Archbishop Michael Byrnes announced during this morning’s reconsecration Mass that the Archdiocese of Agana will start holding Mass in the parking lot beginning next weekend.
Byrnes said priests are working diligently to proceed with a live Mass in parish parking lots, including the distribution of Holy Communion.
“We have a set of protocols that we think satisfies the appropriate social distancing. All our protocols are in line with what is prudent in this time of COVID-19. The faithful can receive Holy Communion from their cars,” the archbishop said.
He added: “This is another ray of light for us here on this island. And we’re doing this in cooperation with the Department of Public Health. I just want to acknowledge that as a church, we have a strong desire to be partners with our government, recognizing that we have an extraordinary responsibility to see that our efforts in the church don’t become an instance of widening the scope of infection here on the island. So again, it’s good news. And I ask us all to be very cooperative to the kinds of protocols we will need to take in order to celebrate the Mass.”
It seems that Tim Rohr is trying to tell AB Byrnes what to do. He's encouraging people to take up their rights to receive communion by tongue.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:26 am,
DeleteI am not surprised. As I said before, it will only be a matter of time for Rohr to go against Archbishop Michael Byrnes. As long as the Archbishop follows Rohr, he will be okay. The moment he does something Rohr does not approve, he will find protesters in front of the Cathedral.
I mentioned previously that Christianity is based on love....a love toward God and a love for the other, not a love for oneself. A love for oneself is not Christianity, but plain selfishness. While it is true that a Catholic has a right to receive Communion by tongue, the canon law also requires that they “take into account the common good of the Church, the rights of others and their own duties towards others”. We have elderly people with health issues in our congregation. The Church has a responsibility to keep them safe. Even Rohr has this responsibility as a Christian because Christianity is about "love toward God and toward others." Love toward only yourself and your own rights without considering the rights of those who are vulnerable is selfishness.
Canon 223 In exercising their rights, the Christian faithful, both as individuals and gathered together in associations, must take into account the common good of the Church, the rights of others, and their own duties toward others.
The virus enters the person through their eyes, nose, or mouth. Therefore, many bishops around the world are temporarily banning communion by tongue because it poses more of a danger. The virus does not enter through a person's hand. The person contracts the virus when a contaminated hand touches his/her mouth. If the priest has the virus on his gloves and gives communion by tongue, his gloved hand may come in contact with the person's tongue or mouth. This is why many bishops temporarily banned communion by tongue. However, the laity who receives Holy Communion also has a responsibility to keep their hands clean. I carry a hand sanitizer with me at all times. I often use it before and after shopping. People should also keep their hands sanitized before receiving Holy Communion as a precautionary measure.
In a recent interview (May 2, 2020), Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, already confirmed that the faithful can recieve by hand or tongue.
ReplyDeleteYou can read the interview in its entirety at: http://newdailycompass.com, under ecclesia/church by Riccardo Cascioli
Dear Matlock,
DeleteWhile I understand that a person has a right to receive communion by tongue, he/she also has a responsibility to take into account the common good of the Church and to protect the rights and safety of others as per the canon law. I am one who believes in both rights and responsibilities. I do not separate the two as some Americans do who emphasize their right to do this and that and forgo any responsibilities that comes with those rights.
COVID-19 has often been compared to the flu, which the Church also went through. According to the USCCB at that time:
"While the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship will continue to monitor the situation and provide the best advice possible to Diocesan Bishops and their Offices for Worship, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop to recommend or mandate liturgical changes in response to influenza in particular local areas. The Secretariat likewise appreciates whatever information Diocesan Offices for Worship are able to provide concerning local conditions and the pastoral responses developed by Diocesan Bishops."
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacred-art-and-music/influenza-and-the-liturgy.cfm
That was mandated by the USCCB at the time when influenza became a pandemic. However, a person infected with the flu can attend Mass and spread the virus to others. It would matter very little because there is a vaccine for the flu, and the elderly are always reminded to take their annual flu shots.
What is known about COVID-19 is that it is a little more serious than the flu. Globally, about 3.4% of reported COVID-19 cases have died. By comparison, seasonal flu generally kills far fewer than 1% of those infected. What makes it worse is that there is no available vaccine for COVID-19. A vaccine may be available by next year. In the meantime, drugs are being tested in the hopes of finding a vaccine. This takes time.
Yes, I have a right to receive communion by tongue, but I will not forgo my responsibility in keeping other people (especially those who are vulnerable to the disease) safe. I also know that when I die, God is not going to ask me HOW I consumed His Body....whether by tongue or hand. He knows that I consumed His Body.
It is not easy being a leader because every leader (including the Governor) has to weigh between protecting the rights of the people and promoting the safety of the people. Therefore, I am not going to judge those bishops who temporarily banned communion by tongue. I am certain that some of them had to ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?"
Mark 2:24-27 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
Are you then saying the governor was right in taking away our rights when she demanded the power to pass curfews?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 8:30 am,
DeleteI never said that. I said that every leader, including the governor, has to weigh between protecting the rights of the people and promoting their safety when making decisions. Personally, I do not know why the governor wanted to implement curfews. At first, I thought it was due to irrational fear until later on.
Our Catechists once said that the accusations a person makes against you have more to to with the person making the accusation. The governor has consistently said that people are violating her directives. But as it turned out, she was the one who violated her own directives when she exempted her staff member from the 14 day quarantine. That staff member was later tested positive.