Note from Bishop Weisenburger:
Dear Friends,
I received the letter below, slightly edited for the writer’s privacy, from
a concerned father who is also a medical doctor (pediatrician). His
message to me is about our current Covid 19 situation and his family. I
pass it along for your consideration:
Dear Bishop:
I am (an active Catholic and) father of 2 children and a general
pediatrician. I was a Catholic school teacher for 6 years before entering
medicine.
I was at Mass this morning … and noted something quite particular. Of
the 6 families with children that I could see, 5 of those families were
wearing masks (parents as well as the non-infant children). That was in
stark contrast to the rest of the worshipers where only about 25% were
wearing masks. … My wife and I are vaccinated but my children, like the
children in the 5 other families that I could see, cannot be vaccinated. I
did not feel comfortable for my children in this setting.
There is some emerging data (currently moving from anecdotal to
stronger evidence) that the delta variant is affecting children and
infants much more than the original COVID-19 strain. I’ve heard this
locally from my colleagues who care for hospitalized children and read
published observations from pediatricians outside of Tucson.
Because of this, I ask you to consider taking the following actions:
- Ask Mass attendees directly to wear masks while giving the reason
that we need to make Mass attendance safe for those who cannot be
vaccinated at this time (children). - Ask priests and deacons celebrating Mass as well as those
participating in the Mass to wear masks when not speaking. This would
serve as an example for parishioners in attendance. - Continue to encourage vaccination for those eligible as you are
doing.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my suggestions. - A Catholic Father and Pediatrician
What I recommend is what this young doctor and father urges you to
do:
1.Directly ask Mass attendees to wear masks while giving the reason
that we need to make Mass attendance safe for those who cannot be
vaccinated at this time (children).
2.Ask priests and deacons celebrating Mass as well as those
participating in the Mass to wear masks when not speaking to serve as
an example for parishioners in attendance.
3.Continue to encourage vaccination for those eligible as you are doing.
4.Due to the growing risk for unvaccinated parents, children, in general
families with small children are hereby dispensed from the Sunday Mass
obligation until further notice. As circumstances related to Covid
protocols may vary from place to place, it is entirely at the discretion of
parents as to whether or not they conclude that it is best to bring small
children to Mass or to spend special prayer time with them at home on
Sunday.
May God bless you and keep you safe!
+Edward J. Weisenburger
Read the full message here