Churches closed - Holy Mass request

[Jaaanosik]

Hi all,
We have our church closed - pandemic excuse.
Is there anything in the Chuch’s law that would allow parishioners to petition bishop/priests to celebrate Holy Mass?
Thanks.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Canon 212 in the RC Code of Canon Law. The faithful have the right to make known their needs to the hierarchy (paraphrasing here).

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Margaret_Ann has pointed out the canon law, but I would also add that regardless of what canon law says, you and other parishioners are always free to make your spiritual and pastoral needs known to your parish priests and your bishop. It does not mean the parish priest or bishop will automatically do what you want, but from a standpoint of open communication, it’s good that they know your needs, as that might influence their course of action - for example, choosing to argue to the government authorities that the Mass must be reinstated because hundreds of people are asking for it.

 

[TomH1]

I have read a lot about people objecting to churches being closed during the pandemic but that has been mostly on blogs so I have been unable to engage with them. However, I can engage with you and would like to know your perspective on this issue.

I find myself stuck between a rock and a hard place. I do not want my church to be closed and not to be able to go to church on Sunday. However, I have a number of people I love very dearly who fall into high risk groups and would be prepared to go to great lengths to prevent them from catching SARS-CoV-2 and dying from COVID-19.

One thing I strongly disagree with is some of the decisions that my government (UK) has made where it has kept certain venues open as ‘essential’ but closed churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship. Clearly the UK (and other) governments think our Faith is not 'essential. So my objection is to forced government closure of churches but it allowing other places to remain open such as off licences (shops in the UK that sell alcohol). I do not object to public health measures intended to protect us all.

I also object to the behaviours of some in the Church but will not delve deeper into that as I do not want to be suspended or banned for CAF’s few remaining weeks.

 

[1ke]

pandemic excuse.

It’s not an “excuse”. The pandemic is very real and very serious.

 

[paperwight]

Clearly the UK (and other) governments think our Faith is not 'essential.

Rather an exaggeration, speaking as another UK citizen. Our faith is not dependent on the churches being open for Mass. It is not even dependent on churches being open for private prayer (although a lot are with restricted hours etc.)

 

[TomH1]

Rather an exaggeration

As you clearly disagree with my opinion I can inform you I am in disagreement with yours.

I am aware my Catholic Faith is more than spending one hour per week in a church. However, I do believe the UK Government was wrong, and I am not alone in this, to say that public worship could not happen but certain other things could.

 

[Jaaanosik]

TomH1:

Clearly the UK (and other) governments think our Faith is not 'essential.

Rather an exaggeration, speaking as another UK citizen. Our faith is not dependent on the churches being open for Mass. It is not even dependent on churches being open for private prayer (although a lot are with restricted hours etc.)

https: //biblehub.com/nasb/john/6.htm

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

It is your salvation that is at stake here.
The Holy Mass is the most excellent way to worship God.
To worship God is God’s Natural Law imprinted upon our hearts.

 

[BT3241]

In the USA a person dies every 40 seconds from the virus it should be a concern the faith is built on loving your neighbor and doing whats right to help them and that’s all people not just some. A lot of people are only thinking of themselves. You should be concerned that these people are dying and do what ever is required to prevent their death. The vaccine will be out in 3 -4 months for lots of people - its just 3-4 months away. Most of the lock downs are for a few weeks is your faith that weak that it falters after 2-3 weeks. What does your archdioceses say ?

 

[Jaaanosik]

Canon 212 in the RC Code of Canon Law. The faithful have the right to make known their needs to the hierarchy (paraphrasing here).

Thank you, is there anything that is linked to the Holy Mass?
Conditions, how, why, where the Holy Mass is celebrated?

 

[Jaaanosik]

I am not saying the pandemic is not real, it is.
We have to protect ourselves, community, society.
Having said that there is a free will and freedom of religion.
An individual can decide how to act!
If our conscience tells us to attend the Holy Mass, to worship God in the most excellent way and this option is taken away from us then what?

 

[paperwight]

f our conscience tells us to attend the Holy Mass, to worship God in the most excellent way and this option is taken away from us then what?

We practise humility and abide by what our Archbishop says.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

In the USA a person dies every 40 seconds from the virus

In the USA a lot of dioceses have been able to have socially distanced Mass all over the place for months now without a Mass-related outbreak.

We still have a problem here with the virus, but Mass with the proper precautions does not seem to be spreading it.

 

[paperwight]

Mass with the proper precautions does not seem to be spreading it.

That is the vital factor, though. Because of distancing our parish can only have 60 present, instead of 300. What if all 300 felt their conscience meant they had to attend Mass or else their soul was in danger?
We have been told in our parish to practise charity as well as commonsense, and not hog places every Mass but either not go at all but follow on Yotube,. or else give others a chance by limiting attendance to once a month or so.

 

[CilladeRoma]

This is true for the Catholic churches in my diocese. We have taken this pandemic very seriously, limited attendance, requiring face coverings,no congregational singing social distancing etc. And not one case of the virus has been traced back to a Catholic Church.

That said,we have had many outbreaks from “house parties” and from gatherings of others who feel that the requirements are “too restrictive”. One local non-denominational Church had a large outbreak due to them not following the recommended guidelines. Many people got sick and they lost a couple of their older members. All because the had a “right to worship”.

Seems to me that a little inconvenience now is a lot better than having to close lots of parishes because there are no more people left.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

We don’t have a capacity problem here. On Sunday I’ve been trying to attend the less full Mass, but generally I’m not having trouble getting a seat and we don’t have signups. Maybe it’s different elsewhere.

Also, I guarantee you there’s no crowding issue at weekday Masses. The only thing that happened with those is the churches moved them from the small chapels to the big church space to allow social distancing.

I don’t go to Mass because I think my soul is in danger if I don’t, I go because it’s my normal habit and I want to see and receive Our Lord.

No one has said anything around here about hogging Mass places. I have however heard several homilies worrying that people are getting too comfortable with watching on TV and that’s not the same as going.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That said,we have had many outbreaks from “house parties”

Yes, the explosion of cases in my area has allegedly been from college students having house parties. I’ve also noticed a lot of local restaurants doing a brisk business and not all of them had outdoor seating, plus people are exempted by law here from wearing masks while sitting at restaurant tables. We have several blocks of restaurant row, that’s a lot of maskless people yakking it up for hours daily and nightly. We were told this was necessary to keep the restaurants in business. I don’t eat in the restaurants. I do order takeout from them a few times a week, usually it’s left on my doorstep. I also go to the convenience store regularly and it already had a COVID outbreak and was on reduced hours for days.

They don’t dare mess with our Masses. Like you I have not heard of any incident of COVID at any of our several area parishes.

 

[Elf01]

That is the vital factor, though. Because of distancing our parish can only have 60 present, instead of 300. What if all 300 felt their conscience meant they had to attend Mass or else their soul was in danger?

I’m wondering if we will get a large crowd wanting to attend Christmas day actually. Especially since my parish has handled Mass as first come first served.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I noticed a couple churches that don’t normally do tickets/ reservations were doing tickets for Christmas Masses. Probably better to do that than have to turn people away at the door.

 

[Elf01]

I noticed a couple churches that don’t normally do tickets/ reservations were doing tickets for Christmas Masses. Probably better to do that than have to turn people away at the door.

Hopefully. If my parish doesn’t I’ll aim for a Chrostmas eve Mass and be early.