I often do a “Q and A” on theology. I’ve decided to try a question and answer post on COVID-19. Please keep in mind that I am not a physician, and will not be giving any medical advice. The types of questions I envision for this post are how Covid relates to eschatology, to the Church, to society. I can also answer some questions on the current state of the research on Covid-19. See, as an example, my recent post on Covid-19 vaccines.
Feel free to ask your questions in a comment below. I’ll do my best to answer them.
Ron Conte
“not a doctor”
the reproach of Christ 
Ron,
It is possible that a worldwide debt jubilee could solve the economic turmoil post Covid-19? Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors!
I don’t know much about economics, but I think that morally people should pay their debts, if they are able. Forgiving the debts of the poor (persons and nations) is charity, but an indiscriminate debt amnesty might do more harm than good.
What about a universal basic income for each country to look after everyone all theyre citizens as this virus is affecting the poor more disproportionately than the wealthy. In my own country Scotland the government are seriously considering this along with a number of other European countries it is an idea whose time has come in my opinion.
I like the idea, but I’m not sure it is workable, given the sinfulness of humanity at this point in time.
After Churches open, some Priests may refuse to give Communion on the tongue due to fear of Covid-19. What should the faithful do that want to take it by the tongue and not by hand?
Accept Communion in the hand. Jesus touched lepers before He healed them. The Church has the authority from Christ over the Sacraments. She permits Communion in the hand. And this is especially prudent and obedient when there is necessity.
[Matthew 12]
{12:1} At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain and to eat.
{12:2} Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, “Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths.”
{12:3} But he said to them: “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
{12:4} how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
{12:5} Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt?
{12:6} But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here.
Can Communion on the Tongue be prohibited because of the pandemic?
https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2020/05/14/communion-tongue-episcopal-conference/#more-3137
The Church has the authority of Christ. She can prohibit Communion on the tongue. It is not essential to the Sacrament; it is not the type of thing which is unchangeable about a Sacrament, such as wheat bread and grape wine as the matter. One cannot oppose the authority of Christ by saying to Him, that you have the right to receive Him on the tongue (whether He likes it or not). Remember always that the Church has Christ as Her Head, and She exercises His authority. If the Church says receive Communion in the hand, then do so. Be obedient.
Some religious leaders, catechists, are calling the faithful to gather in small groups (up to 10) in a person’s house for prayer, celebration of the word and even celebration of the Mass. They call people who are apparently healthy and do not wish to go “fearful”. Is it ok if a person refuses to go to such gatherings due to the current situation with the pandemic?
Yes, it is. The CCC says that one may miss going to Mass if you are sick with something like cold or flu, or if you have to care for children or the elderly. Avoiding Mass and prayer services out of prudence in the circumstance of a deadly pandemic is a much more weighty reason, so one can decline to attend without sin. It is also scandalous for these persons to encourage behavior that endangers others’ lives.
How is being ordered to wear masks compatible with celebrating Holy Mass? It seems like a dastardly disruption of its supernatural focus. The mask represents “science” and Covid “science” promotes fear. A mask means virtual anonymity in what is supposed to be communal worship, likened to a robot standing six feet from another robot. It also seems like a mockery of spoken prayer and singing. Forget lip reading from the back pews during the homily. Now eliminate the Eucharist as an option, and Mass is reduced to little more than a worldly facsimile of the original. This seems like a move away from, and not toward a goal of “becoming more fully human.” Do you see an evil shadow over this, or is it just me? I think I will be avoiding this “new” government ordered Mass. May God have mercy on me.
I think the Mass is like that scene in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” where all the trappings are gone, even important ones like food, and yet Christmas continues unabated. Mass is better without masks and with a more normal situation in the pews. But let’s just go along with the masks and social distancing. We’ll see that the Mass is still there, unchanged in its essentials.
PS: I have been reading your blog for several years now. Thank you.
