It has taken me a few hours to diminish the anger that surfaced when I first saw these two pictures below.
As readers will note I have taken exception to the lack of strong leadership from the church during this COVID crisis. During a time when fellowship is most needed, most urgently needed, many churches are collapsing under their own fear. This is not a good outcome.
Suffice to say, there is absolutely nothing sensible about the position of this church as pictured; NOTHING.
First, for vaccinated people there is absolutely nothing to fear from the decision of another person not to vaccinate themselves. A non-vaccinated person does not represent a greater risk to a person who is vaccinated against the COVID virus. It is abject nonsense to make any other argument.
Second, this purposeful division is akin to saying ‘good people on the right, pesky non-good people on the left’. Setting up “classes of distinction” based on voluntary compliance with a non-FDA-approved test vaccine is ridiculous in the extreme. For a faith-based organization to be doing this is beyond the pale.
There is absolutely nothing christian about dividing people based on their vaccination status. Jesus did not say “love thy neighbor” and proceed to inject a qualifying “unless” in the statement.
…”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Fellowship is critical during this COVID isolation that has befallen many people in various states where the virus has been weaponized to create fear. There is nothing more valuable than the connection we share to each other; nothing is more purposeful; nothing is more inherently spiritual than being a source of light, hope, faith and love for our family, friends and community.
I would strongly urge any faith-based organization to evaluate their messaging around the COVID-19 virus and immediately cease any overt or implied message that draws lines of division in any congregation. THAT is the job of leadership. Comfort the afflicted, and stand strong amid the evil seeking to divide our nation.
I’m not at all surprised by the reaction of the institutional church and its professional religious leaders.
The “church” is wedded to the world and Babylon is its name.
Nevertheless, the Assembly of God who consist of the called out ones, the ekkelisa of God are under the watchful care of Jesus Christ.
I do not need a church to tell me how to be a good person.
You nailed it. The Catholic Church does not represent Christians anymore. This is like the water fountains in the South years ago, one for Whites and one for Colored.
I am sad to see this comment. My parish does not have such signs. The Church is made up of sinners, all of us. Catholic teaching does not say parish priests are inerrant. (We can discuss the Ex Cathedra doctrine, reserved to the Pope, at a later date.) They and the laity make mistakes, making the beautiful mercy and forgiveness of Our Lord so AWE-some. It is unfortunate, indeed, when any visible authority of any Christian church–and aren’t we all “ambassadors for Christ”?– takes up a position that seems to put politics over Christ. For myself, I love Christ and the church He founded. I pray for holy priests and for my own personal sanctity. God bless you, FrankieZee, and all who read this post.
Did you see the video of this young pregnant woman named Diedre? She had a one year old baby in her arms and was arrested by police officers (called by the priest) because she did not have a mask on. She was arrested as she returned from communion to pray. It looks like it was the same church because the video showed the sign Sundance posts. She was arrested for trespass and told never to return to thAt church or she would be taken into custody. The police officer kept saying “it was a business” and she kept saying no it’s a church and a sanctuary. I will look for it and try to post the url here.
Of course! NEVER heard about that…unbelievable!
Why can’t we just all praise God however we feel is best for ourselves or our family’s? Why do we need a church or a “business ” to tell us how to worship in any situation?
WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY SEPARATED BY DIFFERENT BELIEFS, THIS WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. IMHO
There are nine basic personalities. Half the world are #6 and they are easily influenced by fear. Why do you think Jesus told us over and over to fear not?
Just be the best Christian you can be while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you. Be gentle, patient, kind and loving. But that doesn’t mean you relinquish control of your values
or self to make others more comfortable. As far as the church described above, use discernment. If they ask you to stay away, do so. I’m certain Jesus would do the same.
We have placed far more ability in ourselves to “ keep us safe” than the One who saved us from all this torment.
If it’s a business, then, tax them.
