"Starting next Sunday, Catholics in the archdiocese of Milwaukee are obliged once again to attend Sunday Mass"

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But it can’t be everywhere. Not while we are all still having to wear masks.

The article also outlined that it is still not going to be an obligation for certain people.
 
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Even though he still exempted the elderly and immune compromised or those caring for them, I see many people, especially the elderly, that will return when it would be better if they didn’t. I guess each person can make that decision but it seems to put pressure on some that may not be wise.
 
“The elderly” are already back at both the daily and Sunday Masses in droves. It’s all the same little old people who were coming to daily Mass before this happened, including some who appear to be in their 80s.

I would presume maybe some of them who have immunocompromised conditions might be staying away, but when they first reinstated Mass here, I saw an elderly man there who was on a breathing machine and carrying the whole shebang into church with him just so he could go to Mass. It’s more likely all the lazy able-bodied younger people who are enjoying sleeping in on Sundays. I know because I used to be one.
 
I wonder if the giving of peace where people are supposed to shake hands.

Will that still go on?
 
That was removed from the Mass weeks before we even shut down here, by order of the Archbishop.

Some priests now skip it entirely, some priests suggest that we make an appropriate gesture of peace which means we all wave to each other or give a Peace sign.

I don’t think we’ll be shaking hands again any time soon as the Archbishop would have to direct that it be put back in the Mass.
 
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I see the opposite. As long as Masses are live-streamed (and even if they are not), people are going to sit home. I have had several Priests remark they believe many of the faithful are never coming back.
 
Dr_Meinheimer said:
I have had several Priests remark they believe many of the faithful are never coming back.
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Well, they weren’t very faithful then, were they? It’s a shame that this virus has so disrupted those that wish to attend and so many are torn between their feeling of obligation…even it they are dispensed…and their health concerns. It’s an individual decision for each, though. Since I’m not Catholic I haven’t any skin in the game but I would think that most Catholics will eventually all return in similar number from before the pandemic. It will just take a while for the virus to lessen and people’s comfort level of attending any group gathering.

Even restaurants that have reopened aren’t seeing near the numbers they are allowed to serve. I’m not comfortable going out to eat or gather. We all have comfort levels that vary. I just feel sorry for those that are caught between wanting to go but scared to do so! Many are going to have ease back into any gathering and some will take much longer than others…and they shouldn’t feel guilty for taking their time.
 
Pattylt said:
Well, they weren’t very faithful then, were they?
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Very true; using the noun “the faithful” was probably inaccurate. People have been scared into hiding, and many are not coming back out any time soon, if ever.
 
Nearly all the priests in my diocese are at risk because of their age so I don’t expect the dispensation disappear soon.
 
Dr_Meinheimer said:
and many are not coming back out any time soon, if ever.
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It’s the “if ever” that I think is what’s worrying the Priests and honestly, they need to be patient. It may really take a long time but I think the faithful will.
 
I know people not shopping in person, nor going to restaurants, nor to any large gathering, etc. I expect these people will take awhile to return to mass. But aside from those who just don’t make it back mentally from isolation at all, I would expect they will return to mass eventually.

It is those hypotheticals who are currently galavanting around, carefree, but not yet going to available church services who may not come again, I imagine.
 
It’s not just Milwaukee, it’s all of Wisconsin putting the obligation back.


I agree with pug, the priests need to give people time to adjust to getting back in the habit of going to Mass. I too know people who are not going anywhere. Yes, there will probably be a percentage of people who for whatever reason do not come back to Mass at all; others may just take time to get back in the swing of things or have a genuine health concern for themself or a family member.
 
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea anyway. In the traditional Mass it doesn’t happen.
 
Pattylt said:
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Dr_Meinheimer:
and many are not coming back out any time soon, if ever.
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It’s the “if ever” that I think is what’s worrying the Priests and honestly, they need to be patient. It may really take a long time but I think the faithful will.
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This is something to watch. How many actually come back? I truly hope that those who do will only be those with a lively faith, or those who are actively seeking one. The Church is not helped by the presence of people who don’t really believe in it.
 
Diocese of Sioux Falls SD put the Mass obligation back several weeks ago.

Seems to be absolutely nothing online about attendance. One would expect if there was some precipitous lack of return to church, Lifesite News would be all over that.

It’s unfortunate that some commentators act like they are hopeful that there will be an attendance drop-off so they can use that as more evidence for their contention that the bishops were wrong to suspend public Masses, or that most Catholics are lukewarm.
 
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