San Francisco Archbishop Ought to ‘Comply with Science’ When It Comes To COVID-19 Worship Restrictions – CBS San Francisco
WASHINGTON (CBS SF / AP) – House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi pushed back on Friday against Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Joseph Cordileone for his outspoken criticism of COVID-related restrictions on worship by California health officials.
Pelosi, a San Francisco Bay Area Catholic, said she missed going to Sunday mass but criticized the archbishop’s recent protest restrictions on larger public gatherings. She said he shouldn’t endanger people’s lives.
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“With all due respect to my Archbishop, I think we should pursue science in this regard,” Pelosi said.
Indoor services are currently banned in San Francisco and there is a strict 12-person limit for outdoor services.
The right to worship has become a touchstone in the debate over state and local rules to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Archbishop Cordileone said the rights of worshipers were “wrongly suppressed” by the government. Several churches nationwide are suing to stop restrictions.
“We recognize that the government has the right to make adequate public health regulations,” he wrote in the Washington Post. “But when the government asserts authority over the church’s right to worship, it is crossing a line.”
Pelosi said she recently attended an outdoor personal service in San Francisco and received communion – she picked up the waffle from the priest as allowed instead of having it put directly on her tongue. She regularly joins online services.
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The San Francisco Bay Area Democrat said she had to register in advance to attend and found that about a dozen people had spread by the time she arrived.
“Very, very, very far apart,” she said.
She asked if the archbishop’s message had been misunderstood.
“I’m sure he must have meant if it is scientifically safe, rather than endangering people’s health, if they want to go to church,” she said.
Pelosi noted that belief and science are sometimes at odds.
“Here people say to me: You are a person of faith, why do you believe in science?” She said.
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“I say I believe science is an answer to our prayers. It is a creation of God and an answer to our prayers. “