This makes me so sad! I’m thankful my pastor isn’t doing this! He’s a Polish immigrant & recognizes what’s going on in our country, he lived in communism If you aren’t comfortable wearing mask, he’s ok with it being off once you enter pew, since people are social distancing in pews, those who don’t wear masks respect others & wear for communion. If my church or diocese would have anyone arrested, as happened to this young mom, I would stop physically going to church & cut off all our donations & let them know why!
and the police officer explained that since the church is a “business” she must conform to their rules… the church a business? I thought Jesus threw a fit when he witnessed the church being used as a business?
Suggest some more ‘research’… churches are as much ‘political’ in their heirarchy as any other ‘business’, and ALWAYS have been, for thousands of years. This example is both sad and disgusting, and this particular church should be boycotted.
If one worships, it matters not WHERE… one can worship one’s diety anywhere.
It was on Dr. Taylor Marshall’s YT channel .
Why would she WANT to go back? Look at that church, it’s an empty tomb with only a few old people who go there because they don’t hear well enough to grasp that job of the staff is to to push the divisive narrative d’jour. They got hired because they are willing to play along.
In the 70’s the main stream churches used the issue of homosexual leaders to divide congregations. Now they use COVID.
Run away.
If they are a business, tax them like a business.
I sympathize with your sentiments DellaC. But, my local Diocese publishes a weekly newspaper. For years it supported all sorts of left-wing positions, sympathy for illegal immigrants,
social justice, guaranteed income, universal single payer healthcare, and mostly has supported Democrat politicians.
The Diocese is not an obstacle to Communism, but an enabler.
It represents me.
I may not agree with all the things the church has done with Covid, but I recognize that my parish has a large percentage of older and vulnerable members and it was prudent to take some measures.
My aged mother listens to mass every morning on EWTN. I was listening to the priest’s homily this morning as he eviscerated the progressive agenda from abortion to transgenderism. The progressive creed is evil and sinful and he laid it out in no uncertain terms.
The duty of church leadership has to the older parishioners is to quell their fear, not to cater to it. Glad to hear of the forceful homily, though. Not enough of that has been heard from the nation’s pulpits. A Canadian pastor was jailed for such talk, specifically with regard to COVID.
I agree with you and I dont understand the Conservative response to things like this. The bottom line is that if one of these elderly parishioners gets sick, no one in this comment section is going to help them. They and their family are on their own. So if they and their church want to do this to protect themselves, God Bless them.
“This is like the water fountains in the South years ago, one for Whites and one for Colored.”
A black guy tried to throw me out of an elevator the other day because I stepped in with no mask.
He was soon joined by another man emboldeed by the opportunity.
If they feared Covid they would have gotten off before confronting me. Their emotion and hatred was for me, not a virus.
The next day I went to Catholic Church and was welcomed – no mask.
There are many priests nuns and pastors standing for freedom. Seek them out
Many different Christian sects do not represent Christianity anymore. Not just the Catholic church.
By the way I’m not Catholic.
Fortunately there are some leaders in the Catholic church that do speak out about the totalitarian oppressive left garbage. The Pope punished a Cardinal for speaking out against the left BS.
There are a few non denominational churches that have not caved to the Communist woke oppression. I attended a non denominational church where half the congregation left because the Minister would not bow down to the left.
More need to start standing up to this commie destruction.
never has
DRIVE these evil places out of bz.
By that I mean do not show up. Give them NO BZ.
They have broken the 10 Commandments.
I wish I lived closer to more people like Matt!
These are the people who will not bend, not break and never give up!
I get nervous seeing FL turn more purple each election.
I will seek another area to move, where I can be around more “America loving citizens” of any race,religion or creed. AS LONG AS THEY LOVE THIS COUNTRY, Than we have plenty enough in common!??? #BeMoreOpen-minded
“THEN” we have plenty enough in common! lol (words have meanings)
I wish more people were that simple!
