ASK FATHER: All who enter a church must sign a visitors book, include name, contact details

I have had to register to make Mass “reservations” in the next county northward, as my county is still mostly shut down for religious gatherings (yet I and hundreds of my closest friends can all pretend to social distance inside of the nearest Costco…). Of course, I gave an alias with an email address created just for the occasion. If it was good enough for Blessed Miguel Pro, it’s good enough for me. We may have to start going underground soon, it’s good practice. Viva Cristo Rey!

My diocese has asked that we sign a waiver to not hold the Church responsible if we come down with the virus after attending Mass. I found a few others reluctant to sign. But then I wondered if we didn’t have something to sign, what if someone purposely came after the Church after becoming ill…? Okay, highly unlikely…but then there are those who want to force the baker to bake the cake!

When I looked at the document I saw they only requested a name, signature and phone number or email address. At my church (where we could probably tell you who all came to Mass on any particular Sunday) we only have to turn in the document once, one for each family. And I think it’s good for attending the two other churches in the parish.

I attended a larger church in the same diocese and they wanted a new signed document every time you came to Mass.

No one is standing outside with a clipboard to sign people in, although at the larger church someone was using a no-touch thermometer to take temperatures. At the larger church they also said in the future they would most likely shut the doors as Mass began in order to keep stragglers from entering and sitting just anywhere.

It’s been said that if we do not attempt to go along with these measures, the governor could shut us down again. Meanwhile I am praying that our church leaders are formulating a plan for us to resist if/when there is a next time.

It would be a travesty if the civil law were to use COVID-19 precautious as a guise to force people to manifest what is brought forward in confession, but I don’t see that happening here. I have no qualms about writing my name on a paper that said I visited a church. Ought we be ashamed to have our names associated with Jesus Christ? If it leads to persecution, then blessed are we.

The purpose of such registration is to be able to contact people in case another attendee is diagnosed with COVID-19. If I lived in China, it is possible that this practice could be used for other purposes which might be a threat to me. Since I live in Canada in 2020, it is not. It may be a threat at some point in the future, but right now, for most of us, compliance with this practice is harmless. It is important for us to be aware of how things might change in the future, but it is wrong to exaggerate any present danger. Satan just loves it when people get all worked up over nothing.

PennCatholic – I admit having to register for any/all Masses desired gave me pause at first. Name, phone number and email address is required. After much agonizing over this, I finally realized that it is a small price to pay to give glory to God. And, as you said regarding persecution … correction, as Jesus said, Blessed are we …