Bluffton, South Carolina is next to Hilton Head Island. Bluffton is a booming community and St. Gregory the Great Church is the largest church there and growing.
The priest who apologized based his statements on being an engineer who needs proof. In that statement he reminded me of a certain scientist priest who often comments here who uses his knowledge of biology to make incorrect statements about contagion from the common chalice now suspended during the pandemic as a probable source of contagion to the unsuspecting communicant.
This story appeared in this morning’s newspaper, The Island Packet.
The priest who apologized based his statements on being an engineer who needs proof. In that statement he reminded me of a certain scientist priest who often comments here who uses his knowledge of biology to make incorrect statements about contagion from the common chalice now suspended during the pandemic as a probable source of contagion to the unsuspecting communicant.
This story appeared in this morning’s newspaper, The Island Packet.
Bluffton church priest apologizes for homily comparing COVID-19 and flu deaths
A priest at one of Beaufort County’s largest churches has apologized for a homily he gave in late June that contained misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, calling his statements a miscommunication.
The June 27 homily was given during an in-person Mass at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, which has more than 10,000 members.
During the service that was also streamed live on the church’s Facebook page, Fr. Bruce Barnett spent his segment talking about COVID-19.
Barnett critiqued political leaders in a number of states, saying “they’re using a virus as an excuse to close our churches” as beer distributors, cannabis dispensaries, florists, and bookstores are being deemed essential while churches are being “lumped with” hair salons, movie theaters, and gyms.
Although S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster imposed a “work or home” order in April and put limits on large groups and capacity sizes in buildings such as restaurants, he never closed churches.
In fact, he said he wouldn’t stop churchgoers from attending Easter services, citing the First Amendment, although he did encourage them to stream services online, have church outdoors or otherwise ensure people social distance.
Barnett told the congregation the 15-day lockdown instituted to flatten the coronavirus curve was based on “faulty model predictions” but “the doomsday prophecies never happened.”
“As a former engineer I want to see the proof,” Barnett said in the homily. “I trust in God, but everyone else bring data.”
“The actual data predict that the number of deaths will be about the same as the normal flu season,” he continued. ”While this number is tragic, we live every day with much greater risk. Each of you took a much greater risk driving to church today to attend this Mass.”
The facts are at odds with those statements.
As of Friday morning, the CDC reported there’s been 3,952,273 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and that 142,755 people have died from the illness.
CDC data from the 2018-19 influenza season estimates about 35 million people in the U.S. contracted the flu and roughly 34,200 died from it.
According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, 31 people have died from COVID-19 in Beaufort County.
Barnett also pointed to increased rates of issues such as domestic violence, drug addiction, and depression that may result from being isolated at home.
“If we are all eventually going to be exposed to this virus and there’s no way to prevent that then the sooner the overwhelming majority of people recover and resume their daily routines, the sooner we will be better able to protect the vulnerable and assist the sick.”
He then called for a “prudent return” to church, school, business, sports, recreation, politics, entertainment, travel, “and all the other things that give shape and meaning to our lives” to avoid another lockdown.
“For some time ahead there will be a constantly growing number of new infections,” he warned. “But that is not a cause for panic.”
Through a July 10 emailed statement from the Diocese of Charleston’s media director, Barnett said he was trying to spread hope.
“With so many people suffering due to COVID-19, it is especially important that we work to be prophets of hope,” the email said. “During my homily on June 27, I did not mean to dismiss the severity of the pandemic, but to convey a message of hope. I am sorry that I miscommunicated my message to some people.”
The June 28 video of the Mass that included the homily has since been deleted from the church’s Facebook page, but a church official says it wasn’t because of the content.
“It was normal practice for us to remove recorded Masses from our virtual platforms after they had been online for two weeks to ensure fresh content is available to parishioners,” St. Gregory Monsignor Ronald R. Cellini said in an emailed statement. “Over the past few months, Masses were left online longer; however, we are back to our previous procedure of regularly removing the videos from our online presence.”