This story dovetails nicely with this post by C.J. Hopkins (who strikes me as a Leftie, but who is “woke” to the “Great Reset” Corporatist Fascism that is “building back better” from its earlier iterations in the 1930’s:
https://cjhopkins.substack.com/p/the-unvaccinated-question?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNDc5NDcyOCwicG9zdF9pZCI6MzQ1MzQxNzgsIl8iOiJXbEU0dCIsImlhdCI6MTYxNzEwNTcyOSwiZXhwIjoxNjE3MTA5MzI5LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjk4MDU3Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.3xTnavCWIhZv9sLc7cGprM_E2u_8d2R9qaUcmLOisTA
Thanks for the link…an excellent article.
Remember “White” and “Colored”? If you don’t you should read up on it.
I grew up an Army Brat and lived mingled with multiple races since I was a kid. When I moved to Dallas in the early eighties I was shocked when reviewing old architectural drawings for a hospital renovation project, that the plans had details for “Colored Restrooms”. I’d heard of such things but had never encountered it. By the 80s for sure this was a thing of the past. Now the left is reinstituting it with regard to all sorts of categories, including race yet again, but this time the latter is seen as a good thing. Insane and evil.
Because you know, viruses can’t jump the magic 6 ft distance. Where is my “eyeroll” emoticon?
The last time I was told I had to wear a mask to have my order taken, I asked why they didn’t make exceptions as per the governor’s mandate. I was told anyone who couldn’t wear a mask could just use the drive through window. I left that business without purchasing from them. I really wanted to point out that requiring unmasked people to use the drive through window was comparable to what they told black people in the 50s. Wish I had.
The ages old Divide and Conquer strategy is now being pushed in places of worship. A disgrace! it is bad enough that people are lining
up for poison and giddily virtue signaling when they receive their second dose. Stupidity is not a virtue. I thought people were smarter than that. I was wrong.
This is the New World Order test. How much tyranny are we willing to accept? Apparently quite a lot! Apparently pastors have sold out.
Freedom vs Tyranny, it really is that simple!
I agree! These mask everywhere are making me sick to stomach.
It felt sooo good, when I traveled through Tennessee not long ago, seeing very little mask at all on there residents.
Florida is still about 75% or so masked up. Smh
The compliance is scary as hell!
There is no freedom or liberty among people who refuse to practice morals and virtues toward one another.
I take my strength from Jesus and from Christian martyrs who, until this very day, have given their lives for the “holy catholic”church. Small “c” catholic means universal. And the universal Christian church exists in the hearts and minds of Christians around the world, regardless of what awful governments tell them to do. My fellow Christians, it is up to us to be fearless and to stand up against this tyranny, at home, at work AND at worship!!! And if we fail to do so, well, what miserable wretches we are! Throw off the chains, gather together as free men and women and sing out, God is Great!!!
God resides in your heart. Pews not necessary. The real work of God happens in the one on one interactions you have with mankind every day…which is why we have been quarantined.
I have not been in a church for quite some time. God has been with me every moment. Jesus Christ has never left my side and never will.
Amen to that!! Just got done commenting on same idea. Religion and belief is within our hearts and minds, not just a building with a cross.
Yesterday, it was mentioned, brilliantly, if the democrats have no problem requiring proof of vaccination, they should have no problem with voter ID. Unless of course they want to disenfranchise the poor………hahahahaha
The other message being sent here is that the vaccines don’t work. You cannot urge people to get vaccinated and at the same time tell them that the non-medical restrictions will continue without people noticing the contradiction and coming to the conclusion that they are being lied to about one or the other.
That realization would require thinking for oneself, which is in rare supply these days.
Why do both signs require masks and social distancing? Do the church leaders not understand what a vaccine does?
People in my state are being told that even after they get the non-vaccine shot they still must wear a mask, social distance and “be careful”. No one who has gotten the non-vaccine shot can explain to me why that is. Also, why are they insisting that those who have already gotten COVID and survived just fine still need to get the non-vaccine shot? Don’t they understand natural immunity and antibodies?
SMH… again.
I’m continually thankful that my church in AZ only closed for the 6 weeks at the beginning of the pandemic. On-line from the first day to today, but in person since May 2020.
Today, over 800 worship on a Sunday, Masks are not required (few wear them) food and coffee is self-serve and life is pretty normal. We never had a breakout.
