Mask situation in your church

[Thomas54]

Hello all,

I had a mask situation occur at church today and I was wondering how others are dealing with masks at church.

Masks are encouraged in our Catholic Church, but not required. Most of the people attending church are over 50 years old, as am I, and a number of them do not like wearing masks any more than we do.

In our situation, my wife & I have medical issues that make wearing a mask difficult, especially for my wife as she is claustrophobic. I have my own breathing issues with a mask along with CAD, but I can wear it over my nose for a little while, but my wife can’t.

My wife and I will wear a surgical mask and keep our mouthS covered at all times. I do put the mask over my nose when I cannot social distance.

Today, some now former friends of ours, jumped all over us and demanded that we put our masks over our noses. I stated that we have medical issues and we were basically told that we should go away. Considering that we were a good 10 feet from this couple, I believe they were completely out of line. We were told that we don’t care about other people’s health and that we should just get away.

My wife, unbeknownst to me, walked over to our former friend’s wife and apologized and tried to explain that she is claustrophobic and the woman told my wife that she didn’t care & to get away from her.

Just to be clear on this issue, I called the bishop’s office this afternoon and confirmed that the bishop has requested all pastors to encourage mask wearing, but that it is not mandatory. The very nice priest in the bishop’s office asked me to talk to our pastor, which I will do in the next few days.

If this is not resolved quickly, I am certain that my wife & I will not be going back to church any time soon and I will express that to our pastor.

While I don’t want to make other people feel uncomfortable, if they are so worried about their health, then maybe they should be the ones that are not in church and they should watch mass on live stream.

What I would like to see is our church set up one side of the church for those that are uncomfortable wearing masks or can’t wear masks. That way, we would be “social distanced”

And also, doesn’t a parishioner wearing a mask over just their mouth during mass emit far fewer air-borne molecules than a priest giving a 20 minute homily with no mask on?

I would also like to see our pastor put out a statement reminding people that we’re a faith family and that we should not be attacking each other over masks.

Thoughts?
Thomas

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience with some of your fellow parishioners.

I don’t think you should let other people’s attitudes drive you away from Mass.

The parishes and businesses here require masks be worn, but allow exceptions for people who have a medical reason not to wear one.

I suggest talking to your pastor about the experience just so he knows what is going on with your medical issues, then continue to just avoid other people and especially this couple who got in your business.

You can ask your pastor to put something in the bulletin; however, if he decides he doesn’t want to make some big announcement for whatever reason, then you need to respect his wishes. Also, though it may be difficult, try to be understanding that some other people are very much on edge about the virus and the masks (which have also become politicized, so people are even more on edge because of that).

 

[Phemie]

In our province it is mandatory to wear masks inside any public building. We have to wear masks to enter the church and any time we are moving around.

So:

• don mask to enter and go to our assigned pew;
• mask may be removed once we are seated;
• don mask to go to Communion;
• remove mask just before receiving and consuming the Host;
• don mask again to return to your pew and either keep it on until you’ve exited the church after Mass or remove it until Mass is over and you’re getting ready to exit your pew.

 

[1ke]

If this is not resolved quickly, I am certain that my wife & I will not be going back to church any time soon and I will express that to our pastor.

There’s nothing to resolve. Go about your business and ignore the rude people.

This is stressful for everyone so remember they are having an outsized reaction that is probably stress induced. I can barely go into the grocery store without experiencing rage inducing situations — it’s not rational it’s emotional, but I’ve recognized it and deal with it.

Just don’t engage them any longer. You don’t owe them an explanation or apology or anything else.

Oh, regarding masks, we are under a state mandate but people with medical issues are exempt and no one is required to show proof or anything like that. Governor says if someone isn’t wearing a mask, leave them alone. I think his order expires tomorrow not sure if he’s extending it.

 

[27lw]

I stay away from church because of people not wearing masks, or people wearing them incorrectly. May I gently ask, what is the point of wearing them, if you are not going to wear it over your nose? I’m not sure it’s doing much good at all when it’s just over your mouth.
I wonder if it would be more kind of you to not wear one at all, and people could easily see that and stay far far away from you.

https://www.wect.com/2020/07/17/cover-your-nose-wilmington-pulmonologist-says-not-covering-your-nose-with-mask-is-pointless/%3FoutputType=amp

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/leaving-your-nose-uncovered-defeats-the-purpose-of-wearing-a-mask/2412189/%3Famp

 

[Thomas54]

We have attended mass at our daughter’s church where there are usually well over 400 parishioners at mass (before Covid there were 800-1,000) and there’s always a handful of people with no mask whatsoever. Our daughter has never heard of something happening like what’s going on in our church. Our pastor needs to chime in.