I get it that there is a pandemic and Covid-19 is presumed to be dangerous to life. However, as time marches on, people’s economic livelihoods are being destroyed while under lockdown. Also domestic violence, suicide, depression, and anxiety are way up due to the lockdowns. Unemployment has skyrocketed. The cure appears to be worse than the disease at this point. We may have a lull in the panedemic over the summer months with businesses reopening but the damage has been done. I can just see that starting in October, lockdowns will resume as Covid-19 cases and deaths start to increase again. I know we will all be told to stay at home until vaccine is approved and there will be run on markets again.. Is Covid-19 really that bad and are we all willing to live in such constant daily state of fear and panic? There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet and from what I have read, most deaths are due to co-morbidities or weak immune systems. It appears a healthy adult under age of 65 could largely survive Covid-19.
Can society morally resist by force such draconian government lock down measures for so long? I am NOT advocating that Americans start taking up arms against government.
Is Covid-19 really that bad? Yes. I’ve been reading the research every day since sometime in February. It is really that bad. And most deaths are not due to co-morbidities. It is bad and will get a lot worse, unless something is done.
Thank you for the Q&A Mr. Conte.
1) In your opinion, if someone has or possibly has COVID-19, would it be moral for them to risk going to Confession and a last distribution of the Eucharist before going for treatment or testing, since if they are quarantined they may never again get the Sacraments, despite the risk to others? Is this a double-effect situation?
2) How do you see (American) society managing when this is all finally over or contained sooner or later, even if it is many years from now, along these lines: more or less individualistic, more or less religious, politics favoring increased welfare and nationalized healthcare or not, or will not much change at all?
3) What do you think the origin of the virus was, and when the dust settles, who will be socially crucified and held responsible (whether or not they are truly responsible)? And if false blame were to be placed, who do you think it would be?
God bless you all, I’ll be praying for you all and may you pray for me. Lord save us, Mary and Joseph intercede for us.
1. i do not think it would be moral to go to confession and Mass (or Communion service) if you know you are infected. The danger to others is too great. If you give up these good things for yourself, due to love of others, you are forgiven your mortal sins by implicit perfect contrition. Also, when confession is unavailable, perfect contrition forgives all sins. So your soul is not in real danger. However, if a person finds he is unable to reach perfect contrition, and fears for his eternal salvation, he should arrange with a priest to have his confession heard safely.
2. I think Covid-19 will lessen over the summer, and then get worse in late fall and winter. I think it will be seasonal, and a vaccine will not be given out widely enough, nor will it be effective enough. Seasonal flu vaccines are anywhere from 19 to 60% effective:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/effectiveness-studies.htm
Society will have to adapt. I don’t think it will be as bad as some say, with govt taking freedoms away or a new world order taking over. But there will be great disruptions and sufferings. Then the Warning, Consolation, and Miracle will change everything in 2022 or 2023.
3. I think the virus originated in a lab in Wuhan, and was accidentally released by a lab accident.
Thank you for answering Mr. Conte.
PLEASE USE THIS VERSION, not rushed…
I maintain that the Mass is to be structured by the Church alone. It is like the difference between a symbolic Eucharist versus the Real Presence.
As for Covid, there are several doctor whistleblowers claiming stats are inflated (combined with pneumonia, etc.) and in some localities, Covid cases are routed to one busy hospital, while the others lie empty, laying off nurses. Guess which the media covers. This is a worldwide fear campaign to justify global solutions and the New World Order (later the anti-Christ rules the whole world).
Bill Gates is a eugenicist, his father worked for Planned Parenthood, he promotes depopulation. Recall the Kenyan vaccine that bishops found laced with a contraceptive. Can’t buy, sell, work or travel without proof of Bill Gates’ vaccination, despite a 2018 lawsuit (RFK Jr. versus HHS) uncovering 30 years of neglect in terms of vaccine safety measures. It could not possibly be a conspiracy, it must be one great big coincidence. Thank you.
There are always some problems with data collection. I’m sure some deaths were miscategorized, etc. But that does not justify the conclusion that Covid-19 is anything other than a dangerous disease which truly threatens the whole world. I have been reading the research on Covid for months now, since Feb., and it really is that dangerous.
And no, it is not a plot by NWO leaders. My understanding of eschatology refutes this claim absolutely. It is not how the end times unfolds. Also, the Antichrist is not in the world today; he arrives generations from now.