People are able to self-police. Those uncomfortable stayed home, those sick stayed home. It’s what responsible people do without government oversight or bullying.
Kinda sounds like the old normal.
God bless you also DellaC, but you will never find a holy priest except Jesus. A saint is just a sinner saved by grace. Saint means set apart which we have been by the Lord. That’s why I never became one until I left the Catholic Church. Please put your faith in Christ alone.
Found in the bin…. 🙁
“A non-vaccinated person does not represent a greater risk to a person who is vaccinated against the COVID virus.” Joebama wearing his bandit’s mask, flitted across my TV screen briefly yesterday and my wife said, ‘Does he have any idea how stupid he looks? He’s been vaccinated!’ I replied, ‘He doesn’t even know where he is, never mind how he looks…’
Isn’t it too hard and racist for black people to get a vaccine and passport ? Asking for a white liberal, virtue signaling friend.
The 17th and 18th century “clergy” that made up the French first estate has been resurrected I see.
… today’s pastors are more PC than Christian… looks better… they think. I told a friend priest that if I hear in church the same things I hear in the media, I’ll stay home.
Abject nonsense is exactly right.
We have taken the position, as a society, that it doesn’t matter what the facts tell us, the people in charge say x, so we believe x, we do x and above all we ridicule, fear and ostracize anyone who doesn’t do x. None of this ends well.
Great Post! Thanks. FACT is a four-letter word that few recognize anymore.
That behavior has a name. It’s called the Expert Syndrome. People won’t critically evaluate the words of ANYONE who claims to be an expert. Social media and television propaganda have caused it to be a pandemic.
Why does the CTH homepage look normal as to width, but when you click on an article/post, it doubles the width?
I am using a Brave browser.
I’m getting that formatting too but same thing on Edge. I’m using Dissenter based on Brave. I think it has something to do with the large format pictures people post.
Thank you, Sundance, for posting this. Maddening and saddening.
A Roman proverb asserts that “it is unbecoming for a Roman soldier to fear while Caesar is alive.”
I assert that it is unbecoming for a Christian to fear while Jesus is alive. Nay, it is unbiblical: Isaiah 41:10.
Fear is the root of all evil.
Actually, it is ……the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
1 Timothy 6:10
false prohets
“The Church” mentioned here has always been way to cozy with marxism and totalitatianism.
Yep! And that FACT has been conveniently ignored for hundreds of years.
This is anti-Christian and therefore anti-Christ. It’s legslism in the worst possible sense. The kind that Jesus warned the Pharisees about. Loving rules instead of people. If anyone reading this goes to a church like this this is a huge red flag. It’s time to find a new church.
While this post has generated an interesting conversation, I am viewing this picture with a healthy degree of skepticism. Without a verified source, it’s easier for me to believe that it came from the Babylon Bee than an actual church.
Others have reference this GP article in which the picture appears:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/03/unreal-pregnant-catholic-woman-arrested-holy-mass-not-wearing-mask-ratted-pastor-video/
At around the 15:00 min mark, Dr. Taylor Marshall says a priest just sent him the picture from Florida and they have segregated the church . He gives no other identifiable information such as the name or location of the church or the name of the priest.
https://twitter.com/sallyKP/status/1376585218237333511
So both groups of people have to wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart. The separation between the two groups is to ostracize and shame the non-vaccinated worshippers.
But at the same time they add in the idea that those who want to “play it safe” should sit with the non-vaccinated people. Then they put the Big Blue Check Mark to show that
“Fully Vaccinated” is the approved method of Worshipping God. There is so much nonsense in their “science”. If I had entered that church and was greeted by that then I would
have turned around and never returned.
Stupid needs to be rewarded with rejection.
Would Jesus have rejected the lepers if the church demanded it?
Love thy neighbor as thyself comes to mind.
more people died in the USA in 2019 then died in 2020. explain
If that is a ‘fact’, then my previous post “explains” it.
I quit giving these leeeches money years ago.
