Mass obligation (w/mask)

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Our government has spent months telling us that masks are not needed and not to buy them. Mostly, I suspect, because they didn’t buy enough for people in high risk jobs such as care and healthcare.

Now they’ve partially unlocked us the message is that you have to wear them on public transport but it’s up to you elsewhere.

I’ve recently read:

*Don’t buy N95 masks because you’re stopping healthcare workers getting them.
*Don’t use a non N95 mask because the droplets of other people’s germy spit dries on your mask and makes you more likely to catch it.
*Masks encourage risky behaviour such as getting within 2m of other people.

So with all this confusion and mixed messages I don’t envy the Church hierarchy having to make a decision on this.

Public Mass hasn’t resumed here again. When it does if a Bishop has decided to err on the side of caution and asks us all to wear masks then I think it’s only fair for us to do so. I’m sure the request is only being made out of goodwill and concern for the vulnerable.
 
Nik said:
Masks encourage risky behaviour such as getting within 2m of other people.
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According to an Italian study, the opposite is true: people keep larger distances from those wearing a mask, on the average. The impact is even larger when people are wearing safety goggles, too.
 
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Interesting, the idea of wearing goggles all day too made me giggle a bit.
I’m not pro or anti mask really. But I’d certainly wear one to Mass or anywhere else if required.
 
JulianN said:
I’m talking about the people proudly proclaiming that they won’t wear a mask, even if not doing so endangers the people around them.
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It is very unlikely that anyone in your church has the virus. Since they don’t have the virus then they aren’t endangering anyone. Maybe we need less emphasis on making everyone take (mostly useless) precautions and instead focus on making sure that people who aren’t feeling well stay home?
 
Masks are required at Mass, at least indoors, since reopening in this Archdiocese and the one next to it.
There are exceptions for very young children and for persons who have a medical condition where they cannot wear a mask, which I presume they’d have to explain to their priest as I have seen priests lecturing people who are in church without a mask. The dispensation also remains in force so those who are not comfortable attending don’t have to attend.

Some churches are having Mass outside, weather permitting, and masks aren’t compulsory there, but the vast majority of attendees wear them.
 
MikeInVA said:
Maybe we need less emphasis on making everyone take (mostly useless) precautions and instead focus on making sure that people who aren’t feeling well stay home?
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Staying home when ill is basic decency during an epidemic, but it is not enough. The disease is spread before the appearance of symptoms, with non-specific symptoms that are not considered, or through totally asymptomatic people.
 
My diocese lifted the obligation back in March and it is still in place and will be there until a vaccine is found most likely. Those who are sick or cannot attend mass or are fearful to attend mass are being asked to stay home and watch on the livestream if they feel more comfortable doing so.
 
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MikeInVA said:
Maybe we need less emphasis on making everyone take (mostly useless) precautions and instead focus on making sure that people who aren’t feeling well stay home?
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Covid is frequently transmitted before there are symptoms. And virtually all infectious disease specialists agree that masks protect others from your contagion.
 
If it is immoral and risky to others to go to mass without a mask then shouldn’t we really just be staying home altogether? Isn’t going to mass risking people’s lives whether or not we wear a mask to reduce the chance? Who decides at what statistical point it is moral or immoral to attend or to wear a mask?

The chances of getting this and then dying from it are rediculously low unless you are in a high risk category, then it is just really low, masks or no masks.
 
JulianN said:
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MikeInVA:
Maybe we need less emphasis on making everyone take (mostly useless) precautions and instead focus on making sure that people who aren’t feeling well stay home?
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Covid is frequently transmitted before there are symptoms. And virtually all infectious disease specialists agree that masks protect others from your contagion.
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An appropriate, approved mask, worn properly may do so.
But what are people wearing?
Dust masks, procedure masks, unwashed cotton bandanas. These are worthless. I have a full beard, so I am under no pretense, when I wear my dust mask, that I am protecting anyone.
 
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Neither one. The only place I have gone which requires masks is the hair salon.
 
If they aren’t required where you are, then that’s not really what we’re talking about here.

In my area, masks are required at church and have been required inside all local businesses since April. You aren’t allowed inside without one.
 
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Poet said:
Ah, yes. So if a whole bunch of people sit in judgment on others and I point that out–now I’m uncharitable.

Of course.
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“Judge not, lest ye be judged. Unless they judge you – in that case, judge to your heart’s content!”

Yeah… I kinda missed that in the Bible. 🤔

Address the red herring in your argument, and we can talk about whether I’m being unfair. Otherwise, I can’t see how your argument has legs. 🤷‍♂️
 
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