NEW YORK BISHOPS RESTRICT MASS: No Communion on the tongue, no singing
ALBANY, N.Y. (ChurchMilitant.com) New York’s bishops and cardinals are the latest Catholic officials to announce Wuhan virus-related restrictions when churches reopen for public celebration of the Mass.
In response to the virus pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has developed a four-phase approach to reopening the Empire State. Earlier this week, he announced that churches and other houses of worship will not be allowed to reopen until Phase 4.
• Phase 1 – Construction, manufacturing and wholesale supply chain, curbside pick-up service for retail, and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
• Phase 2 – Professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support and real estate/rental leasing
• Phase 3 – Restaurants, food services and hotels/accommodations
• Phase 4 – Arts, entertainment, recreation and education
Churches were included in this category ostensibly because worship services, like the other venues it includes, involve activities where large crowds typically would have been packed together.
New York’s bishops don’t want to wait until Phase 4 to reopen for public Mass, so they have come up with their own plan of self-imposed restrictions.
In a Skype interview with Buffalo’s National Public Radio affiliate, WBFO, New York State Catholic Conference spokesperson Dennis Proust said, “I think what the governor seemed to be saying was to reopen like normal would be a phase-four situation, but we have no intention of reopening like normal. We are going to have to put strict limits in terms of capacity in every church, and all sorts of restrictions.”
Catholics around the world have been grappling with Wuhan virus-imposed restrictions on public Masses, with some saying the restrictions are being used to “dismantle the liturgy.”
In an interview with National Catholic Register, a woman in Rome shares that worry. She said there’s confusion between the precautions doctors take in their contact with patients and priests’ contact with parishioners. She suggested that applying the precautionary standards for doctors to priests “effectively denies the sacrality of the Eucharist; it denies his Body and Blood.”
In Italy, the debate has been over the use of gloves in the distribution of the Host. In Germany, both singing and the use of wind instruments have been banned. Strict social distancing is de rigueur around the globe.
In New York, all these issues are being considered. Poust told the NPR affiliate that parishioners should “expect a different experience” when they return to Mass.
He said Communion will only be distributed in the hand, and priests will have to sanitize their hands between each communicant. And just like the German Catholics, there will be no singing. So far, there is no word on whether wind instruments are banned.
The Communion Wars
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the Wuhan virus restrictions is the insistence of some prelates that receiving Communion on the tongue be banned. The ban is particularly remarkable since a USCCB memorandum sent April 30 to all U.S. bishops specifically says:
We have carefully considered the question of Communion on the tongue vs. Communion in the hand. Given the Church’s existing guidance on this point (see Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 92), and recognizing the differing judgments and sensibilities that are involved, we believe that, with the precautions listed here, it is possible to distribute on the tongue without unreasonable risk.
Since early March, Church Militant has reported extensively on the controversy. Like the bishops and cardinals in New York, Michigan’s Catholic leaders are considering similar restrictions.
“They’re kicking it around,” and likely “trying to get permission through the Vatican,” said one source.
Michigan bishops know they need permission from Rome because the Vatican previously overruled attempts of bishops to ban Communion on the tongue in attempts to avoid germs.
Read the source: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/ny-conference-bans-singing
Related Instructions:
The guidelines can be referenced at the Diocese’s website: https://www.buffalodiocese.org/documents/Coronavirus/Forward%20in%20Faith-%2005-20-2020.pdf
UNCLEAN: COMMUNION IN THE HAND
Doctor declares hands more unhygienic than tongue
May 21, 2020
Receiving Holy Communion on the tongue is safer than in the hand, says a prominent Catholic doctor.
As churches in the United States and Italy open up for public Mass this week, some bishops are claiming Communion in the hand is safer but the president of Italy’s Catholic Medical Association, Fillippo Boscia, says that’s not true.
In a May 10th interview with Italian Catholic website La Fede Quotidiana, Boscia says “Communion in the hand is more contagious … on the tongue is safer than the one on the hand,” noting hands need constant disinfection.
He’s the latest to weigh in on the ongoing Communion wars, where priests and bishops are at odds with each other and the Church regarding the distribution of Communion during the Wuhan virus panic.
