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This is a genuinely thoughtful and informed argument from a Christian perspective *against* the idea that churches should be excepted from lockdown rules: https://unfinishedtheology.home.blog/2020/11/03/excepting-churches-from-lockdown-the-case-against/ /1
Obviously, when thinking this through we’d want to consider other things too, like the @CatholicVoices briefing in favour of exceptions, national rates of worship, and how at least one Covid cluster has been explicitly linked to an Antrim Presbyterian community. /2
While emphasising the importance of sacraments, we should avoid the line that we need to receive the Eucharist frequently, since in the great age of faith that was the Middle Ages, reception was rarity, with eg St Louis just receiving six times a year. /3
This may be desirable - I’ve found that it is - but equally, familiarity can breed contempt, and we all know that Ireland’s frequently-receiving Church hasn’t exactly produced a proportionate amount of fruits in recent decades. Absence can indeed make the heart grow fonder. /4
Neither should we fall into the trap of thinking that the CMO etc have said Mass is less important than haircuts. On the contrary: in September the context Ronan Glynn put Church attendance in when talking of trade-offs was healthcare, education, and workplaces. /5
Comparing attending Mass to going to the hairdressers is simply not comparing like with like. It’s more like when you do ratios in school: Mass is to exercise classes as Confession is to haircuts and as private prayer is to individual exercise. /6
In other words, group activities entailing discretionary social contact (and coordinated movements to and from places) were cut back at Ireland’s level three, as trade-offs to allow education and lots of businesses to continue. Things are different at level five, of course. /7
As it stands, then, while I get the arguments against restoring public Masses, I think if we are to push for this, we should avoid shoddy arguments and stress the importance of using the rest of the Church’s devotional toolbox too. We can draw on a rich heritage, after all. /end
