I have never been a fan of following anyone .....it's basically boils down to trusting human beings ......i had a father ....a wise man .....i trusted him ....that's it ........but since i am not religious at all....... and do not believe in religions ......paths....... ways ......beliefs......cultures ......etc.......etc.....
But there are people that will put their lives in the hands of a man in cloth .......not sure why......but they do .. ....and religion is massive especially in countries like Africa and south america .....huge ......the likes of Joe Olsteen ......karl bonke ......just a couple to mention...... who amass vast profits off to what i call a business......too me religion is a business......but to each his own way .....or however you get your salvation is up to you .......but to tell people god is going to help you in these times .....is a bad call......
A pastor who told congregants not to be afraid of the coronavirus was hospitalized with COVID-19
- A Catholic pastor has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation after writing several articles advising his congregants not to fear the virus.
- Washington, D.C. health officials told those who attended recent services to quarantine after Monsignor Charles Pope of the Holy Comforter Saint-Cyprian Roman Catholic Church was diagnosed.
- Pope has been a vocal critic of what he felt is an overly cautious approach, and said that some of those who had not yet returned to an in-person church service were "lukewarm" Catholics.
- The church said it has been taking precautions in services including mask-wearing, social distancing and the wiping down of pews.
EWTN/YouTube
A Catholic pastor who advised his congregation not to fear the coronavirus has tested positive for COVID-19.
Monsignor Charles Pope of the Holy Comforter Saint-Cyprian Roman Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., was admitted to hospital with a high fever on July 27,according to The Washington Post.
Health officials issued a notice saying that several people who went to the church's services between July 25 and 27 had been exposed to the virus and should also quarantine.
Pope has since returned home to recuperate and, along with church seminarians, will be self-isolating, the church wrote in an online update.
Related: 6 months of coronavirus in the USA, reviewed in 6 minutes
Pope has written several articles for the National Catholic Register which acknowledge the seriousness of the virus, but urged readers not to be afraid of the coronavirus.
In a July 27 edition of Morning Glory, a Catholic radio show, he said that those not coming to church in the pandemic are "lukewarm" Catholics.
"About a third of my people have come home, that's it," he said, referring to those who had come back to in-person service. He said that the elderly and others who are vulnerable should not attend.
"I think a good number, at least half of that number who haven't come, were the lukewarm," he continued. "We may have lost them forever. Because in effect we said: 'Look, your physical health is more important than your spiritual health.' ... I think we've made a lot of big mistakes."
Google Streetview
In an article on July 18, he encouraged his readers to take precautions against the virus "for the time being," but also to ask "'When will this end, and who will get to decide that?'"
He wrote in conclusion: "My take is that fear is a far more serious ailment than COVID-19."
In another article in May, when cases in the US were in decline, he wrote an article titled: "Coronavirus, where is thy sting? Why this gripping fear is useless." In it, he called for a prudent, gradual reopening, and equivocated on the impact of the virus.
"The vast majority of people who get the coronavirus will survive," he wrote, an observation he said came from a spiritual rather than a scientific position.
"Some will be only mildly symptomatic, some will be severely ill, and yes, some will die. People will also keep dying every day of heart disease, cancer, from strokes, and in automobile accidents."
In its statement following his positive diagnosis, the church said it had been following guidelines during the pandemic, including encouraging social distancing and mask-wearing, as well as sanitizing pews after each Mass and using alcohol to clean clergy's hands when distributing the Eucharist — consecrated bread and wine.
The building is also being deep cleaned this week "as a precaution," the church statement said.
The Archdiocese of Washington, under which Pope's church operates, has issued lengthy guidance, including the measures described by Pope's church. However, it notes, that it is at the discretion of the priest whether or not he wear a mask while he delivers Mass.
Business Insider has contacted the Holy Comforter Saint-Cyprian Roman Catholic Church for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply.
No comments:
Post a Comment