“Parish officials require parishioners who choose to attend Mass to follow protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control,” an emailed statement from the church said.
“Some of these requirements include limiting the number of people allowed inside the church, wearing masks and practicing social distancing.”
While churches that are having in-person services are being cautious, a number of other churches in the Lowcountry are holding a limited number of face-to-face services or choosing to continue solely livestream instead.
The June 27 homily was given during an in-person Mass at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton, which has more than 10,000 members.
During the service that was also streamed live on the church’s Facebook page, Fr. Bruce Barnett spent his segment talking about COVID-19.
Barnett critiqued political leaders in a number of states, saying “they’re using a virus as an excuse to close our churches” as beer distributors, cannabis dispensaries, florists, and bookstores are being deemed essential while churches are being “lumped with” hair salons, movie theaters, and gyms.
Although S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster imposed a “work or home” order in April and put limits on large groups and capacity sizes in buildings such as restaurants, he never closed churches.
In fact, he said he wouldn’t stop churchgoers from attending Easter services, citing the First Amendment, although he did encourage them to stream services online, have church outdoors or otherwise ensure people social distance.
Barnett told the congregation the 15-day lockdown instituted to flatten the coronavirus curve was based on “faulty model predictions” but “the doomsday prophecies never happened.”
“As a former engineer I want to see the proof,” Barnett said in the homily. “I trust in God, but everyone else bring data.”
“The actual data predict that the number of deaths will be about the same as the normal flu season,” he continued. ”While this number is tragic, we live every day with much greater risk. Each of you took a much greater risk driving to church today to attend this Mass.”
The facts are at odds with those statements.
As of Friday morning, the CDC reported there’s been 3,952,273 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and that 142,755 people have died from the illness.
CDC data from the 2018-19 influenza season estimates about 35 million people in the U.S. contracted the flu and roughly 34,200 died from it.
According to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, 31 people have died from COVID-19 in Beaufort County.
Barnett also pointed to increased rates of issues such as domestic violence, drug addiction, and depression that may result from being isolated at home.
“If we are all eventually going to be exposed to this virus and there’s no way to prevent that then the sooner the overwhelming majority of people recover and resume their daily routines, the sooner we will be better able to protect the vulnerable and assist the sick.”
He then called for a “prudent return” to church, school, business, sports, recreation, politics, entertainment, travel, “and all the other things that give shape and meaning to our lives” to avoid another lockdown.
“For some time ahead there will be a constantly growing number of new infections,” he warned. “But that is not a cause for panic.”
Through a July 10 emailed statement from the Diocese of Charleston’s media director, Barnett said he was trying to spread hope.
“With so many people suffering due to COVID-19, it is especially important that we work to be prophets of hope,” the email said. “During my homily on June 27, I did not mean to dismiss the severity of the pandemic, but to convey a message of hope. I am sorry that I miscommunicated my message to some people.”
The June 28 video of the Mass that included the homily has since been deleted from the church’s Facebook page, but a church official says it wasn’t because of the content.
“It was normal practice for us to remove recorded Masses from our virtual platforms after they had been online for two weeks to ensure fresh content is available to parishioners,” St. Gregory Monsignor Ronald R. Cellini said in an emailed statement. “Over the past few months, Masses were left online longer; however, we are back to our previous procedure of regularly removing the videos from our online presence.”
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
IN THE CHURCH
St. Gregory reopened for in-person Mass on May 11.IN THE CHURCH
“Parish officials require parishioners who choose to attend Mass to follow protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control,” an emailed statement from the church said.
“Some of these requirements include limiting the number of people allowed inside the church, wearing masks and practicing social distancing.”
While churches that are having in-person services are being cautious, a number of other churches in the Lowcountry are holding a limited number of face-to-face services or choosing to continue solely livestream instead.
15 comments:
Since I am the "certain priest" who makes the comments to which you refer - "certain scientist priest who often comments here who uses his knowledge of biology to make incorrect statements about contagion from the common chalice" - I would ask you to quote the "incorrect statements" I have made.
