From the Pastor’s Desk:

Driving to Springfield Catholic High School last week for auditions I came to a stop at the junction of Sunshine and National. There on the corner were protesters with all types of signs and flags, protesting Mercy Hospitals requiring all workers to receive the vaccine for COVID-19. In the next few days were articles in the newspaper interviewing and quoting various protesters. It is their right to protest, but many of their reasons to be against the vaccine were totally false, for example, “thousands have died from the vaccine”. Another sign read, “We would rather have nuns than tyrants”.

I would not waste my column on this topic except I want to build my answer around Christianity. Yes I understand that there is terrible political divide in our country and it started years ago and that tremendously plays into the vaccine decisions for many. But I am not a political person, I don’t care for the politics of either party, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ and His teachings.

In the New Testament when Jesus is asked, “What is the greatest Commandment?” His response was, “Love the Lord your God and the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself, upon these rest the other commandments and the law.” St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians continues Jesus’s command or answer, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” To me here lies the problem of our nation and it is not a new problem, but the pandemic has only brought it to the top of the list, “Me, Myself and I”, I will do what I want and I do not care about others.

As soon as the COVID-19 vaccine was available for priests, Fr. Alan and myself went that afternoon for three reasons: 1) to protect ourselves, 2) so that we hopefully would not get sick and need to close the Cathedral for weeks and 3) to not catch the virus and perhaps be asymptomatic and unknowingly pass it on to others and perhaps be the reason for someone to die. I would have a hard time living with that knowledge.

Today wearing a mask at this time is a choice, but if we bring it back into the Catholic Schools as has been announced for the Springfield Public Schools, it is for 2 reasons, protect yourself protect young people and protect your friends. You may not care about yourself, but do you also not care about your friends?

Being a follower of Christ, we should not lie, steal, commit adultery or kill, unfortunately sin is rampant in our society, are we/myself a part of the tidal wave of not caring about others.