The Vatican’s Congregation of Divine Worship directed in 2004, “each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion of the tongue.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agrees with the Vatican’s directive, saying on April 30th, “[W]e believe that, with the precautions listed here, it is possible to distribute on the tongue without unreasonable risk.”
Portland Oregon archbishop Alexander Sample consulted two physicians who said the risk is “equally probable and one’s hands have a greater exposure to germs.”
Despite all that some bishops like Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, are still threatening to throw people out of church if they kneel for Communion.
Read the source: https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/pack-unclean-communion-in-the-hand
PUBLIC MASSES BACK IN ITALY
Priests distributing Eucharist with disposable gloves
ROME (ChurchMilitant.com) – Public Mass has resumed in Italy after roughly 10 weeks of lockdown.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass re-opened to the public throughout Italy on Monday. Catholics expressed gratitude for the chance to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. Many Italian faithful — perhaps the majority of them — have been without the Eucharist since mid-March.
Public Masses were cancelled in March, amid lockdown orders due to the Wuhan virus pandemic.
As access to Mass returns, many are voicing concern about a protocol from the Italian bishops, which says those distributing Holy Communion ought to wear a disposable mask and disposable gloves.
Since the disposable gloves will touch the Eucharist — in which Christ is physically present — many are worried that if the gloves get thrown away, so will Eucharistic particles.
As St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City opened for Mass, faithful wishing to attend Mass lined up to get their temperatures taken before entering.
Church Militant’s Rome correspondent Jules Gomes commented on Tuesday about some of the new sanitary measures — such as placing hand sanitizer stations at the doors and keeping the congregation spaced six feet apart.
“The social distancing measures are sensible,” Gomes said. “Given the scare, and the sign of relief that people at least are able to get back to Mass, they don’t seem too cumbersome.”
Some parishes are avoiding packed pews by offering more Mass times than usual. Gomes noted, “In one well-attended parish, where the Latin Mass is offered, the number of Masses has been increased from two to five on Sundays.”
He shared photos from Santa Maria Stella Maris, a church in Ostia — a seaside neighborhood in Rome. The pews were removed from the main body of the church, and replaced with chairs — but two of every three chairs had a sign saying “vietato sedersi” — “sitting prohibited.”
Though many are glad to attend Mass again, some are outraged by the use of disposable gloves for distributing Holy Communion.
National Catholic Register’s Rome correspondent Ed Pentin tweeted about the practice on Monday, and many Catholics expressed disdain for the use of latex gloves to handle Our Lord.
“This is asinine,” remarked one Twitter user, to which another replied, “Who do the gloves protect? Certainly not the person receiving communion; the gloves just become a surface transferring whatever the priest touches.”
One person said, “I can only imagine how many tiny fragments — which are Our Lord — are sticking to gloves and falling to the floor.”
Others expressed fear over what happens with the gloves, which likely have particles of Our Lord.
“What happens to the gloves afterwards?,” asked one Twitter account.
Many reacted with shock at photos of a priest using latex gloves to distribute Holy Communion, calling them “grotesque” and “an appalling sight.”
Some of the replies challenged the effectiveness of wearing gloves in this context, saying things like, “Completely lost the point of disposable gloves. You change then between people so you’re not transmitting the virus. If you don’t, you might as well not bother.”
“Disturbing,” another reply reads. “Who are the gloves intended to protect? Typically only sterile gloves (used for operations) protect the patient. This is likely causing more harm than good and being done for political showmanship.”
Another issue that is sure to cause controversy among faithful Catholics is reception of Holy Communion on the tongue.
Gomes noted that Communion on the tongue has been barred by the bishops, not the government.
He remarked, “Obviously, in some cases, like Communion on the tongue … the typical Italian sport of ‘it is all a matter of interpretation’ will kick in and we will have some fun.”
