US Bishop Forbids Priests To Hear Confession - Seemingly Without Exception

[JulianN]

Yet others have suggested that we should be willing to sacrifice our lives for the hardware store, or the day care center, or the liquor store—but ignore the fact that would endanger others.

So two wrongs make a right?

 

[stpurl]

Not Catholics like Nancy Pelosi, Andrew Cuomo, Joe Biden. . .And to make it perfectly clear I am not impugning them as persons. I have been impressed by Cuomo’s response to COVID19, I sympathize greatly and admire Biden’s ‘carrying on’ after the sad death of his son, I may not agree with Pelosi on many things but I admire her determination and her service to the people.

BUT while polls show “Catholics” (via a small number of those polled) supposedly being against abortion, most often there is still the caveat, “except in cases of incest, rape, or the mother’s health’ (which in the last can pretty much be stretched to include anything at all), polls also show more than 90% of Catholic married people engaging in contraception to include abortifacients contraceptives, and there has been such an effort from high-profile Catholics from JFK (I am an American first and a Catholic second, I’m not under the Pope when it comes to acting as president) to Andrew Cuomo’s father Mario with his, “I am PERSONALLY against abortion but I would not IMPOSE my PERSONAL beliefs on another”, and again such poor catechesis that huge percentages of Catholics believe something ‘legal’ is perfectly OK, that there can be cases where abortion is the right choice, that again ‘conscience’ trumps doctrine, and above all the rampant whinging emotionalism as so called “back alley abortions’, sob stories of abuse, crippling poverty, suicide, ‘ruined lives’, ‘punished with a baby’ etc are now THE NARRATIVE and Catholic teachings derided as those of ‘senile old men’ who themselves are not only child abusers but are only intent on coercing men and women and ‘manufacturing babies to be more pay, pray, and obey Catholics”.

This truly is an era of the ‘Catholic individualist’. He is his (or her) own pope, deciding what to believe, how to behave, and above all secure in the notion that since he or she ‘didn’t choose to be born’, that God OWES him or her salvation just by being ‘good enough’ —ie., not committing murder (except when it’s justified and there are enough categories legally to make murder pretty exceptional), pretty much, as long as I’m not HITLER, I’m a pretty good human being, reward me, and if that’s not good enough, it’s GOD’s fault by putting me in danger and not keeping me from it, not ‘educating’ me enough to KNOW, etc. etc.

A perfect win-win situation; do as one chooses, and argue that any shortcomings are the result not of one’s own actions and one’s own education or responsibilities, but of the One whom, during one’s life, one chose to ignore, or put aside, or ‘reimagine’, or dismiss. . .and then blame HIM.

 

[Cathoholic]

JulianN . . .

So two wrongs make a right?

Why are you suggesting the bishops are wrong? (The bishops in Poland.)

I thought these measures were effective?

Ya mean social distancing, masks, hand washing, etc. are not effective??!!

I thought the whole reason America is doing this is not to dodge inevitable infection, but so we don’t overtax our medical system?

You mean it’s NOT!??

Why would it be right for everyone to just stay at home?

What about the guys at the power plant that make it possible for electricity to go to YOUR home? Should THEY stay home too?

What about the guys at the water plant that make it possible for fresh water to go to YOUR home? Should THEY stay home too?

What about the guys at the grocery store that make it possible for food to go to YOUR home? Should THEY stay home too?

What about the guys at the police station that make it possible for safety for you to be in YOUR home? Should THEY stay home too?

My concerns for the Sacraments are a matter of priorities.

All the above are priorities . . . To me.

 

[JulianN]

Why are you suggesting the bishops are wrong? (The bishops in Poland.)

I was responding to your posts about liquor stores and hardware stores.

And since I do not live in Poland, their bishops’ decisions do not have any bearing. My bishop, and all US bishops, have made a decision that was the only responsible decision they could have made.

 

[JulianN]

Ya mean social distancing, masks, hand washing, etc. are not effective??!!

Yes. They are. Hence the reason Mass is not public—so social distancing can be preserved.

 

[JulianN]

All the above are priorities . . . To me.

And here’s the crux of the issue—all the other things you listed are priorities to everyone. Health and safety depend on those workers (of whom, by the way, my husband is one. So all those YOURs you are throwing around can just take a little rest).

The sacraments, like it or not, are not priorities for everyone. And right now, people insisting they should have an exception for them is putting my husband and countless others who must work at risk.

 

[JulianN]

What if no Mass in the country was putting your husband at risk MORE?

Where here have you complained about Menard’s being open?

Where here have you complained about McDonald’s being open? (Corona Virus can be transmitted on cardboard bags).

Where here have you complained about grocery stores being open?

Why just criticize the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being “open” in this context?

Because that’s what this thread is about. McDonald’s here is not open, and I agree Menards shouldn’t be. As I said, people need groceries to live.

 

[JulianN]

What if no Mass in the country was putting your husband at risk MORE?

How would that be?

 

[JulianN]

When Catholics in a state of grace receive the Eucharist, EVERYONE benefits.

Now you’ve shifted from having Mass to allowing people to receive Communion. How can you do that from 6 feet away?

And how does your reception of the Eucharist prevent the spread of Coronavirus?

 

[JulianN]

The same way you get groceries

So the Eucharist can be dropped off on my front porch? I don’t think so.

And you keep missing the point—it is not “heroic virtue” to spread this virus to the vulnerable. It is also not helping to flatten the curve.

What it comes down to, no matter the lofty language used to describe it, is selfishness.

I just thank God that those in charge apparently are capable of actual heroic virtue. And have chosen to protect their people.

With that, I am putting this thread on mute. It is terrifying to me that there are people who hold my husband’s life and others‘ lives in such light regard —and who think their desires supersede others’ right to live.

I’ve never had a post on CAF bring me to tears in all the years I’ve been here —until now.

 

[Cathoholic]

JulianN . . .

So the Eucharist can be dropped off on my front porch? I don’t think so.

People get groceries face-to-face without violating any public health goals.

What it comes down to, no matter the lofty language used to describe it, is selfishness.

Why is it “selfishness” in America to want the Eucharist, but NOT selfishness in Poland?

And if we can do BOTH, if we can receive the Eucharist . . . AND maintain public health guidelines . . . .
. . . Why in the world does that bother you so much?

 

[ProVobis]

What if no Mass in the country was putting your husband at risk MORE?

Canon Law reduces if not negates this risk.

As far as sacraments go, there is spiritual communion as taught by the Trent Catechism. And a perfect Act of Contrition forgives all sin if a priest is not available.

 

[Cathoholic]

I’m not trying to hurt your feelings @JulainN.

That has never been my intention.

All I am doing is voicing my (name removed by moderator)ut regarding the Mass.
If the epidemiologists tell us we can do things reasonably safely and still flatten the curve on this disease, WHY wouldn’t we do BOTH?

I will go and pull my posts about heroic virtue as I am not trying to hurt yours or anyone’s feelings.

 

[Cathoholic]

ProVobis . . .

As far as sacraments go, there is spiritual communion as taught by the Trent Catechism.

Of course spiritual communion exists.
But just look at the incarnational aspect of the Gospels.

Jesus goes to these people physically.
Or people physically approach Him physically on behalf of others.

The Incarnation.

And a perfect Act of Contrition forgives all sin if a priest is not available.

With Confession there is MORE than mere forgiveness of sins.

There are grace’s you cannot get by any other ordinary means.

Yes God MAY work outside His Sacraments extraordinarily in an individual to be sure.
Jesus COULD have just done that in the Gospels too (worked spiritually).

But there is a distinct incarnational aspect for reasons that are obvious.