Catholics try to “save Easter”
Religious believers seem to find it reasonable to want exceptions to pandemic measures. Now a Rosemont group is petitioning for an exception to the limit of 10 people per gathering so they can “save Easter”. I don’t know how you get across to such people that you can’t negotiate with a pandemic. The virus does not care who you are or what you believe.
Easter this year is on April 4.
Meezly 11:10 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
Religiosity and rationality does not coexist very well together.
azrhey 12:06 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
Matthiew 6:6 : ( 6:2 to 6:8 really, as it talks about doing charity in secret so you do it for the goodness not the rewards )
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
….
I am not religious these days, but I was raised a good catholic,and I always found HILARIOUS when we would read “go to your room to pray” in a church full of people….
….
So for the Christian flavour of religious people.. Matthiew 6:6 damn it!
Daisy 13:02 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pray with other people who are also there to pray. It means you shouldn’t parade your religiosity in front of other people in order to impress them, by praying in the streets.
These days showing signs of religiosity in public is not likely to impress others, so some of us believers are more apt to hide our signs of religiosity. Other person: “What are you doing this weekend?” Me:”Not much.” (making no mention of attending synod, going on a retreat, etc.) It’s like I’m scared people will find out and think, possibly like Meezly above, that I am a irrational person (and other similar ideas).
Meezly 13:39 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
I was trying to make a distinction with the use of “religiosity” for certain people who believe that making exceptions in their “need” to gather together should be considered acceptable and exceptional, like general rules shouldn’t apply to them. Rationality often doesn’t seem to enter into these arguments.
Of course religious and spiritual people can also be rational; there are many believers and spiritually-minded people who are scientists, academics, etc etc.
Daisy 15:56 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
Did you read the article? They want the same rules as in stores, e.g. varying according to the size of the premises. Is that irrational?
Meezly 16:36 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
To be honest, I stopped reading when I got to this quote:
«Les intervenants pastoraux sont en quelque sorte en première ligne pour répondre aux besoins spirituels des croyants»
If I asked a frontline healthcare worker if this was a rational comparison, what do you think their answer will be?
jeather 17:22 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
At a supermarket, I avoid the other shoppers and don’t talk. This is not how people are interacting in a religious space.
Tim S. 20:05 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
Meezly, I would say that quote makes a lot of sense. I worry sometimes that in a non-religious society, many of the services traditionally offered by a local religious figure no longer exist, and we’ll come to miss them – at funerals, for example. In this situation -and during life in general – many people might appreciate some pastoral support. This kind of care doesn’t necessarily require gathering in person in large numbers, but I wouldn’t dismiss it as a concept.
Meezly 21:09 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
Let’s get this straight. Assuming we have all read the article, yes?
First, why are people responding as if I’m advocating for an outright ban on pastoral support? I am not. The quote makes sense in the context of gatherings with a maximum of 10 people. No one is being denied pastoral support.
The quote does not make sense in the context of the petition, which is to increase the maximum limit for Easter. Is it not possible to find solace in pastoral support with less than 10 people? Am I missing something as a non-believer? Are believers not able to use technology like zoom, like everyone else is doing during the second wave of the pandemic?
The quote also does not make sense in the current reality which I assume we’ve been keeping abreast of as much as we can, especially being aided by this useful site, which we all have access to. Examples of our current reality:
Quebec has already surpassed 10,000 deaths (as Kate asked, have we really become numb to this fact??)
In this context, does it not seem a little astounding for church leaders to be petitioning the gov’t to make a special case for Easter?
There is a more highly infectious new Covid variant (if not more) circulating in communities. This new variant (or variants) is not going to disappear in time for Easter!
As jeather has helpfully pointed out, you go into a supermarket, you do what you need to do and then you GTFO. Not at all like a place of worship.
Also, we ALL need to feed ourselves with food. Only a small percentage of the population needs religious nourishment, but if you were to ask a frontline healthcare worker if we could make a special exception for believers so they can gather in larger numbers for Easter, do you think they would be sympathetic to that concept?
Meezly 21:34 on 2021-02-12 Permalink
One more question…
If Easter has been around for as long as Christ has risen, then why does it need saving?
Uatu 12:49 on 2021-02-13 Permalink
The local church held a Easter Mass using FB last year. Don’t see why these people can’t as well