Read the source: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/public-mass-returns-to-rome
Related Articles/ Videos click below:
BAY STATE BISHOP VS. USCCB: Battle over Holy Communion on the tongue http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/19/bay-state-bishop-vs-usccb-battle-over-holy-communion-on-the-tongue/
Covid-19 and Can They Ban Communion on the Tongue? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/15/covid-19-and-can-they-ban-communion-on-the-tongue/
Online Masses: Cannot Be Celebrated on a Virtual Platform http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/12/online-masses-cannot-be-celebrated-on-a-virtual-platform/
EPISCOPAL TWEET STORM TURNS NASTY: Bishop threatens to toss Catholics for reception on the tongue http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/11/episcopal-tweet-storm-turns-nasty-bishop-threatens-to-toss-catholics-for-reception-on-the-tongue/
VATICAN LITURGY CHIEF SLAMS ‘PROFANATIONS’ OF EUCHARIST -Cardinal Robert Sarah: ‘The Church is not a supermarket’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/04/vatican-liturgy-chief-slams-profanations-of-eucharist-cardinal-robert-sarah-the-church-is-not-a-supermarket/
Mass ad Digitalem http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/03/mass-ad-digitalem/
Mass in Time of Pandemic: What Is the Celebrant Supposed to Do? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/05/03/mass-in-time-of-pandemic-what-is-the-celebrant-supposed-to-do/
CANONIST CALLS ‘PRIVATE MASS’ BLUFF – All Masses must be public http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/04/16/canonist-calls-private-mass-bluff-all-masses-must-be-public/
IDAHO BISHOP BANS MASS ‘AD ORIENTEM’: Bishop Peter Christensen’s order comes amid rapid expansion of Traditional Latin Mass http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/03/31/idaho-bishop-bans-mass-ad-orientem-bishop-peter-christensens-order-comes-amid-rapid-expansion-of-traditional-latin-mass/
The Gift of the Liturgical Reform http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/01/19/the-gift-of-the-liturgical-reform/
Etiquette at Mass: Reasonable Do’s and Don’ts for Polite and Proper Worship http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/10/30/etiquette-at-mass-reasonable-dos-and-donts-for-polite-and-proper-worship/
Liturgical Dance & Cardinal Arinze, Prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/07/31/liturgical-dance-cardinal-arinze-prefect-for-the-congregation-of-divine-worship-and-the-discipline-of-the-sacraments/
Eight Ways to the Sacred Liturgy http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/06/16/eight-ways-to–the-sacred-liturgy/
CARDINAL GERHARD MÜLLER: PRIESTS ‘DUTY-BOUND’ TO RESIST BISHOPS DEMANDING PROTESTANT COMMUNION http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/12/13/cardinal-gerhard-muller-priests-duty-bound-to-resist-bishops-demanding-protestant-communion/
What Vatican II said—and didn’t say—about the liturgy http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/12/06/what-vatican-ii-said-and-didnt-say-about-the-liturgy/
CARDINAL GERHARD MÜLLER SLAMS ROME OVER INTERCOMMUNION: Warns Communion for non-Catholics ‘absolutely, objectively’ impossible http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/07/24/cardinal-gerhard-muller-slams-rome-over-intercommunion-warns-communion-for-non-catholics-absolutely-objectively-impossible/
GERMAN PRIESTS RESIST ARCHBISHOP HANS-JOSEF BECKER OVER INTERCOMMUNION WITH NON-CATHOLICS http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/07/05/german-priests-resist-archbishop-hans-josef-becker-over-intercommunion-with-non-catholics/
POPE FRANCIS: VATICAN ‘NOT PUTTING THE BRAKES ON’ INTERCOMMUNION http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/22/pope-francis-vatican-not-putting-the-brakes-on-intercommunion/
VATICAN NIXES INTERCOMMUNION: Pope Francis halts German push for Protestant intercommunion http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/07/vatican-nixes-intercommunion-pope-francis-halts-german-push-for-protestant-intercommunion/
CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE: STOP INTERCOMMUNION – Become Catholic to receive Holy Communion http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/25/cardinal-francis-arinze-stop-intercommunion-become-catholic-to-receive-holy-communion/
OREGON ARCHBISHOP ALEXANDER SAMPLE FIGHTS TO RESTORE EUCHARISTIC REVERENCE http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/17/oregon-archbishop-alexander-sample-fights-to-restore-eucharistic-reverence/
INTERCOMMUNION CLASH PITS BISHOP AGAINST BISHOP http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/16/intercommunion-clash-pits-bishop-against-bishop/
