As states around the country begin to ease stay-at-home orders, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said churches should adopt “common sense” measures to protect worshippers and the wider community, like requiring masks, practicing social distancing and prohibiting singing.
Regarding the distribution of Communion, he said, “I think for the time being, you just gotta forestall that.”
In an interview with America on May 26, Dr. Fauci said churches in places experiencing a sustained decline in coronavirus cases can slowly take steps to reopen safely by following public health guidelines, including those released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Fauci serves on the White House’s coronavirus task force….
Asked if he thinks Communion can be distributed safely, Dr. Fauci said “no,” especially in areas still getting the virus under control. Last week, researchers said that in 24 states, especially in the South and Midwest, the coronavirus is still spreading at an epidemic rate. Dr. Fauci expressed concern not only about a shared cup for consecrated wine but also about distribution of hosts, and he suggested waiting until the outbreak is more controlled before reintroducing Communion.
“It depends on where you are,” he said. “If you are in a region, a city, a county, where there is a significant amount of infection, I think with distributing Communion, I think that would be risky. I’m telling you that as a Catholic, it would be risky.”
He said the interaction between the priest and multiple people receiving Communion makes distribution unsafe.
“As many times as a priest can wash his hands, he gets to Communion, he puts it in somebody’s hand, they put it in their mouth…it’s that kind of close interaction that you don’t want when you’re in the middle of a deadly outbreak,” he said.
A graduate of two Jesuit schools, Regis High School in New York and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., Dr. Fauci said his parents taught him the importance of service, lessons that were fortified by the Jesuits. In particular, he said Regis and Holy Cross taught him to appreciate the importance of “knowledge, facts, evidence, intellectual pursuit and intellectual honesty.”
Describing himself as a Catholic, Dr. Fauci said the values he learned from the Jesuits continue to guide him. “I identify more, much more, with that than the concept of organized churches, religions,” he said….
The above comes from a May 27 story in America magazine.
So nice that he describes himself as a Catholic, but then again, so do Biden, Pelosi, and Cuomo. None of these “Catholic” people seem to understand the importance and meaning of Holy Communion, and their personal opinions are not law. How dare they try to impose themselves into Catholic worship practices!
He’s right that the virus can be transmitted on a host or via a chalice. That’s all that’s at issue, here. Not theology. Epidemiology. That’s why going to Communion is risky in areas with a high infection rate. I don’t see how anyone rational can disagree with that reasoning or conclusion.
“He’s right that the virus can be transmitted on a host or via a chalice.”
Can you or your pal prove that statement? No?
Any evidence getting your burger or taco results in transmission? No?
Your scientific acumen is as lacking as your catechism.
Anyone who has ever taken microbiology has seen proof of that. Let’s deal in science, not opinion where lives are concerned.
Shaking hands? No!
Holy Communion? No, no!
Jumping into the sack with a stranger? Your choice!
Judge not lest you be judged. I’l take Dr F’s Jesuit training at face value. Does God require us to risk infection in times like this, especially in high risk areas?
Maybe Mike should follow his own advise about judging. And is it me, but these words of Jesus are always thrown in the faces of those who question, rightfully, the hypocrisy of the Liberal elites. And Dr. Fauci just confirmed this by saying “no to Holy Communion but “sex with strangers is your choice”!
“Dr. Fauci said the values he learned from the Jesuits continue to guide him. ‘I identify more, much more, with that than the concept of organized churches, religions,’ he said.” Is there one Jesuit-affiliated college, university or high school that is still Catholic? Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.
That quack needs to be fired.
Dr Fauci just might have noticed the usual liturgical careless, variation and lack of discipline called ‘ creativity” at work in Catholic parishes that calls into question the ability of church groups to follow rules of any sort. He would be a good ally in the cause to work for the ending the practice of communion under both species, a public health mistake from the git-go. And, of course,the sign of peace. By holding back full services we might keep the church with a better financial mooring by allowing our older members their due longevity. Their age bracket accounts for a large percentage of the offerings.l
The article’s title IMHO emtionally inflammatory in that it reads as if t o a tir the reader to a level of angry feelings of persecution. To a devout Catholic who relishes Communion, the title may imply that Fauci is anti-communion, etc. However, he speaks as a trained doctor when he suggests we wait until the virus crisis is better. This is not directed solely at Catholics. If taking communion for an individual is called upon by God, even with this virus, then do so at your own peril and those in your home. Would you risk your elderly relatives life over this?
