`This is a matter of public health'
A priest is currently battling COVID- 19 in a hospital Intensive Care Unit.
Six other priests, a seminarian and a transitional deacon also have been infected by the coronavirus since the pandemic struck Oklahoma.
A large Catholic parish felt compelled to suspend in-person Mass after a clergyman became ill with the virus.
For Archbishop Paul S. C oakley, these specific COVID-19 cases — coupled with t he health of all of the faithful in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City — meant he needed to act fast.
It' s why he decided that anyone attending public Masses and church activities throughout the archdiocese must wear am ask or face covering, beginning Saturday. Children age 5 and younger are excluded from this requirement but most adults and youth will be expected to comply.
Friday, the archbishop said he had been watching the number of COVID-19 cases trend upward and while he did not want to impose the mask requirement, "given the recent spike in numbers, it was the next step, I think, to continue to provide a safe environment for people to worship and to participate fully in Mass."
C oakley' s decision comes within a week or so of civic and health leaders indicating "faith- based activities" are among several super spreader events that had been identified through
“I commend the archbishop for taking this prudent action that will undoubtedly and significantly lessen the potential that anyone will spread the virus at his churches.” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt
coronavirus case data.
"Unfortunately, in timate gatherings like church have been a source of too many recent COVID-19 cases," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in a statement on Friday ." We know faith gatherings are important to our community's overall well-being, so for those churches that are meeting in-person, we want them to be able to do so safely."
The mayor praised Coakley's latest safety measure.
"I commend the archbishop for taking this prudent action that will undoubtedly and significantly lessen the potential that anyone will spread the virus at his churches," he said.
Coakley said he's not planning to halt in-person Mass any time soon.
He's simply hoping that parishioners at Catholic churches throughout the archdiocese respond favorably to this latest safety measure.
Politics not behind decision
The archbishop said he's not sure how parishioners will respond to the latest safety measure because people seem to view masks indifferent ways during the coronavirus crisis.
That's why he wanted to emphasize that health and public safety — not politics — was behind his decision to require face coverings.
"Unfortunately, I think masks have become politicized. My decision has nothing to do politics — the politics of whatever people seethe mask to symbolize," he said.
"My sole concern is to keep people safe. This, along with other prudent measures, can help slow the spread of COVID19, keep people healthy and ultimately, save lives. This is a matter of public health and personal health, not a matter of politics, in my estimation."
Response to mandate varies
Pat Tower was one of about 20 people who attended daily Mass on Friday in the St. Francis de Sales Chapel at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Oklahoma City.
Tower, a member of Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church, wore a mask and said she trusted the archbishop' s re ason ing behind the face covering requirement.
"I think the archbishop probably knows best, so I'm for it," she said.
So far, response from other parishioners around t he archdiocese varies, judging from social media posts on the archdiocese's Facebook page.
The Rev. Rick St ans berry, pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church, said his parishioners gave the new mandate mixed reviews. Like Coakley surmised, the politicization of masks seemed to have made the issue contentious for some, he said.
Stansberry said he had already talked to church members who agreed with the new requirement an dot hers who were upset about it.
"Some people have gotten so worked up about it but in my mind, i t's not a bad thing," he said.
"The sad thing is, everything has become so politicized and polarized. And social media is just like adding gas to a fire."
Still, St ans berry said he remains hopeful that t he mask mandate will do what it is designed to do — limit the spread of the coronavirus.
"It's way better to wear am ask than to have to close down. If that'll help, I think it's a good thing to do," he said. "We have to try to stay positive and stay the course."