CARDINAL WILLEM EIJK: INTERCOMMUNION RESPONSE ‘INCOMPREHENSIBLE’ – Dutch prelate blasts German plan for Protestant communion http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/14/cardinal-willem-eijk-intercommunion-response-incomprehensible-dutch-prelate-blasts-german-plan-for-protestant-communion/
Seven German Bishops: Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne and six other bishops Ask Vatican to Block Intercommunion Proposal http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/04/05/seven-german-bishops-cardinal-rainer-woelki-of-cologne-and-six-other-bishops-ask-vatican-to-block-intercommunion-proposal/
Cardinal Robert Sarah: Many Church leaders ‘underestimate the serious crisis that the Church is going through’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/04/05/cardinal-robert-sarah-many-church-leaders-underestimate-the-serious-crisis-that-the-church-is-going-through/
Cardinal Robert Sarah Confirms Vatican Retains Last Word on Translations http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/10/15/cardinal-robert-sarah-confirms-vatican-retains-last-word-on-translations/
CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE BACKS CARDINAL ROBERT SARAH’S LITURGICAL REFORMS http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/27/cardinal-raymond-burke-backs-cardinal-robert-sarahs-liturgical-reforms/
POPE BENEDICT XVI: POPES CAN’T SCRAP LITURGY http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/12/pope-benedict-xvi-popes-cant-scrap-liturgy/
Why Ad Orientem Mass is Anathema to So Many? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/08/13/why-ad-orientem-mass-is-anathema-to-so-many/
Three Liturgical Changes We Need Now http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/01/21/three-liturgical-changes-we-need-now/
The Pope Francis modifies the rite of Holy Thursday and permits women to also participate http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/01/21/the-pope-francis-modifies-the-rite-of-holy-thursday-and-permits-women-to-also-participate/
Cardinal Sarah: Priests Don’t Have to Wash Women’s Feet on Holy Thursday – Clarification comes after priests voice concerns about recent liturgical innovation http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/16/cardinal-sarah-priests-dont-have-to-wash-womens-feet-on-holy-thursday-clarification-comes-after-priests-voice-concerns-about-recent-liturgical-innovation/
Pope Francis ‘angry’ over media slant on women deacons http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/06/29/pope-francis-angry-over-media-slant-on-women-deacons/
Pope Francis: “On women priests, that cannot be done”
Women Priests and Married Priests: What’s the difference?
Should Women Preach at Mass? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/04/should-women-preach-at-mass/
“Women Priests” are living a lie
Girls Should Not Be “Altar Servers” http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2015/12/21/girls-should-not-be-altar-servers/
On the Ordination of Women and the Priesthood of Christ
How Pope John Paul II restored liturgical sanity?
The Golden Calf and Our Catholic Mass: 3 Reasons Man Cannot Invent the Liturgy
THE DOWNLOAD—LITURGY OF MAN: Fabricated liturgy isn’t from Vatican II but came from many sources after the Council http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/15/the-download-liturgy-of-man-fabricated-liturgy-isnt-from-vatican-ii-but-came-from-many-sources-after-the-council/
Are You Afflicted with Father Freelance? – Liturgical Abuse http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/01/14/are-you-afflicted-with-father-freelance-liturgical-abuse/
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A PRIEST? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/10/why-do-you-want-to-be-a-priest/
Cardinal Sarah: More Christ, less ‘worldly entertainment’ at Mass, says Vatican Head of Worship
The Lord’s Prayer During Mass: Should We Hold Hands? Or Raise Them in the Air?
Are you doing this at Mass? Stop that!
Why we should neither add to nor subtract from the Liturgy?
The Sacred Liturgy as a Monument or Witness of Tradition http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/10/the-sacred-liturgy-as-a-monument-or-witness-of-tradition/
CARDINAL ROBERT SARAH: PRIESTS SHOULD FACE EAST AND COMMUNICANTS SHOULD KNEEL http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/07/06/cardinal-robert-sarah-priests-should-face-east-and-communicants-should-kneel/
On Facing East During Mass http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/07/14/on-facing-east-during-mass/
FR GEORGE RUTLER ON AD ORIENTEM http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/07/20/fr-george-rutler-on-ad-orientem/
CARDINAL ROBERT SARAH: SILENCE IN LITURGY NECESSARY http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/02/03/cardinal-robert-sarah-silence-in-liturgy-necessary/
Women Priests and Married Priests: What’s the difference?