I took my tithe and gave it to people who actually do some good with it. My favorites are Blue/Gold Star Mothers and Make a Wish.
I can have a personal relationship with my Creator. I don’t need some leftist clown to tell me how to live, because I have my Owners Manual that tells me everything said clown does without their progressive interpretation.
In business we have a saying. You ain’t been screwed until you been screwed by a Christian. My family used to groan every time we saw one of our brethren pull into our business. Always wanting things for free or super discounted because we we part of the “Brotherhood”.
Funny how that always only went one direction. Growing up we had two ministers that were rock solid steady and walked the walk. They are gone and the the clowns talked their way into the leadership.
There is a reason Churches are failing.
I haven’t given to a church building in years. Probably never will again. I don’t give to charities either – don’t trust them. An anti-abortion organization who fundraises specifically to meet a pregnant woman’s needs in order to encourage her to choose life, the homeless people we see on the side of the street – we give directly to the source. Churches? Hah. None of the so-called “churches” or “charities” around here have helped us at all, even when we desperately needed it, except the crisis pregnancy center.
Maybe nobody was there for you when you needed help because too many people think and act like you.
It is hard thankless work to run nonprofits. So much good is done. They feed the hungry, house the homeless and so much, much more.
Smearing all because of the actions of a few is the same as saying all Christian churches are bad. Lots of thriving, living churches full of fellowship and grace in every town in America. You just didn’t bother to look.
Giving money directly to people on the side of the street goes for drugs and doesn’t keep the shelters operating so don’t be patting yourself on the back for it.
Support the nonprofits that show results and quit smearing all churches.
Oh, really? Didn’t look, huh?
Homeless shelter? Wouldn’t help, “no room” and they get paid per bed so they don’t help anyone not actually a resident. Food bank? Needed an address. Salvation Army? “You have to apply and then we have a 60 day approval period, and another 30 days before the rental allowance – 50% of the rent due – is paid out.” Churches? “Oh, you’re not a member of our church, we can’t help you.” Didn’t look? We spent forever looking.
No, the money given to the homeless on the side of the street *doesn’t* go to drugs, not around here. You know how I know? Because I’ve been one of those people. Because I’ve taken those people into Walmart with me, and bought them a sandwich and a water, a pack of cookies, a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter.
My mother was in the local homeless shelter for awhile after her stroke. They refused to make any exceptions, threw all the residents outside at 6 AM rain or shine, 5 minutes until 6 PM the door was unlocked and at 6 promptly it was re-locked. Nobody got enough to eat. Clothes and personal items went missing from the laundry on a regular basis… and staff were the only ones allowed to do the laundry. Donations lined the pockets of ‘volunteers.’
You want to talk about people like you? I’ve been one of those people, on both sides of the equation. And no, churches didn’t help. “Non-profits” didn’t help. The only help we have ever gotten was from generous, loving individuals. And I can’t speak for your town, but around here, that’s the only help that is ever given.
I believe one of the best is St. Judes Children’s Hospital.
I agree 100%. I have given there as well.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/rSVhcjbMl3Zb/
Listen to Fr. James Altman’s homily from Palm Sunday. This is how the Gospel relates to our present day lives. Truth!
Father Altman speaks with authority and, in doing so, sets himself apart from our modern day scribes.
Another notable fact about those pictures is the dearth of worshippers. the website DISRN posted this article:
“U.S. church membership falls below 50% for first time in history”
While the drop isn’t all due to COVID – it’s been dropping for years – the actions of the organized church this past year has been another huge nail in the coffin. I hate to admit it, but after my church offered no resistance to the COVID scam – not even verbal – and also jumped on the BLM bandwagon, flagellating itself over imagined racial sins, I stopped attending. I’m not sure when I’ll return.
My family and I left the SBC over three years ago. We do not attend any church at this juncture. No church that we have visited teaches the unvarnished Gospel any longer.
No church that we visit has quiet and thoughtful music, either. Why, exactly, is there a need for a rock-n-roll concert during a WORSHIP service?!
