Do We Have a Right to the Sacraments?

Public Masses are not being held, but I know of very few Bishops who are denying the Sacraments to the Faithful. There IS a difference.

From OSV 

By Msgr Charles Pope

Question: I think the bishops are denying the right of the faithful to have the sacraments. My anger is further inflamed by the fact that different dioceses have kept churches open and other dioceses have suspended Masses. Since when does a governor or mayor have the right to tell the Church to deny sacraments to the faithful?

— Name, location withheld

Answer: While it is true that the faithful have a general right to have access to the sacraments, it is not an absolute right. Catholics in mortal sin should not approach Communion. Further, public and obstinate sinners can be denied access to the sacraments, and so forth. For other grave reasons, a bishop can forbid the celebration of Masses in certain areas for a certain time. And that is what we seem to be dealing with here. Public health authorities have asserted that a serious threat exists to the well-being of others and have decreed that a wide number of activities cease for the meantime, including larger public gatherings.

It is also true that the Church should generally resist attempts by the state to limit our religious liberties; but that is not what has happened here. Government officials did not single out Catholic Masses or religious activities. Rather they issued norms and later decrees limiting all public gatherings in various ways. Other things being equal, the Church, and Christians in general, have an obligation to obey just decrees by civil authorities.

We are certainly in a very unusual situation that most of us have never before experienced. We may learn many things going through this process. But for now we do well to listen to one another and be patient. We should be sympathetic to both those who have fears about the virus and to those who have sadness at the loss of the celebration of the liturgy publically. Some fairness is also due to the bishops who themselves are facing a situation unprecedented in most of their lifetimes. The varying responses reflect varying local conditions and decrees.

As for denying the sacraments in general, most dioceses have made exceptions. The faithful who are ill can still be anointed and receive Communion. Funerals, weddings and infant baptisms can still take place, though limited in most places to immediate family.

For now, we are in a difficult spot, to be sure. Pray for a miraculous intervention by God; pray for an end to the virus and extreme fear.