I would ask, but since you can't do this, it would be pointless.
You are bearing false witness, and that is sinful.
Father Kavanaugh,
Still peddling your scientific bunk on how safe the common cup is? Inquiring minds want to know. Don’t be a Mark Thomas
I would like some "scientist" to explain why spending less than an hour in Church is soooooooooooooooooooooo dangerous compared to going to Walmart or spending time rioting, looting and "protesting?"
Because Churches are not a strong source of tax revenue or a reliable source of voters for big government programs. And to further parse that group, the folks who will go to Mass are least like those characteristics than Catholics in general.
Since Father Kavanaugh is aping Mark Thomas, I am posting this, because he believes in government orders trumping all:
"Was the lockdown successful? I say yes very successful. Successful in
things like this. Anxiety hotline calls up 1000 percent. Child abuse
both sexual and non up. Financially, emotional distress, Suicide.
Alcohol. 150,000 Americans a month not receiving cancer screening. It’s
been effective alright, in all the wrong metrics — in all the areas we
didn’t want it to be effective. Delay in medical care. We talked about
that. Orthopedics, nonessential. Suicide calls up 600 percent. Suicide
calls. We heard other doctors mention this. So was the lockdown
effective? If that’s the effect you were going for, then yes but it was
trying to flatten the curve but it had these secondary consequences that
I think are devastating. People staying indoors. No exercising as you
mentioned. No Vitamin D."
2020 is our 1984.
The Truth is Dead.
Father Kavanaugh must be doing extra special scientific research to prove the common cup is safe!
Anonymous 1:59 - The research has been done, and done, and done.
“But the risk is so small it’s probably undetectable.” Loving, the microbiologist, said the risk of infection is reduced because the chalice is wiped after each sip, the alcohol in the wine can kill germs and, unlike ceramic cups, the silver and gold used in most chalices don’t harbor microbes."
“Even though a person may be ill, and put some virus on there,” said Charles Gerba, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Arizona, “in the process of wiping it off, and maybe some of the anti-microbial activity of the silver in these cups, that seems to largely reduce the risk. In other words, you’re more likely to contract germs on the door handle leading into church or shaking someone’s hand after the service than on the lip of a Communion cup."
"In summary, the risk for infectious disease transmission by a common communion cup is
very low, and appropriate safeguards-that is, wiping the interior and exterior rim between
communicants, use of care to rotate the cloth during use, and use of a clean cloth for each
service-would further diminish this risk."
Now, you can choose to believe or not believe the professionals just as you can choose to believe the earth is flat, that the moon is made of green cheese, or that Pope Paul VI was kidnapped and replaced with a Masonic-controlled look-alike.
It's up to you.
Anonymous Kavanaugh,
If you believe this twaddle, start right back up tomorrow with the common cup since the risk is so minor. Please send this research to your bishop so the diocese is not deprived of your superior knowledge. Maybe the CDC too so it can go nationwide
Anonymous 4:13 - Enjoy your Flat Earth, your Green Cheese, and your Pual VI fantasies.
What about the whole disgusting concept of "consuming spit" mingled with the wine in the cup?
Anonymous Kavanaugh,
A person who votes for a political party that views abortion as “an essential healthcare service” is a flat earther extraordinaire. I challenge you to have the courage of your convictions and share with us your stirring peroration to the bishop of why sharing a common cup has little risk and should be renewed today! Go for it!
Anon 5:30 - I already gave it. As usual, you missed it. Actually, because it does not fit your amazingly distorted view of reality, you dismissed it.
I will not waste time repeating myself to one who will not read.
Anonymous Kavanaugh,
I will send your comments to your new bishop, so no worries, Mr. Flat Earth! Did you start using the common cup today?
Bishop-elect Stephen Parkes
CATHOLIC PASTORAL CENTER
2170 EAST VICTORY DRIVE
SAVANNAH, GA 31404-3918
Be sure to sign your name...
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