My current church was SBC. Last year, when I raised the issue of that organization’s leadership moving toward acceptance of intersectionality, noting that there was an opposition group of SBC pastors, I discovered that the church leadership knew nothing about the issue!
Yet another of the many intended consequences. They wanted to control the people. And that’s just what they did. People don’t realize what martial law is. THIS is martial law.
My local church – Holy Trinity in Dallas.
The Judas Priests called the police on one of thier own………………I have to ask. WWJD?
I am ashamed of the Diocese for supporting this kind of action. I have about had enough. They encourage illegal immigration and turn on one of their own flock for not wearing a mask.
She has been BANNNED from entering the church. Imagine that, someone of faith who was receiving the sacrament of The Eucharist, Banned !
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2021/03/29/deirde-hariston-holy-trinity-catholic-church-mask/
Is that the same as excommunication or can she attend another church, perhaps in another, nearby parish?
Sorry for sounding ignorant. I grew up with scads of Catholic friends, but never understood
the aspects of attendance and ‘membership’ for the confirmed.
Gar, I think she can go to another parish. She is not excommunicated, and I am pretty sure her canonical rights were violated, although I am not a canon lawyer. Actually, it has been interesting to learn just what are the rights and/or duties of both laity and clergy. Laity have more “rights” than people probably realize.
Here’s the blog:
https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2020/07/30/can-we-be-required-to-wear-masks-at-mass/
Thank you for the reply and the link! Very interesting. I pray for this dear mother. God bless.
Thanks, Gar!
Think about it… excommunication is just another “fear” to obtain CONTROL.
Actually, I think her canonical rights were violated. There’s an interesting blog on canon law that’s really been helpful in these times.
Here’s the blog:
https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2020/07/30/can-we-be-required-to-wear-masks-at-mass/
I was raised and confirmed Catholic, I left the church because it’s nothing more than an ole boys club for primarily perverts and women haters. Not surprised didn’t the Vatican hide stolen Jewish art
for the Nazis?
Great post Sundance. I agree and have felt the American Church and leaders have not taken the preverbial bull by the horns. A majority have been cowards. We need more Joshuas and Gideons in this day.
Seems like there was once a time when people were made to wear a yellow star to identify them…they are doing this because they can get away with it.
No action by those presently in charge of the Catholic Church will cause me to willingly separate myself from the Holy Eucharist. I’ll get it to go, like those that are too sick to attend, if needs be.
Since its Holy Week, Jonathan Cahn does an excellent job of combining the profound concepts of salvation in both Jewish and Christian belief systems. He does an excellent job overall of uniting Jewish and Christian scriptures and belief systems together. Since he was a Jewish rabbi that has converted to Christianity, his understanding of the Bible is likely very close to the early Christians, having been raised in the Jewish tradition and yet Christian.
Other contemporary authors such as Dr. Scott Hahn and Brad Pitre have excellent works on how “the old (Testament) is revealed in the new, and the new is concealed in the old,” to paraphrase I think St. Augustine.
The St. Paul Center has a lot of quality material on this subject, much of it free and online
Spaul, you might like Roy Schoeman. He too is a Jewish convert to Catholicism and his understanding of the Catholic faith is rich.
Here is a sample of his podcasts:
https://salvationisfromthejews.com/wp3/2021/03/27/march-27-2021-why-the-last-supper-was-a-passover-seder/
Correction to my comment: Jonathan Cahn is not Catholic.
Found in the bin… 🙁
The church is, after all, a political organization – this quote strikes a chord:
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out… without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” H L Mencken
At a time when fewer young people are going to Church this is a death sentence to them.
The DFW area parish hauled a pregnant woman out who was not masked and the Parish has had the gall to defend the act. The RCC has long been a non-Christian organization and the degree to which it is is coming out now.
What is happening here? This entire page is running out of it’s borders! Is it only my machine, or are others seeing it, too?
I’m getting it, too, and have have seen it a handful of other times since the switch to the new site. It’s not browser-related, either.