My thoughts are that if you are at risk or worried about someone getting you sick in church, that you should be the one that stays home. That’s actually the guidance from the bishop’s office.

Maybe daily mass would be a better option for concerned people and on Sunday, watch the live stream.

Thanks for the reply,
Thomas

 

[Thomas54]

May I gently ask, what is the point of wearing them, if you are not going to wear it over your nose?

Wearing it over my mouth is better than nothing, but not much as the coronavirus is .1 micron in size and a mask will only stop a portion of it and that portion would be a virus that is attached to your spit.

I could put the links here that include interviews with scientists that dispute the effectiveness of masks, but people don’t change their mind about politics or religion or Covid, which is political more than anything else.

A Nobel laureate Being interviewed said that trying to stop a .1 µm virus with a surgical mask or gator is like trying to stop a sandstorm with a chain-link fence.

I’d rather not wear a mask at all, but I do wear it over my mouth to make those that are concerned feel a little better. I’m moving a little in their direction, but those that attacked us apparently don’t want to move a little in our direction.

Thanks

 

[Peeps]

I can’t wear a mask over my nose for more than a minute or so. Then I panic and pull the whole mask off. Also, it fogs up my glasses, no matter how I wear it, even if it is pinched shut over the nose.

My husband and I are not currently attending Mass in person. There is a dispensation that is still in effect, and as long as the dispensation is in effect, we will stay away. We watch on TV (live streaming), although the dispensation does not require that we do so (which makes sense–a lot of people still dont’ know what “live streaming” is, and don’t have a clue how to make it happen in their house).

I have played piano (organ is not being used currently) for a few Masses during the last few months (before my knee surgery), but the musicians are not required to wear a mask because they are more than 10 feet away from the congregation. I pulled it over my nose while I was walking into the church and walking out of the church. I was not paid for any of these services, though–it was a love offering by me because the regular musicians were not able to do it. And now that I am homebound because of my surgery, I can’t do it either, at least for several more months…

I suggest staying home. It’s not worth attending and being confronted. It’s hard to think about Jesus and the Blessed Mother when someone has just confronted you in the lobby and accused you of spreading a deadly disease.

This creates negative feelings and animosity in the family of God, and it’s better just to wait it out and pray for an ending to this pandemic and a set of scientists who will be honest about whether COVID-19 is realy a virus so dangerous that it’s worth pretty much destroying our economy, our schools, our entertainment industry, our church life, and our family lives.

 

[PaulinVA]

I wonder if it would be better for people who don’t want to/can’t wear masks inside public buildings to stay home.

 

[27lw]

What concerns me is that the people who are not able to wear a mask for long, might also have the same conditions that cause an increase in covid complications.
So, yeah, you can’t tolerate wearing a mask, how are you going to tolerate getting covid?
Honestly for those who can’t wear a mask, they are the ones who seem to be most at risk, and who everyone else is trying to protect by wearing the masks.

People with Certain Medical Conditions | CDC

 

[27lw]

27lw:

May I gently ask, what is the point of wearing them, if you are not going to wear it over your nose?

Wearing it over my mouth is better than nothing,

Please, give us a medical article or journal citation that confirms this. Is this your opinion, or where are you getting this? Have you spoken to a doctor?

but not much as the coronavirus is .1 micron in size and a mask will only stop a portion of it and that portion would be a virus that is attached to your spit.

I could put the links here ithat shows interview after interview with scientists that are not that dispute the effectiveness of masks, but people don’t change their mind about politics or religion or Covid, which is political more than anything else.

A Nobel laureate Being interviewed said that trying to stop a .1 µm virus with a surgical mask or gator is like trying to stop a sandstorm with a chain-link fence.

Could you give us some references? Of these scientists (presumably medical science) that say that wearing masks is ineffective?
How about three such citations.

I’d rather not wear a mask at all, but I do wear it over my mouth to make those that are concerned feel a little better. I’m moving a little in their direction, but those that attacked us apparently don’t want to move a little in our direction.

Not sure that’s how the science works. I have posted two articles above that assert that mouth-masking only is pointless. Why would people want to “move in that direction”? From spreading fewer germs to spreading more germs?

I personally am also more concerned about any priests in a church where people are not masking. Wondering why the bishop is not requiring masks? Is there a dispensation in place?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Our daughter has never heard of something happening like what’s going on in our church. Our pastor needs to chime in.

