WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday said he has deemed churches and other houses of worship “essential" and called on governors to allow them to reopen this weekend despite the threat of the coronavirus.
“Today I’m identifying houses of worship — churches, synagogues and mosques — as essential places that provide essential services," Trump said during a hastily arranged press conference Friday. He said if governors don't abide by his request, he will “override" them, though it's unclear what authority he has to do so.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had prepared reopening guidelines for churches and other houses of worship weeks ago, but the White House had refused to release them until Thursday when Trump abruptly changed course.
“I said ‘You better put it out.’ And they’re doing it,” Trump said Thursday at a Ford Motor Co. plant repurposed to make ventilators in Michigan. “And they’re going to be issuing something today or tomorrow on churches. We got to get our churches open.”
Friday, May 22, 2020
White House: Houses of worship are essential
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One thing I've learned from this whole episode is how much power state governors have. If I were a politician solely concerned with power, I'd aim to be a governor or mayor of a big city. Forget the presidency. When he talks about "overriding" the governors, the prez is babbling as usual.
ReplyDeleteWas the shot at our president necessary or even Christian,,,he is advocating for you and you Judas him,,,you bring shame on the title Abba and need to be laicized
ReplyDeleteYou lost me Mr. Klancko...who is doing the "Judas him" here?
Deleterjk: thanks for your comment. I'm not nearly an "Abba" so there's no need to laicize me. Just an online name I chose years ago. Yes, the "babbling" was unnecessary. My apologies.
Deleterj. That is not Christian to be so disrepectful. You may not agree with Fr.Moses but your comment was way out of line.
DeleteAgain (see previous), I'm not a monk or a cleric. It's a username I adopted years ago in honor of St Moses the Ethiopian. I think I'd better change it, since it's obviously causing misunderstandings.
DeleteOur state has allowed most business and churches to open this past weekend, but the guidelines are specific and masks must be worn. I went to the hardware store yesterday (a local smaller one - not a big box Home Depot or Lowes) as well as the burger chain 'Five Guys' yesterday. Despite the government orders being posted prominently upon entry that you must wear a mask, with instructions that the staff will come to your car if had serve you if you do not have one or can not wear one for any reasons, about 1/3 of the people in both establishments did not have one on and the staff was treating them as just another customer.
ReplyDeleteOur culture is highly individualistic - selfish. Folks think in Libertarian (that species of Classical Liberalism) terms about their own, their relationship to others, and what authority is and is not. Too many of us simply will not do the right thing vis-a-vis our neighbor, even a small suffering like putting on a mask in public for the good of others.
As a real conservative (and not a Libertarian) I would have the government impose real consequences, including jail time, for these people. They would no doubt invoke "but myyyyy rigggthssssssesseeesss" and talk nonsensically about "the constitution" while they served.
This word "essential" has become the proverbial "condensed symbol" in all this. The local RC bishop penned a letter where he made much of it about two weeks ago in an attempt to justify his establishment of drive in mass. It was amusing in that he is from Italy originally, and his half converted Americanisms were obvious as he tried to preach to the libertarian choir...just another sign of this "multi" culture we all live and swim in.
In my opinion Trump has his wet finger in the air and is doing what he has to to insure his victory this coming November. Good for him! At least he does not hate us, and is likely to support the bakers and candle stick makers as the LBGTQuerty crowd uses and abuses the legal system to promote their religion. I suppose the lessor of two evils is this "essential" emphasis and all that it symbolizes...
But what does that tangibly mean? We must continue to set the example in caring for others. I think some kind of worship is possible in a church building, but we must be careful and not become a cause for scandal.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is governors need to be consistent . In Mi ours has clearly stated she has no authority to sut down chuches but asks that we obserbe best sanitary practices I have Divvine Liturgy with Communion given to the faithful who attend but do observe guidelines per the request of my bishop.
ReplyDeleteIn CA the Protestants got together and said they were opening regardless of a lockdown starting May 31. The governor quickly backed down and said they’re planning to “allow” churches to open June 1st. Nice of him to remember that he has no authority to close churches. Tho I love that Californians drew a line in the sand over their beaches being taken away before they fought for their civil liberties, ha!
ReplyDeleteFor those living in lock down areas I’d say it’s a powerful example of how working together we can end this nonsense; our political leaders aren’t following science or the law, and that will continue as long as people allow it.
Oh and by the way cloth masks can’t filter CV19 but they can collect it and spread it, but it’s a great way to virtue signal, so don’t let science stop you. Nothing like a little false sense of moral superiority with no effort required.