‘Priestess’ Sacrilege Shutdown
Bishop orders halt of 5 liturgical abuses
Bishop Schneider: We are in the 4th great crisis of the Church
Bishop Schneider: Crisis in the Church – Confusion & Relativism, etc.
Bishop Scheider: Battling the new Gnosticism within the Church
Bishop Schneider unloads the coming persecution in the West
Bishop Athanasius Schneider on communion in the hand
Bishop Schneider slams liturgical abuse & stand up for traditional Catholics
Communion in the hand, Part 1-2: Experimentation & Explanation
Breaking: Another bishop prohibits communion in the hand
PARISHIONERS FORBIDDEN COMMUNION ON TONGUE FOR FEAR OF FLU http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/07/parishioners-forbidden-communion-on-tongue-for-fear-of-flu/
THE VORTEX: NO COMMUNION IN THE HAND – Get on your knees and receive your King http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/09/the-vortex-no-communion-in-the-hand-get-on-your-knees-and-receive-your-king/
CBCP: On the Question of Kneeling or Standing After the Consecration Until After the Great AMEN During the Eucharistic Celebration http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/22/on-the-question-of-kneeling-or-standing-after-the-consecration-until-after-the-great-amen-during-the-eucharistic-celebration/
The Truth About Communion in the Hand While Standing
Cardinal Arinze on kneeling for communion, kneelers & altar girls
Faith of our Fathers: Mass Confusion – Altar Rails – Right Track or Wrong Track
Fr. Robert Barron & Dr. Scott Hahn on Biblical Interpretation and the Liturgy
Kneeling Ban: Good Liturgy or Loss of Religious Freedom
Should women be lectors at Mass?
Full participation at Mass: How do I do that?
Mass Etiquette: 20 Things to do and not to do in Mass
Dressing Respectfully for Mass
The Meaning of Mass by Archbishop Fulton Sheen
WATCH THE FULL SHOW: ‘THE DOWNLOAD—TRADITION UNDER FIRE’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/01/29/watch-the-full-show-the-download-tradition-under-fire/
What are the historical roots of the Mass?, etc.
Liturgical Abuses at Mass: What to DO? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/06/liturgical-abuses-at-mass-what-to-do/
THE DOWNLOAD—MIXING THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE: The St. Cecilia Cathedral has several times hosted exhibits with secular and even pagan displays http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/15/the-download-mixing-the-sacred-and-the-profane-the-st-cecilia-cathedral-has-several-times-hosted-exhibits-with-secular-and-even-pagan-displays/
WATCH THE FULL SHOW: ‘THE DOWNLOAD—THE ABUSE OF ‘EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS’’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/06/17/watch-the-full-show-the-download-the-abuse-of-eucharistic-ministers/
The Origin of Catholic Mass and Structure
The Mass, Our Salvific Sacrifice to Avoid Hell and Achieve Salvation
WATCH THE FULL SHOW: ‘THE DOWNLOAD—COMMUNION FOR LUTHERANS?’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/02/12/watch-the-full-show-the-download-communion-for-lutherans/
WATCH THE FULL SHOW: ‘THE DOWNLOAD—RESTORING THE LITURGY’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/07/08/watch-the-full-show-the-download-restoring-the-liturgy/
Mic’d Up – The Black Mass Homosexual Generation
Bishop Slattery: Countering with Prayer the Proposed Black Mass in Oklahoma City
Ugly Churches and the Dictatorship of Populism http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/03/04/ugly-churches-and-the-dictatorship-of-populism/
PHONY CATHOLICISM http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/02/phony-catholicism/
CIA: Weapons of Mass Destruction, Part 1-2
In summary, the beauty of the liturgy has great power and can be utilized by catechists, both to teach others about the divine mystery hidden in the liturgy as well as to foster beautiful encounters with God in Holy Mass and other liturgical events. However, its beauty can never be divorced from the truth, lest it be worshipped for its own sake.