CovID-19
catholicregister.org March 22, 2020 3
BY MICHAEL SWAN AND BRIAN DRYDEN Canadian Catholic News
Faith communities across Canada are answering a call to make sac- rifices to their faith practices in the national battle to control the spread of the COVID-19. Catholic dioceses across the country are accepting recommen- dations from health officials to limit the size of gatherings, which means the suspension of Masses and cancellation of a wide range of other parish activities. Canada's largest diocese, the Archdiocese of Toronto, has cancelled all public daily and Sunday Masses, placed restric- tions on baptisms and marriages, postponed First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirma- tion and limited most parish ac- tivities. The move was taken after the Ontario government declared a state of emergency and banned public gatherings of more than 50 people. Cardinal Thomas Collins called this a "painful moment in the life of the Church" but hoped the "extreme measures" will help stem "the pandemic that has affected so many in our community and around the world." We are facing many trials during our Lenten journey this year," he said in a statement. As several dioceses across Canada announced wide-rang- ing cancellations, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) issued a statement calling on Catholics to "heed" public health directives. Those directives from provin- cial health authorities changed fre- quently during a chaotic week, but in essence they confirmed a health crisis and advised against public gatherings. Several provinces have capped public gatherings at 50 people. "If those (health authorities) indicate that we shouldn't be gathered for the sake of the greater and the common good, then we would necessarily make those decisions for the sake of those who are suffering and who have died," said Calgary Bishop William McGrattan prior to cancelling all Masses in the diocese until at least Palm Sunday on April 5. As the country moved towards an unprecedented shutdown of schools, work places, government buildings, restaurants and other public spaces,Quebec was the first province to impose harsh restric- tions. There, bishops asked families to reschedule funerals, weddings and baptisms and suspended all parish gatherings, including weekday and Sunday Masses. Similar precautions were expected be enacted across the county. In Ontario, where the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, weekend Masses on March 14-15 were cancelled in the dioceses of Toronto, Ottawa, London and Pe- terborough after the chief medical officer recommended cancelling all gatherings of 250 or more. Three days later, the number was lowered to 50, effectively cancel- ling upcoming Sunday Masses in most parishes across the province. "Our primary concern is the spiritual and physical health and welfare of the faithful and all those who serve at our parishes, recog- nizing that we have a duty to care for the community at large and the most vulnerable among us," Collins said in a statement. Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast said it was the Church's "civic duty" to follow the directives of public health authori- ties. But Church leaders must not abandon people in a time of crisis, Prendergast said, "During this time, when there is understandable anxiety among so many, the Church has an important role to play through our outreach ministries. Particu- lar care should be taken to ensure that the vulnerable are not alone," he said. In Edmonton, Archbishop Richard Smith, who went briefly into self-isolation before testing negative for COVID-19, cancelled all weekday and weekend Masses. "Let us accept this as our civic duty at this time, and offer this moment in sacrifice to God for the sake of all who are ill from the COVID-19 virus," he said. Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver called for "creativ- ity and compassion" from pastors and parish staff in dealing with the health crisis. The archdiocese announced it would attempt to maintain weekend Masses but a 50-person limit set by the govern- ment "must be observed." "Parishes should explore op- portunities to creatively connect with vulnerable parishioners - perhaps this is through phone calls and/or visits where appropriate," Miller said. "It would be an act of charity to check with elderly or shut-in neighbours to see if they require assistance as they are at risk of social isolation or increased vulnerability if they must leave home to shop for essentials." In Halifax, Archbishop Anthony Mancini suspended all weekday and weekend Masses, as well as all liturgical gatherings, but asked that churches remain open for private prayer and adoration. The smaller diocese of Antigon- ish enacted precautions but, as of March 17, was not cancelling Masses. "Let all of us pray for those affected with the virus, for those who are feeling distress as a result of it, and for healthcare workers who devote themselves generously to serving those in need," Mancini said. All four dioceses in New Brunswick and the Archdiocese of St. John's, Nfld., cancelled weekend Masses until further notice.
BY BRIAN DRYDEN Canadian Catholic News
OTTAWA
As communities rally to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of the Catholic Civil Rights League said any concerns that government-mandated church closures infringe on religious freedom rights are unwarranted. Philip Horgan, an Ontario-based lawyer, called these unprecedented times as countries across the globe try to staunch the spread of COVID-19. He said faith com- munities should play a part in helping to contain the virus. "In the current environment all of the intentions of the limits on large gatherings is to decrease the increasing onslaught of disease," Horgan said. Concerns about religious freedom in light of government and public health requests to limit the size of public gather- ings are not warranted at this time, he said. "There are other ways that people can practice their faith and churches will have to adjust as this situation goes on," he said. He compared it to how churches comply with other safety and health regulations. "Cities have fire regulations about how many people can be in a building and churches of course follow those regulations," he said. "This is not some effort on the part of government to deny people their right to worship." Horgan is hopeful practices such as social distancing and size-limited gatherings will be short-lived inconveniences, although this may be the new normal for months to come. "I have a suspicion that we are going to be facing this issue for six to 12 months," he said. "This is not something that you do for a couple of weeks and then the virus goes away." Although federal and provincial govern- ments have not instituted punitive measures for Canadians who try to gather in public - unlike countries such as Italy and Spain - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on Canadians to make sacrifices for the common good. At a March 16 press conference in front of his Ottawa home, where he has been in isolation ever since his wife Sophie Gregoire- Trudeau tested positive for COVID-19, Trudeau said Canadians "as much as possible, should stay at home." He announced measures that include a ban on all non-Canadians except for Americans from entering Canada.
Faith communities join the fight
Churches close across country to stem the spread of COVID-19
Churches remain open for prayer, but Sunday Masses have been put on hold across much of Canada.
(Photo by Michael Swan)
Phil Horgan
Everyone must do their part, says civil rights league
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