To be fair, I didn't witness this myself. Someone at the parish related it to me. So if I heard it third hand, I guess you're learning about it fourth hand.
Here is what happened: on Sunday at 11:29:55 am (i.e. right about the time mass was set to begin), a woman and her adult son walked into our church building without a mask. In doing so, they violated the policy of the Chicago Archdiocese.
Earlier in the pandemic, we had more layers of precautions in place: people were expected to pre-register in order to attend liturgy, and wouldn't be seated until they had signed in. Parishioners staffing the sign-in desk would not have permitted someone to be seated in the church - nor even to remain in the building - if they weren't masked. But those precautions have been done away with.
Our pastor, who was standing at the entrance to the worship space, waiting for the hymn to cue the entrance procession, approached her. Their dialogue went something like this:
Pastor: You need to have a mask on. Can I have someone get you one?
Parishioner: There is a religious exemption to mask mandates!
Pastor: Not in this archdiocese. If you wish to come to mass here, you need to wear a mask
Parishioner: We have health issues that prevent us from wearing a mask!
At that point, the music started, and our pastor, visibly frustrated by these scofflaws, marched down the aisle and began mass. I'm told the mother and son went into church and seated themselves, without wearing masks.
I know it's not charitable of me to think of these two people as obnoxious ignoramuses, but I'm struggling to think of a just characterization that is less mean. All of us are wearing masks. Few of us want to. But - if we can't abide by this social obligation, are there any such that bind us?
"Entitled jerks" is the phrase that comes to my mind. Don't know if that is less mean than obnoxious ignoramuses; probably not. Of course no one wants a big scene in church. If the ushers had escorted them outside, I'm sure that would have been all over social media that the mean unchristians had prevented them from attending Mass.
ReplyDeleteThere is somewhat the opposite problem here. There is no mask mandate here at the moment, and very few people wear them in church. I have not heard that anyone has been given a bad time if they do wear them, however. I attended Mass this morning. One of the other parishes hosts the Monday Mass. They were still distancing, there were perhaps a hundred people in attendance. But no one was wearing a mask, including me. But when I heard a couple of people cough rather juicily I quickly pulled a mask out of my purse and put it on. I was the only one wearing one. I am still sort of recovering, but that wasn't why I put it on. I didn't want whatever fall cold is going around, even if it isn't Covid.
Yes Katherine. Whatever I got last March was pretty nasty non-COVID. Hope the coughing couple just had allergies.
DeleteOn our recent vacation, we drove through a number of states, or sections of states, which seemingly are part of "Trump Country". We often felt that we were the only people wearing masks, in roadside eateries and highway rest stops. Nobody said anything to us, but it reinforced the idea that we're living side by side with people who live in different "culture bubbles".
DeleteWhen we drove to California last December, pre- vaccine, we got food at drive throughs and stayed at Fairfield Inns because Marriott and Hilton properties got the highest Covid protocol ratings. And they deserved the high ratings. Everyone inside wore masks , kept the distance, and the rooms had extra packaged wipes so that you could go over all surfaces in case you didn’t fully trust the maids to have done it right. Back when they still thought surfaces presented the greatest transmission risk. But when we stopped for gasoline in trump states, nobody except us wore masks inside the convenience stores. We unfortunately did need restroom stops now and then. Driving back in March, after the big winter surge we were surprised to see a lot more masks, even in states like Arizona, Oklahoma and Missouri.
DeleteYour experience impies that the summer surge hasn’t had the same impact. Our county is again requiring masks indoors even though our state and county are in the top 5 in % of population fully vaccinated. We have often vacationed in the states to the south of us over the years - the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida in the winter. Not sure we will ever go back though, especially not to Florida.
We are flying to Colorado again tomorrow and I feel a lot more nervous about it than when we flew home from there in July.
Safe journey, Anne. It is a nice time of year to be in Colorado.
DeleteAnne, yes - we drove rather than flew, in large part because we don't want to board an airplane these days if we can possibly avoid it. Nor even be in a crowded airport.
DeleteThe other reason was rental car costs - they're INSANE!
Hope you have a safe trip!
I'm in a different bubble from the rest of my family. Still love them but for goodness sake. At least, I was able to relax my cousin about her laser eye surgery. I explained that the tiny hole they were opening in her iris would be the only part of her eye affected. That it was much less serious than laser retinal surgery. I guess my scientific expertise was enough as long as Republican politicians and Fox pundits don't weigh in otherwise on the subject.
ReplyDeletePrecautions vary, even in the same community. The school where my younger son works is requiring masks for staff and students. The school his daughters attend has a "masks optional" policy. I assume changing conditions could result in changes to policies.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter-in-law texted me several save-the-dates for next spring; a first Communion, a Confirmation, and an 8th grade graduation. Hopefully by then things will be better.
Parishes have not been paying close attention to what the epidemiologists have been saying all along.
ReplyDeleteThey say we should avoid large indoor gatherings (like church) anytime there are many cases in our local community, even if we have been vaccinated, and even if we are wearing masks especially if we are vulnerable and/or care for those who are vulnerable, or want to avoid long term Covid.
They are also saying that wearing masks, social isolation, hand washing, etc. should become part of our personal health care practices to avoid the flu and nasty viruses in general. Betty’s virus last week was not Covid, but it did result in pneumonia and sent her to the emergency room with a 93% blood oxygen level. She is slowly recovering now with a 97% level. She likely got it when we had a home health care visit by a nurse. Because of Covid, we did that visit outdoors, the nurse was masked, and had been vaccinated. But she was sloppy with her exam procedures. (Betty was very aware of this since she was a medical technician for many years).
Parishes must become virtual as well as physical entities. All services should be livestreamed, and all vulnerable people and their caregivers should be encouraged to participate from home not only when Covid but also other viruses are widespread in the community. The Anglicans do a very good job of always greeting and acknowledging their online audiences as valued participants.
We need to develop the notion of the healthy parish as a part of being a real community.. Encouraging people to get vaccinations, Covid, flue, etc. should become an important part of parish life, that is you are not really a full member of the parish unless you are engaged in health care practices that protect others as well as yourself.
There should be some perks that go with vaccination such as reserved seating areas in church for those who desire them, and reserved meetings (e.g. choir practices) for those who are vaccinated.
I proposed to both my local parishes that they distribute tags for vaccinated people that they could wear proclaiming their status. Both refused because they did not want to embarrass the unvaccinated and treat them as second class citizens. They said I was welcome to use my own tag from the health department. In other words I was on my own in dealing with the unvaccinated. In effect they chose to serve unvaccinated persons over me. While maybe that is appropriate. Maybe the unvaccinated need going to church more than I do.
People should be encouraged to stay home from Mass when they feel sick. My ninety some aunt who died a few years ago ceased going to Mass in her eighties because she always seemed to get near to someone who was coughing.
It is time to redesign the “kiss of peace” into a Japanese like polite bow with hands folded rather than a hand shake. The monks at Saint Meinrad use something like that.
It is time to design beautiful face and highly functional face masks and encourage people to use them.