Likes Mass in English
I am very much in favor of having Mass in English. One the most positive changes that the Church has made was transitioning from Latin to the vernacular.
I grew up with Latin Mass and had three years of Latin in school, but it was almost impossible to follow the Latin parts unless one had a missal with facing Latin and English pages.
It is so much better to hear the entire Mass in my native tongue. – Bill O’Connell, Williamsburg
Damage done by Hugo Black
Re: “The priest, the Klan and a wedding remembered” (Catholic Virginian, Aug. 23):
Why no mention of Justice Hugo Black’s most notorious act, his fake Wall of Separation SCOTUS opinion in 1947’s “Everson” decision that prevented public schools from helping Catholic school children?
It should be “high and impregnable” this hideous man said, falsely quoting from President Jefferson’s private letter to the Danbury Baptists, that had no force of law. – Michael Smith, Chase City
Diocese should issue mask mandate
I have been involved with implementation of diocesan COVID-19 guidance and protocols at the parish level since the beginning of the pandemic. Recent guidance provided by the diocese related to the virus’s Delta variant resurgence lacks both clarity and decisiveness. It seems that the diocese will not require mandatory action with respect to COVID protection measures unless the governor goes first.
Unfortunately, the governor is constrained by political considerations that impact his decisions. The bishop, on the other hand, has the freedom to direct actions needed to protect health and welfare without regard to politics. Diocesan COVID protocols should be simple and direct.
The CDC identified the COVID-19 Delta variant as a significant, highly transmissible health threat and recommended that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated wear masks indoors in areas with unacceptable virus transmission rates. The diocese should accept this medical guidance and implement the CDC recommendation as an enforceable mandate.
As it is, only those in classroom settings are required to wear masks (in conformance with the governor’s direction), while the decision to either wear a mask or not is left as a matter of personal choice for those attending church or participating in indoor parish activities.
This voluntary approach, as a protective measure, does nothing to ensure the safety of those attending church, where we no longer practice social distancing, and where it only takes one infected individual to prioritize his or her personal freedom over public health to put a congregation at risk.
The diocese needs to issue a simple, clear and enforceable mandate implementing CDC mask-wearing recommendations as soon as possible. – Tom Bosse, Norfolk