NY coronavirus restrictions on religious services declared illegal

  • Thread starter Thread starter ZemD
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
One of the differences with religious gatherings is that people attending them tend to sit / stand in relatively close proximity for an extended period of time (give or take an hour) and also tend to socialise given they typically know other attendees. This is what makes churches (as well as mosques, synagogues and temples) different from your average bar or restaurant.

I totally disagree with those who claim that the pandemic is being “exploited” to create “a veritable dictatorship” - politicians everywhere are struggling to strike a balance between two extremes - economic catastrophe and a cataclysmic health crisis. Still, the judge in this case has a valid point- if protests can be allowed then there is no logical reason to prohibit outdoor religious gatherings. That said, holding mass outdoors is easier said than done - not for nothing do outdoor weddings here require an alternative indoor venue - so there is also a risk that some see this as being far more than it is and then start blaming bishops and priests when their illusory aspirations are not realised. Writing as one who now has the benefit of having come out of the other side of lockdown, social distancing restrictions, I can say that this too shall pass -be patient, be kind and trust in the Lord.
 
InThePew said:
holding mass outdoors is easier said than done - not for nothing do outdoor weddings here require an alternative indoor venue
Click to expand...
Do you mean the possibility of harsh weather? I have attended pilgrimages where there were outdoor masses, and they took place outdoors even in heavy rain. It is doable.
 
ZemD said:
I agree. I pray for him often, there is hope for him and many of our Catholic politicians who often ‘let us down’.
Click to expand...
I disagree. I consider them the worst - they know what they support is evil (or should) and support it anyway - and then give Catholicism a bad name.
 
@Elf01 I’m sorry you misunderstood me. I agree completely that Cuomo and Catholic politicians who publicly support policies contrary to the faith are “the worst” and misrepresent our faith. I agreed that there is hope for them, as there is for all of us, to change for the better as long as we are on this side of the dirt. I do pray for Cuomo for his conversion of heart on topics like abortion.
 
Last edited:
ZemD said:
I’m sorry you misunderstood me. I agree completely that Cuomo and Catholic politicians who publicly support policies contrary to the faith are “the worst” and misrepresent our faith. I agreed that there is hope for them, as there is for all of us, to change for the better as long as we are on this side of the dirt. I do pray for Cuomo for his conversion of heart on topics like abortion.
Click to expand...
I think the hope, if any, is slim for him and other like him. Miriciles can happen, but God won’t override free will - and theirs is firmly set against him. I see that hope as diminished because of him being ‘Catholic’.
 
Last edited:
We’ll have to wait until the budget cuts kick in after this coming Tuesday, June 30th. Cuomo is planning on a 20% cut across the board to vital services. This includes cutting funding to the City University of New York, which includes 25 public colleges. Many faculty, as well as staff, in the thousands, particularly part-timers (adjuncts) but also non-tenured full-time faculty, may potentially be laid off. This will no doubt have disastrous effects on the courses and programs offered to students and the community at large. It will also increase the unemployment rate in New York, as it will in other parts of the country where governors are facing a sizable budget deficit. Faculty and others at CUNY are frantically petitioning Cuomo and Congress to spare the University if at all possible by means of the CARE Act. For the most part, the GOP in the Senate is not on-board with saving CUNY. If Cuomo proceeds as planned, brace yourself for major problems statewide.
 
Last edited:
I will just leave this video here. I found it inspiring and insightful.

 
Bernoulli said:
Do you mean the possibility of harsh weather? I have attended pilgrimages where there were outdoor masses, and they took place outdoors even in heavy rain. It is doable.
Click to expand...
Whether it’s doable is one thing - whether it’s easily doable is another altogether. For some events, like pilgrimages and significant celebrations, it’s necessary for the mas to go ahead regardless, impart because cancellation isn’t a viable option. The same can’t be said for a regular Sunday mass. There’s also the question of space to consider - while some parishes might have school playgrounds or fields which can be utilised, others don’t have that option. Finally, there’s the health and wellbeing of parishioners (particularly the elderly) to consider. All of these considerations and more come up when a mass is held outdoors (including appropriate shelter for the sanctuary) and these things can’t be sorted easily, let alone at short notice.
 
Last edited:
Anesti33 said:
Six months ago, I would have contended that no priest in his right mind would even consider cancelling Sunday Masses.
Click to expand...
Congratulations of having regular Sunday masses to cancel - some places in the world only get mass every month (some less than that). Still, as a pastor I wouldn’t have thought of cancelling Sunday masses for the entirety of Easter (plus the last two weeks of Lent). That said, I like to think I’m in my right mind (others may disagree) and trust that my bishop is trying to make the best decisions he can for the good of those he governs, as well as the wider community.
 
Welshrabbit said:
Are you in the city by chance? Asking because I want to know what’s going on with all the fireworks…
Click to expand...
I’m not in the city, I’m in the suburban area of Long Island. But as we speak they are setting things off and its 10:30 at night. They do it all summer and it’s really annoying. Nothing is done about it. This is nothing new. It’s just one more symptom of a dying culture.
 
InThePew said:
as a pastor I wouldn’t have thought of cancelling Sunday masses for the entirety of Easter (plus the last two weeks of Lent). That said, I like to think I’m in my right mind (others may disagree) and trust that my bishop is trying to make the best decisions he can for the good of those he governs, as well as the wider community.
Click to expand...
There’s a lot of back seat drivers who will trash the bishops no matter what they do. But sometimes the drivers can see hazards ahead the back seat doesn’t know about.

There are powerful and unpredictable hazards both in the Virus and in secularists who look for a chance to divide and conquer the bishops, clergy and Laity. The bishops, remarkably, chose to take unified action early so people wouldn’t compare Bishop A against Bishop B, or this pastor against that pastor.

You have to pick your battles. If you have to fight the secularists, do so, but make sure you’re united. I applaud those who took the government to court on its restrictions, but I support the unified bishops when they self restricted.
As a unity.
 
@Katie777 Not just NYC, the entire state. Funerals were limited to no more than ten people including the preist and it was “strongly encouraged” that a mass not take place but only a brief service at the graveside while the mourners remain in their cars to watch.

Some priests allowed hugging or more mourners at the graveside, but that was technically against the governors executive order.
 
Last edited:
Katie777 said:
Can someone confirm that the churches in nyc were closed to funeral masses during Easter.
Thank you
Katie
Click to expand...
They were closed for funeral Masses of any kind of size. Only graveside services were allowed and those were limited to 10 people.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top