Exactly. Someone please explain why trads have an exposed nerve about this matter and oppose prudent precautions?
Kevin T., can you explain why libs believe virtually anything said by an “expert” of the powerful elite, even if they’re indifferent or even hostile to traditional faith and morals?
I know many traditional Catholics and all I know are not opposed to prudent health precautions. Yet, they recognize that churches are not being treated like other similar public health risks: daycares, schools, big box stores, and protesters, for examples.
While gathering all the information why not let the elderly decide for themselves whether there is a risk.
And let’s not forget Fauci’s own words, which has his own crediblity in question, that he doesn’t seem to think that engaging in risky behavior like same-sex sodomy is a risk but Communion is? What a joke.
The nation is grateful to Dr Fauci for his sage advice on how to manage the pandemic during this difficult time. He is a practicing Catholic! He is trying to save lives and therefore is pro life.
Baloney. If an abortionist pulls you away from an oncoming bus, that does not make him pro life, even if he says he’s a practicing Catholic.
FHK, how is he a practicing Catholic when he says he doesn’t believe in organized church? Our Lord established a Church, the Church. Going to a Jesuit school doesn’t make one a Catholic.
FHK, you use “prolife” a lot, yet, you’ve refused to answer a couple simple questions I’ve repeatedly asked you (even though I did answer the three questions you asked me).
So, I’ll ask you only one of my previous questions, since you describe yourself as prolife and a “practicing Roman Catholic through and through.”
Do you believe that intentional abortion is always wrong?
Dr. Anthony Fauci Had Doctor Fired, Jailed For Warning That Vaccines Were Giving Americans Cancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-S0ZUJ7iFg
A good example of scientism. Def: thought or expression regarded as characteristic of scientists.
excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques. That is, showing neither faith nor common sense.
Dr. Fauxi – another of the self back patting “Catholics” damaging the Church.
We need to go back to Church, and we need the Eucharist
The Title of this article is misleading. Please in order to preserve trust with your readership, please do not mislead us. As I’m reading the comments, I feel the people only read the title. So sad
I am trying to apply logic to Dr. Fauci’s remarks. He identifies more, much more, with the values taught by the Jesuits than with the concept of organized churches or religion. Hmm.
The values of the Jesuits historically were formed in an organized church, through a rigorously disciplined organization within that church. Jesuits were once known for spiritual discipline as well as reason and logic. Ironic that a now famous pupil appears to be lacking in what he was taught in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Then again so many current members of the Society of Jesus reflect Dr. Fauci’s thinking.
Here’s an idea. Instead of calling our Masses, “worship services”, let’s call them “protests” against sin. Since most government leaders and mainstream media don’t want to enforce social distancing for protesters, we should be able to fill up our churches!!!
Well done James!
I will risk all, even possible death to receive
Jesus!! And, I have!
Jesuit-trained
pitiable
There are some examples here of people flailing at science when I suspect that they are not trained scientists themselves. The doctor is the nation’s number one expert in his field. He is not some government hack. The article didn’t say anything that would lead you to believe that he is against communion. He said taking communion depended on the level of contagion where a person lives. He is an expert in pandemics, so expect him to speak of the science. Prior to Vatican II, it was not unusual for people to only go to communion once or twice a year. Our Catholic school encouraged us to go once a month. At our “high catholic” church, communion was distributed before Mass, so that it wouldn’t interrupt the liturgy. Imagine that! The virus is growing by leaps and bounds, killing thousands each week. It is spread from one person breathing next to another, from touching something already touched by someone else who might be asymptomatic.
He maybe considered a so-called expert in his field but certainly lacks credibility when he tells those engaged in very risky behavior that it’s their “choice” whether to continue this unhealthy and dangerous practice.
“you can trust me; i’m a doctor”
looking on the bright side,
if communion is restricted,
fewer sacrilegious communions
by bogus catholic politicians
Pope Francis Says Pandemic Is ‘Nature’s Response’ to Human Inaction over Climate Change.
Restricting communion because of an overblown, over-hyped flu virus.
No wonder the Church is dying.
That’s just stupid