Friction

As various states, some more slowly and reluctantly than others, begin to reopen society, it's becoming plain that nobody has thought this process through. For instance, California has graciously announced that bookstores and boutiques can open for "curbside pickup". How's that supposed to work? "I want to buy a book. I'll be over to pick it up at the curb at 10:00." "I need a sweater. I'll be by to pick it up at 2:00.'

I don't know if you have to prepay by credit card on line before you drop by, or whether you have to put your credit card on the sidewalk and wait ten minutes before the sales clerk picks it up, or what. I assume no cash, it's infectious. Nobody's worked this out, but if you have to prepay, why have the middleman at the boutique at all? Just use Amazon!

I watched a YouTube video by a laid-off airline pilot who made the point that if airlines are required to separate all passengers by six feet, you can't have an airline industry, because nobody can make money flying a plane with so few passengers. (And how did the industry avoid killing off its passengers with infectious diseases for 85 years without seating them six feet apart, anyhow?)

The same sorts of problems are starting to emerge as Catholic parishes have just begun to reopen for public mass. Everyone is careful to say "social distancing" will be observed (as apparently it will on Delta), with attendance limited to 25, or ten, or whatever the local magistrate will approve. But wait a moment. Sunday mass starts at the Saturday vigil, let's say 5:00, and it goes to Sunday evening. Let's give it a total of maybe 28 hours.

If priests are available to say one mass per hour at that parish, all night Saturday and all day Sunday, no more than 700 people can receive the sacrament if only 25 per hour can get in (and the local magistrate may haul any overflow away in cuffs, remember). But of course, nobody can say mass all night and all day, so the practical attendance will be far fewer.

So my regular correspondent pointed me to the website of St Michael the Archangel Portland, OR, which carries the following messages:

In accordance with Governor Brown’s executive orders, the number of people at a Mass cannot exceed 25. Consequently, in order to participate in these Masses, you need to sign up in advance.

• Appropriate social distancing and adequate cleaning of the church after each use must be maintained.
• Those who attend Mass do so at their own risk. Vulnerable, at-risk and otherwise concerned persons should remain home. Anyone with the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness must remain home.
• For those who do not feel safe about coming to Mass during these times, we will continue to livestream the following Masses: Wed.-Sat. 12:05 pm, and Sunday 10 am and 7 pm. You can watch those Masses both on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
• Must Sign up. Can’t Show up. You must sign up for Mass in order to attend. You are asked to sign up at only one parish. No one who simply shows up for a Mass can be allowed entrance. NO Exceptions.

A letter from the archbishop gives other details, including

. . . the number of people at a Mass cannot exceed 25. This includes the celebrant, essential ministers, cantors, videographers and anyone present. Under NO circumstances can more than 25 people be present.

. . . Many factors may prevent a parish reopening Masses (underlying health conditions of pastor, lack of volunteers for cleaning, lack of cleaning supplies)

The bottom line is that the conditions for even such a limited reopening are likely to be so burdensome, and will make it so difficult for nearly anyone to obtain a slot, that a reopening is actually not taking place. You want to buy a book at your bookstore from the curb? It's still easier to go to Amazon. You want to go go mass? Keep attending on line.

In contrast, Evangelical churches are taking matters into their own hands.

Leaders of several evangelical churches announced Thursday that they will reopen their sanctuary doors on May 31, regardless of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s schedule for reopening sectors of the state that have been shut down for several weeks because of coronavirus stay-at-home orders.

Under Newsom’s schedule, which falls into four stages, churches come under Stage 3, along with hair and nail salons, gyms, movie theaters, weddings and sporting events without live audiences.

But during a news conference at the Water of Life megachurch in Fontana, faith leaders representing megachurches and smaller congregations adding up to thousands of faithful in California said they are not prepared to wait much longer, and will reopen on May 31 — the Day of the Pentecost.

In a related development, the Riverside County, CA sheriff has announced he will not enforce Gov Newsom's COVID orders.

Appearing on "Fox & Friends" with host Steve Doocy, Bianco explained that the "situation" in Riverside County under state orders is "nothing like they told us it was going to be in the beginning."

"It's time to get back opening up our businesses and letting our people do what our normal business activities are," he said. "And, you know, you just can't arrest somebody for going out and exercising in public or not wearing a mask. You know, at the same time they are trying to force me to release real criminals from jail. They want me to make criminals out of law-abiding citizens that are, you know, trying to support a family. It doesn't make sense anymore."

Many of the Evangelical groups in the story above are in that territory. You can haul away only so many soccer moms from the playground in handcuffs. You can only arrest so many pastors.