thing to do is to give up the “right” and take a different course of action for the benefit of others. After all, apostle Paul indicated that all things are permissible but not everything is beneficial. As well, Jesus taught believers should do unto others as they would have them do unto them. In this case, it might be more of a “Christian” example to do ministry differently, for a period, out of concern for and to minimize risk to others.
There is, of course, a lot of magical thinking that often attends religious belief. People who think “God won’t let me get the virus from attending church” need to read more. There are plenty of cases where Christians have been slaughtered at worship. There’s no guarantee of safety in this life.
Agreed! They should read about how many of the apostles and early believers were treated and killed. As well, contemporary examples of church massacres. Unfortunately, the unwise actions of a church in Oregon lead a significant outbreak. One can practice faith and take heed to good medical guidance during this pandemic, the two are not mutually exclusive.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-06-17/church-linked-oregon-largest-coronavirus-outbreak