Retired bishop hopes gov’t would allow more people in Masses

By Ferdinand Patinio, 4 Sep 2020

MANILA – Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. on Friday expressed hope that the government would allow more faithful to attend Masses in churches.

Bacani said many people need to express their faith amid the seven-month crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“A man with a strong faith is less likely to be depressed and a person of faith will not find any real reason to commit suicide. That’s why it is important at this time to let people be able to practice their faith and to find hope from motives of faith,” he said in an interview over church-run Radio Veritas.

Bacani said he was hoping that the government would allow at least 50 percent of the seating capacity of a church to address the increasing number of suicide cases in the country.

He assured that all safety health protocols, including social distancing, would be followed because of the huge capacity of churches.

“I myself would advocate let them keep a proper distancing but let them be able to participate in the Mass, like a 50-percent attendance at Mass should not be dangerous to people, especially when the spaces are open spaces, unlike in a completely air-conditioned room,” Bacani said.

A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed an increase in mental health-related concerns and disorders since quarantine measures were implemented in the country in mid-March due to the pandemic.

The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has been receiving about 45 calls every day since March, compared to 13 to 15 per day from May 2019 up to February 2020, from those who are experiencing depression and are having thoughts of committing suicide.

Meanwhile, lawyer Romulo Macalintal has urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to give churchgoers as much importance as casino operators.

“You should consider the fact that once a parishioner takes his seat inside the church, he does not move around as he stays in his pew till the Mass is over. A Mass lasts for an average of 40 minutes only – the longest time a parishioner would stay inside the church. But a casino player has no time limit as to the number of hours he’d stay in the casino, which makes him more vulnerable to coronavirus infection,” Macalintal, a church server at the Last Supper of our Lord Parish in Las Piñas City, said in an open letter to the task force.

He noted that while the Catholic Church appreciates the government’s decision to allow a 10-percent seating capacity for religious activities under the GCQ, he is saddened that casinos would reopen with a 30-percent seating capacity.

“At an average (of) 2,000 slot machines and gaming tables in a casino, 30 percent would mean some 600 people with prolonged contact with each other in an enclosed space where (the) coronavirus is said to be at higher risk, while a church with an average of 300 seats, if given (a) 10-percent seating capacity, will mean 30 churchgoers only in an open-space building where social distancing and health protocols could be properly maintained,” Macalintal said.

He also asked the IATF-EID to clarify guidelines as to whether senior citizens are allowed to go to casinos.

“Your guideline should also make clear if senior citizens are allowed to play or enter the casinos because, under your rules, senior citizens are not allowed to leave their residence even for religious activities. But if senior citizens are allowed to enter the casinos, there is no rhyme or reason why they cannot be allowed to leave their houses to attend religious activities,” Macalintal added.

Reports said the IATF has allowed the operation of casinos at 30-percent capacity in areas under GCQ.

Churches are allowed to accept only 10 percent of the venue’s seating capacity under GCQ and 50 percent capacity under modified GCQ. (PNA)