Yeah, saw another post about it a while ago – said it has to do with posting an oversize picture (like was done here), then it messes up the whole thread.
It’s been since 2.0 launched, but my money is on Sundance’s magic elves finding and fixing it! Bless ’em all!!!
Our church is finally opening for Eater Sunday. The Pastor sent us an entire page of rules and regulations that must be observed. I
read it over and thought, “I can wait.”
Sorry for the typo on Easter. Is there some way to edit?
When you post, and for a while after, moving the rodent to the lower right brings up a gear symbol.
Clicking on it allows editing.
Dont wait. Your soul needs church. The rules sent to you are just to cover their butts, go in as you please as a normal person, it is intimidating the first time, but set things straight right away, you are a free person cone to worship God, not health safety. You may find you are in good company, try to get some like minded friends to go with you- strength in numbers. This is how you fight for your God given rights, and not let them be taken away. Everyone wants to know what they can do, this is it. My family is the only unmasked group in church, but we made the statement the first day of reopening and have been there disobeying the scolds every week, it’s our right to be there. I hope more people start acting like brave americans and join me soon.
It is all about irreconcilable division through fear, moral superiority and control. This “outbreak” and the masks are just one manifestation of highly planned pshycological manipulation.
Like those at the top of our government and multinational corporations, the totalitarians have woven their evil minions in the
church management and charities.
“Faith Based Initiatives” I think is what they called it
My church never masked; not one day. It never social distanced. For the first two covid lockdown Sundays, it combined services with another church about 50 miles away of the same affiliation and one service was added to their regular schedule (I never could figure even why). After that, business as usual Our priest did lay down one rule, “If you’re sick, stay home. If you think you’re sick, stay home. If you’re coughing or sneezing, stay home. There’s nothing new about this.” It wasn’t this, “Be kind, mask up” bs (bullshit). It was “Be normal and considerate like you were raised” which is why so many Democrats have such a problem with it.
I would sit anywhere I like; usually the right side, half way up the aisle. I’ll confess at the Sacrament of Reconciliation later. Then I saw this from Ann Barnhardt:
https://www.barnhardt.biz/2021/03/28/toldya-behold-the-antichurch-is-tearing-off-its-mask-no-sacrament-of-confession-for-those-without-the-deathjab-by-gates-tm/
I am also really disappointed in all of this. I’m not a church goer, but I value church goers and Christians in general. When I started seeing churches in my area “rebelling” by holding in-person services from their cars, I was very happy to see it. Other places were all going “online” and that, to me, is garbage.
Some people say what they need or don’t need but churches are often times the center of community. It’s as much about God as it is about being with the fellow man. I wanted to see a LOT more fight than we have seen. And where I work, most people here are supposed to be Christian. I wanted to see more…. so sad.
Love thy neighbor, except…Catholics who intend to remain Catholic and practice their faith. I’m passionately, devoutly, loyally Catholic. I do not believe I have ever chosen to attack anyone on this site for choosing to represent and speak of their faith. Yes, I speak out when someone is blatantly insulting, and here lately several of us admins have put some commenters in moderation for anti-Semitic talk. But I respect your choices, and I won’t judge Methodists if I read that one pastor made bad choices, or I don’t like the lady down the street who is Baptist I am not thinking they are all jerks.
A lot of you here are painting with a broad brush, and you are judgements, uninformed, uncharitable, and wrong.
Menagerie, 30 years ago the music began to be changed. A Mighty fortress is our God, All things Bright and Beautiful were abandoned for new stuff. Okay I go along with it but complain. TRADITION!!!
Muscular “women” with facial hair moved in from Southern California. Bums especially with aids were celebrated and given the body and blood before we regulars. Our men stopped attending alltogether.
so, I put up with it. I figured if Christ could put up with it who was I. UNTIL so many years passed and I put up with it. Instead of being uplifted I became so ANGRY after each service but I thought about
the Christ saying about bringing a sword UNTIL the last sermon and it was announced in the bulletin. The announcement read SERMON: CHRIST THE BISEXUAL so, that was it. I gathered my
Prayer Book, hymnal, hat gloves and quietly departed.
