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December 1, 2020
Maureen O’Riordan Lundy
San Francisco
As I listen to Bishop Barron’s discussion of the McCarrick Report and the admissions that the right people were made aware, again and again, and that not only individuals failed but the whole system failed – I have a sinking feeling that we are witnessing the same unwieldy process at this moment, again, in another arena.
Our Catholic identity is presence, sacramental presence; can this be put on hold depending on circumstances beyond human control? Every homily, every call to prayer, even the call of the Gospel itself is mitigated by the absence of liturgy and sacraments. What might be a time of evangelization may only be perceived as a time of tentative uncertainty.
Once again it feels like the church (those of us in the pews) must wait on the slow cumbersome decision-making process of the hierarchy.
The next call from civil authorities to shutdown may come at any time. Do we have a plan, or will we simply have no Christmas as we had no Easter? Will anyone announce clearly and unequivocally that there will be Mass regardless, that there will be Eucharist and essential sacraments, regardless?
We have been very clearly and completely educated in masking, sanitizing and distancing. Please, let us not hear that you, our priests will celebrate Mass in private and pray for us!
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