Is there actually something “going on in your church” besides one couple who decided to rudely approach you?

When you say something is “going on in your church” it sounds like there’s some whole group or movement to exclude non-mask wearers from Mass, not just two people whom you were friendly with, who for whatever reason, probably their own stress and anxiety, decided to lecture you about wearing your masks incorrectly.

I’ve encountered rude people at my parishes, including a Eucharistic minister to the homebound who somehow jumped to the wrong conclusion that I was committing elder abuse on my mother (she was NOT invited back to our home). But it wasn’t an indication of “Something going on in my church”, it was just one or two people with a problem. You pray for them, avoid them and move on.

 

[farronwolf]

So because of the OP’s and OP’s wife’s personal issues, they can’t wear a mask properly when inside a building with other people. Because the Bishop’s office said it isn’t mandatory, but encouraged they feel they are in the right.

It isn’t mandatory that people are nice to one another, but it is encouraged in the Church. So I guess the other parishioners are just as much in the right as the OP.

 

[anon63623622]

I am the same way, I see so many having masks but they are usually hanging down and not ever wearing them, what the purpose if your not going to wear one right. I miss going to Mass but with bad ashma I will not take that chance so I watch My Church on f.b , ewtn and Catholic tv Mass

 

[Thomas54]

My husband and I are not currently attending Mass in person. There is a dispensation that is still in effect,

Two weeks ago our diocese lifted the dispensation concerning mass attendance except for those that are elderly or sick/high risk.

Also, every pew is open whereas before the dispensation ended, every other pew was closed.

I find it very interesting that it took the coronavirus to get us to stop shaking hands during mass. I cannot tell you how many times I went to church on Sunday through the years and on Monday or Tuesday I had the sniffles.

IMO, we have reached the point of insanity and Satan must be laughing his horns off.

Thomas

 

[27lw]

Dear Thomas,
You mention that your dispensation was lifted except for those at high risk. You mention in your first post that you have a particular medical condition. May I gently ask, if you know that your condition is on the list of conditions that have a high risk of complications with covid? Have you talked with your doctor about your going in public places with mask / without mask?

 

[Bernoulli]

It would certainly be easier and more effective healthwise, if everyone wears a mask inside a building. If someone is unable to wear a mask, they can be provided accomodations to get their needs met, but that doesn’t have to include entering the building without a mask, at the same time as others.

 

[redcatholic]

I’m so sorry about your (former) friends. They were out of line in the way you described the situation. This pandemic and politics in general has created a social norm of confrontation, virtue signaling and downright uncharitable actions.
Morally you are acting well within the bounds of what is to be expected.
In our area our city has a mask mandate and the bishop suggests but does not enforce a mask policy. However some parishes do. Ours doesn’t. Maybe 20 percent wear masks (we do) but that’s 80 percent who don’t. I am fine with it. People are attending Mass, trying to have access to the sacraments. People are at different levels of health conditions ( like you fine folks) or even different levels of political positions on the mandates. I charitably assume best intentions from people around me. I don’t agree with a mandate but I do like that my family chooses to wear them.

Just a thought. Don’t call them former friends. There is plenty of hope for the future of the friendship. These are scary times and people aren’t acting correctly. View and deal with them with a heart of mercy and forgiveness. Pray they can do the same in the future.

 

[Jen7]

How about y’all wear one of those plastic visors with the face shield that’s clear? Keep plenty of Face-space for yourselves and appease those who may have their own medical reasons for needing to be very careful & are trusting that they are going into an environment where others are masking.

 

[Jen7]

I’m so sorry about your (former) friends. They were out of line in the way you described the situation. This pandemic and politics in general has created a social norm of confrontation, virtue signaling and downright uncharitable actions.
Morally you are acting well within the bounds of what is to be expected.
In our area our city has a mask mandate and the bishop suggests but does not enforce a mask policy. However some parishes do. Ours doesn’t. Maybe 20 percent wear masks (we do) but that’s 80 percent who don’t. I am fine with it. People are attending Mass, trying to have access to the sacraments. People are at different levels of health conditions ( like you fine folks) or even different levels of political positions on the mandates. I charitably assume best intentions from people around me. I don’t agree with a mandate but I do like that my family chooses to wear them.

Just a thought. Don’t call them former friends. There is plenty of hope for the future of the friendship. These are scary times and people aren’t acting correctly. View and deal with them with a heart of mercy and forgiveness. Pray they can do the same in the future.

Beautifully said! We al need so much grace and patience with each other right now!