No More 2020 Dumpster Fire!!!

The big year-end meme for 2020 was the dumpster fire, and this seems to have carried the implication that 2021 wouldn't be the same. I'm not sure why. No matter who is president, the worldwide COVID panic continues in full effect. I couln't get a haircut last week, and I won't be able to get one this week, either. And as barbers realize that government decrees make their business unpredictable, they're leaving it -- and this will be the case even after things get back to "normal". There'll simply be fewer barbers, hair salons, and sit-down restaurants.

But insofar as people fought back, they made progress in 2020, and this still needs to be done in the coming year. In particular, the US Supreme Court ruling in the Diocese of Brooklyn case, while it hasn't been a magic bullet, has led to progress in free exercise of religion. We received this letter from our parish yestwrday:

As you may have heard recently, places of worship are now permitted by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health to offer faith-based services, or otherwise allow access for faith-based practices, indoors and outdoors, provided that strict physical distancing is followed, which requires a minimum of six feet between persons from different households. With this latest change, parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles including [redacted] now will begin offering indoor Masses throughout the week. These indoor Masses will be in addition to current offerings of outdoor, drive-in and live stream Masses to meet the comfort level of all who wish to attend.​​

In spite of certain Masses being moved indoors, please know that we will still have all windows and doors open to allow for air circulation even during the cold weather months. Those who wish to attend our indoor Mass times but prefer to sit outdoors will always have the option to sit and listen to the Mass from our Courtyard of Charity. We advise that you check the weather and dress accordingly. Also, all individuals planning for funerals, baptisms, and weddings in the coming months will be given the option to hold these events either inside our church or outdoors at our Courtyard of Charity based on their personal preference.

This is actually how I envisioned Catholic dioceses moving forward some months ago, although I was assuming it would be possible much sooner. There's a general panic still in effect, and people will have varying levels of comfort with indoor masses. Before LA County relaxed the prohibition on indoor worship, our parish had been experimenting with a range of options, from livestream to outdoors in the patio, to drive-in in the parking lot, and for the time being, indoor masses will simply be added to the mix.

Given the arbitrariness and unpredictability of the civil situation, this level of flexibility is highly prudent. The county can change its mind at any time, or the mayor, the governor, or even the federal government can intervene as well, out of the blue. The dumpster fire ain't out by any means.

The other important legal cases over COVID have been less active over the holidays. I have a list of those I'm following and hope to report on new developments.

Mark Clay McGowan, the Bakersfield, CA YouTuber who'd been in the hospital for six weeks with COVID, is finally out and recovering at home.

So there are signs of hope, but the dumpster fire is still raging.