Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: May 23, 2020 10:34AM
I read an article on the topic of church reopening written by Roman Catholic priest Edward Beck, who is also a CNN contributor among many other activities. I've heard several interviews and discussions with Edward Beck and find him to be well spoken, interesting and engaging.
Beck recently wrote an article on the topic of reopening churches that I found to be level-headed and rational, not surprising coming from him. Some of his comments follow below.
The article is in response to the American president's recent call to reopen America's churches. Therefore, it is inevitably political by definition. In the excerpts below I have purposely not included any comments from the article that directly address the political aspects of this question. I seek rather to outline Beck's attitude and opinions about the question of reopening churches. The bottom line, with which I heartily agree, is that a person of faith can observe their beliefs without the need for physical gathering en masse in a specific location. In the COVID-related situation of church closures and the rising clamour to reopen, hopefully most people can agree that their faith is not dependent on a building or a ritual and that mass gatherings at this time are not safe. That alone should be their answer to the reopen-the-churches question, in my opinion.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/opinions/churches-reopening-trump-covid-19-beck/index.htmlExcerpts:
“I am a Roman Catholic priest in the Passionist Community serving, at the moment, in New York. During this pandemic I have buried the dead at cemeteries — with limited family members present. I have prayed with people via FaceTime and Zoom. I even heard a confession in a supermarket parking lot.
“Priests with whom I live have blessed the sick and dying in hospitals and nursing homes. We have also celebrated virtual Masses and prayer services for countless of the faithful.
“The churches in my area have been open for individual prayer, Benediction services and Stations of the Cross, and social distancing is strongly encouraged. Priests have even paraded in processions in neighborhoods with the Blessed Sacrament in order to bring elements of the church service out to the faithful. Similarly, rabbis and imams whom I know have been doing the equivalent with their respective religious congregations. That is all "religious service."
“What most of us have not done is put ourselves and our parishioners in danger by gathering in large groups for Mass or other religious services "as usual." That would have been — and would continue to be, in this time of contagion — irresponsible and sinful. It would also violate the right to life of many. Yes, responsible action with regard to religious organizations during this pandemic is a right-to-life issue. This is a right that needs to apply to those who live after birth, too.
“…No one is prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Though we are in the teeth of a pandemic, in which a very dangerous coronavirus can be transmitted by, among other things, close physical proximity, people can and do continue to worship, albeit in temporarily altered circumstances and in novel ways. To use the "freedom of religion" argument to demand carte blanche the opening of religious venues is to proffer a fallacious argument that can potentially lead to physical harm and, in the worst case, death.
“We all want to be able to open churches and places of worship fully so that those who wish to gather in physical communion again can do so. However, this must be done incrementally and with utmost care. Physicians and health experts should be our primary guides here, and religious leaders should follow their guidance with strict and humble adherence.
“But let us take the time we need to get it right.”
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As the scripture (and the song) says: there is a time for everything.
...a time to weep and a time to laugh
a tme to mourn and a time to dance
This is a time to be rational.
Here is a brief bio of Edward Beck:
https://www.cnn.com/profiles/father-edward-beck-profile“Father Edward Beck is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Passionist Community, and serves as a CNN religion commentator.
“Ordained a priest in 1985, Father Beck has worked as a media contributor on issues of faith, religion, morality and ethics for over 10 years, contributing for ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC Family Channel, HLN and Current TV. He co-hosted Focus on Faith with Chris Cuomo for ABC News.”