Archimandrite Gregory, respect is earned and not bestowed,,the unchristian act was uncalled for,,,your attitude is why we loose our youth and why I have lost respect for you,,Abba Moses showed his true Christianity and as such I have earned great respect for him,,take note
DeleteIt’s strange, I can’t find any mention in the Bible of the virtue of being disrespectful to fellow Christians and clergy until they’ve earned your respect...
DeleteAnd I’m pretty sure the youth are most often lost by lack of catechism from parents with nominal faith, not because a priest pointing out that an internet comment was self righteous and rude (and lets face it, most of them are).
But you can add me to your list of bad people if that helps.
"...Oh and by the way cloth masks can’t filter CV19..."
DeleteWrong. Factually, wrong.
The rest of your post is the usual Libertarian virtue signaling ;)
Yes please explain to me how a bandana can filter a virus that’s .12 microns conservatively when it takes a medical grade N95 mask to filter 95% of viruses that are .1 micron or larger, oh and that’s only when they’re properly fitted and not constantly adjusted as an untrained individual is likely to do.
DeleteBut it’s okay Jake, we’ve clearly established that you have your reality and I’m not following it; at this point it’s just boring to play the broken record of “reee reeee obeeey obeeeey”
"...please explain to me how a bandana can filter a virus that’s .12 microns..."
DeleteEasy. The virus does not exist (not in medically significant load anyways) apart from the "spittle" in your throat/breath, which is (medically) significantly filtered even by your old dirty Libertarian bandana.
It's your reality and its logic that is abstract, not mine.
Now go hop back on your horse cowboy! I wish I had a 10 gallon hat too, then I would be truly free...
To quote you, are you an epidemiologist now? I thought we had to have a PhD to have an opinion?
DeleteIn any case plenty of doctors, epidemiologists, and medical studies past and present disagree with you, but again your reality precludes anyone, PhD or otherwise, who disagrees with the narrative that you blindly accepted from your tv.
I also love your clear disdain for blue collar Americans; nothing says moral high ground like being an arrogant intellectual liberal, who is cheering on authoritarian policies and church closures.
In any case “it’s a free country” you can stay in your house until the vaccine comes out. I’m just grateful my community doesn’t think like you, if I was still following the quarantine instead of going about my normal life I’d probably be going crazy too.
"...In any case plenty of doctors, epidemiologists, and medical studies past and present disagree with you..."
DeleteNo. I don't know of one, and I work with doctors and medical students (though not epidemiologists) on a daily basis. Sure, no doubt there are a few who don't believe in dinosaurs, viruses, and vaccines, but thankfully medical science and the 'standard of care' prevents them from doing too much harm.
Just like canon law and actual orthodox theology, your just making it up as you go along. Keep working at it cowboy! The MAN does not have you down!! Han shot first!!!
Again, if you’re going to be a troll, at least try to be amusing, you’re a bad caricature of a keyboard warrior who thinks he’s keeping the internet safe. You might try reading these or any of the many other studies and medical journals and reports etc. I’m trying to limit my comments on this blog, though I can’t help myself on occasion, in the future be a dear and save your comments for someone who cares.
Deletehttps://www.spectator.co.uk/article/face-masks-should-there-be-a-cover-up-
https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85814
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data
LOL. Have we closed a single subway or airport?
DeleteGood grief. Stress does fearful things to courtesy. Y'all need to grow up. I am allergic to fish. Cannot stand all the carping.
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ReplyDeleteThe president wants to get the credit when things go right, and be able to blame governors when things don't. A day or two before his call to open the churches, poll results showed his approval slipping among white Catholics and Evangelicals, so he issued this call as a sideways appeal to his base.
ReplyDeleteThis president doesn't care enough about anyone or anything but himself to "not hate" anybody. Such instability speaks to me of terrible internal suffering, not any kind of ability to lead a government.
I will not put my trust in any "prince" - they have a place, but there is no salvation in any political leader.
Dana
Amen! It’s embarrassing to see the needy internet Essential Priest (you know who) praising this shameless act of self-promotion by the opportunist-in-chief as though it were anything but demagoguery. But that would be the pot calling the kettle black.
DeleteAre you truly christians,,,,,I fear that the Judas syndrome is alive a well,,,shame on you,,,on the otherhañd why have we not had any visibility here,,why weren't we at the day if prayer observance,,why have the Catholic bishops been interview but not one of ours,,,,we love to criticize,,,you all are Pharisees,,,,,this is tragic,,,and embarrassing
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