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IanM
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Two Irish dioceses suspend funeral Masses
Two Irish dioceses have suspended funeral Masses until after the Covid-19 crisis is over
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Tis_Bearself
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I swear, if I had a new baby and the priest wouldn’t baptize him during a pandemic, I’d baptize the kid myself and take the consequences of getting yelled at or whatever by the priest.
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IanM
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
He’s not my favorite bishop and I fortunately don’t live in or spend any time in his diocese.
If I were a mom and afraid I would die, or afraid my baby would die, I’d do what I felt was necessary with respect to baptism, and answer to God for that if need be. I also think any sane pastor or bishop would understand that. As shown by the retreat video I posted, some people are so afraid they’re calling up the priests to discuss their fear, so the priests know people are on edge.
If I were a mom and afraid I would die, or afraid my baby would die, I’d do what I felt was necessary with respect to baptism, and answer to God for that if need be. I also think any sane pastor or bishop would understand that. As shown by the retreat video I posted, some people are so afraid they’re calling up the priests to discuss their fear, so the priests know people are on edge.
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IanM
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Yes indeed. I actually baptised one of our children in a neonatal unit using a syringe of water and the only disapproval was from a nurse who was not impressed. The subsequent service that this triggered at our parish church on our return home some time later, was the first time that the Priest had performed such a one.
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InThePew
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Unless your newborn was in danger of death there’s really no need; infant mortality isn’t what it once was (even with the coronavirus) and priest remain on call for emergencies. I’m frustrated by the blanket ban on confessions (again, emergencies excepted) and funerals but, at the same time, I get why they’re necessary and this really isn’t the time to be standing on legal niceties! Where I am, we’re in lockdown and so these are in keeping with government requirements (rendering to Caesar if you will) but, at the same time, these requirements exist for the greater good of the community - especially our most vulnerable parishioners.
Bear in mind that there are many parts of the world which don’t have the same level and frequency of access to the sacraments which we’ve taken for granted before now. What we’re experiencing is their normal, so pray for them and pray for those whose suffering from the effects of this pandemic are far more than just faith-based.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
There’s no blanket ban on confessions where I am, though we’ve been under a stay-at-home order since mid-March. We’re fortunate to be able to still have confession, I know.
A huge or abnormal delay in baptisms however is not something I really understand; if we are in the middle of a pandemic, with hospitals becoming unable to function normally because of that, I think there are definitely concerns about both infant mortality and mother mortality, and it’s not the time to be putting off a baptism if the parents want to do it. Fortunately again, I notice that in my Archdiocese, which as I said is in an area that’s been under stay-at-home since about the 15th and suspended Masses since the 20th, they are still arranging to have baptisms for babies whose baptisms were scheduled, but limiting the number of people who can attend to somewhere between 5 people and 10 people and everybody does social distancing. And I am sure if there was an emergency they might arrange for the baby to be baptized more quickly.
I can understand not wanting to have a funeral Mass at this time when there may be large numbers of deceased and some of them with bodies presenting a risk of virus transmission, but baptism does not present a situation like that, and to me is a very key sacrament that until very recently was considered a necessity for getting to heaven. Now they seem to be saying it’s not that important and since your baby will probably live (in their opinion), no harm in delaying it for months or even years, plus they actively discourage lay people from doing it in emergencies. I’m not a fan of that attitude.
A huge or abnormal delay in baptisms however is not something I really understand; if we are in the middle of a pandemic, with hospitals becoming unable to function normally because of that, I think there are definitely concerns about both infant mortality and mother mortality, and it’s not the time to be putting off a baptism if the parents want to do it. Fortunately again, I notice that in my Archdiocese, which as I said is in an area that’s been under stay-at-home since about the 15th and suspended Masses since the 20th, they are still arranging to have baptisms for babies whose baptisms were scheduled, but limiting the number of people who can attend to somewhere between 5 people and 10 people and everybody does social distancing. And I am sure if there was an emergency they might arrange for the baby to be baptized more quickly.
I can understand not wanting to have a funeral Mass at this time when there may be large numbers of deceased and some of them with bodies presenting a risk of virus transmission, but baptism does not present a situation like that, and to me is a very key sacrament that until very recently was considered a necessity for getting to heaven. Now they seem to be saying it’s not that important and since your baby will probably live (in their opinion), no harm in delaying it for months or even years, plus they actively discourage lay people from doing it in emergencies. I’m not a fan of that attitude.
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IanM
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Our child was.
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