If Christ is still putting up with that crap I wonder about him.
Thought of going to Methodist church nearby town. discovered the male pastor is married to another guy and they kiss in front of the few old ladies who go.
Not all parishes are that way. If you walked into the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, TN you would find, whether it be Novus Ordo, Ancient form, or the Spanish NO the liturgy and music you remember. And reverence like you’ve never seen. It has, to my knowledge never been said, but I believe the priests would never give the Eucharist to a known public supporter of abortion. This isn’t the only parish where I’ve seen good priests and solid liturgical practices.
And I’ve seen what you describe in other places. Whether the priest is left or right, reverent and orthodox of wearing and rainbow chasuble is irrelevant. I am going because of the Body of Christ, and I won’t ever give that up.
Menagerie, thank you. I am really hurting. Small town coastal Oregon here. I really miss the fellowship the singing the wassailaing the covering (shrouding) of good Friday the celebrations the moveable feasts.
I just do not understand why the Christ allows this. I must be the wrong one.
merrie, I am so sorry for your situation. This is truly a tough epoch. I do keep remembering the Scripture that where evil abounds, grace abounds even more. My thinking is we are in Niagara Falls/tsunami level torrents of grace at this point.
I travel about 25 minutes to get to my current parish with such a holy pastor. However, I have lived in various states over the years and attend Mass when we travel, and I know it can be hard to find what you’re looking for. My daughter and granddaughter are in such a situation now. They live where every bad liturgical idea has gone to be enshrined while other locales have moved on from them.
I, too, miss the general Catholic culture. There are pockets of it, and I will pray for you to find it, even online if you have to, but in person, too. Please pray for me. Truly, I feel you pain through the screen. Know that you are not alone. Menagerie is right that we can’t separate ourselves from the Body of Christ in the Eucharist; you are carrying a heavy cross, though. I know at first it sounds extreme, but if possible, maybe you could move. Because I have finally lived where there’s a truly supportive, holy, prayerful parish, I don’t think I could ever go back again to what you describe.
Merrie, read your Bible for understanding. the Bible warns repeatedly what would happen in the last days.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
—2 Thessalonians 2:3
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
—2 Peter 3:3-4
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
—2 Timothy 3:1,7
“If Christ is still putting up with that crap I wonder about him.”
You mean you don’t know why he “puts up” with the crap as you say? Because He is a God of grace. He just but He is
patient. How long did he “put up” with the ancient Canaanites? The Assyrians? The Babylonians? The Egyptians?
The Israelites?:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 1Pet 3:9.
I am not Catholic but I do know that a number of folks here are devout Catholics and because of that I have chosen to keep my views on the RC church to myself.
I am always against “attacking” my own.
That said, the guy in Rome does not fall under my self imposed reservation. I have no respect for him. He is a detriment to his church and to Christianity.
My husband, 6 children (all under 10) and I were rudely kicked out of Sunday Mass in SC by ushers after other parishoners Karen-ed us about our non-masking. (We were visiting on a lenten pilgrimage, our home parish has not kicked us out over non-masking) I complained by letter to the priest who -dispite what the Texas diocese says about priests being allowed to require masks- by cannon law cannot place such barriers between the faithful and the reception of Catholic sacraments (canonlawmadeeasydotcom). And the preist gave my contact details to catholic social services, who sends me text messages asking how my mental and emotional health are today. Double insulting failure.
The Catholics leadership is failing its flock. And each time the leadership fails and hurts its flock it demands the flock be forgiving, kind and charitable while leadership looks into the issue, though it never offers repentance, apology or reparation.
The doctorine is sound, how can the leadership not understand it be so much of the time?
I’m also at a loss of what I more I can do to improve things.
Dear lord, how long must we suffer.
NeighborlyM,
There are no words.
The obvious response would be to randomly swap the signs.
I’d do it in a heart beat.
Churches have been put into the same bin as pro sports for me – I don’t support or attend either anymore.