Last night my wife asked me why we Catholics must so closely follow Illinois’ state restrictions on attending Mass. I had no good answer.
And then this morning I heard last night’s EWTN Nightly News saying that the Northwest Bible Baptist Church in Elgin, along with some fifty churches in Illinois, will be resuming in-person services May 17. See their press release and letter.
These churches are careful to note that they will be following all the CDC and government regulations. Thus, they will be practicing the same safeguards as those who travel to Walmart, Menards, and other public gathering places.
Why do we Catholics seem to be so eager to fall in line with the governor’s demands concerning COVID-19? For all of our obeisance, the state’s legislators reward us not with kind favors, but slaps in the face as they tear down our efforts to protect innocent human life from abortion and other evils?
Why don’t we Catholics join with our Protestant brethren in standing up for our First Amendment right to practice our Christian faith? Our founding Fathers spoke out in the Bill of Rights against the government “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. If anything, this is it.
First Liberty Institute, which is helping the Baptist church, wrote a letter to Gov. Pritzker. It explains well Northwest Bible Baptist Church’s and the other churches’ compliance with health laws concerning their action to reopen services. It also lays out firm Biblical reasons for resuming their worship services. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29).
It’s not rebellion. It’s simply saying, why can’t the worship of God be respected as an essential activity?
In staying away from attending services, Protestants miss their fellowship and communal prayer. We Catholics miss not only that but the very Body and Blood of Our Savior Jesus Christ. All the more reason why we need to stand up and be counted.
We Catholics miss not only that but the very Body and Blood of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
If all six Catholic dioceses in Illinois joined with these fifty churches on May 17, this would be a noble ecumenical effort, and all Christians would form a strong force for religious liberty in this state.
It’s time to push back. What do you think?
