Mask Mandate Takes Effect for Boston Catholic Churches Ahead of Christmas Celebrations

[pstokely]

Source: NBC Boston

Parishioners who attend any Catholic church service in Boston are now required to wear masks.

The mandate, which takes effect Sunday, was announced by the Archdiocese of Boston earlier this month as the city grapples with rising COVID cases amid the Christmas season. For now, masks will be required through January 17.

The mask mandate not only applies to any holiday masses, but also includes any wedding or funeral services.

Mass celebrants, deacons, readers, servers, choir members and instrumentalists do not have to wear a mask when they're speaking.

Read more: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/mask-mandate-takes-effect-for-boston-catholic-churches-amid-holiday-season/2594481/

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were churches exempt the city mandate?

[keithbvadu2]

1. If you claim a religious exemption, can you attend mass unmasked?

If you claim a religious exemption, can you attend mass unmasked?

[rpannier]

3. I don't think you can

The Church doesn't support the religious exemptions, though there are some Bishops and Cardinals that do.
I haven't seen any articles that have said they will allow unmasked in.
My understanding is, it applies to everyone, even with a medical issue because they don't want individual churches having to decide how to deal with someone who comes without a mask and claims s/he has a medical condition

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I looked up Boston's mandate and found this (From September)

Mayor Janey announces indoor mask mandate for City of Boston

September 10, 2021

Published by:

Mayor's Office

The City will address the COVID-19 Delta variant through a five-point plan.

Mayor Kim Janey today announced face masks will be required in all indoor public settings in the City of Boston, as part of a Five-Point Plan for the Delta Variant, a more contagious COVID-19 variant that is now the primary strain of the virus. The public health order, issued by the Boston Public Health Commission, is effective at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, August 27 in the City of Boston. The City is implementing this proactive public health plan to mitigate community transmission of the Delta variant, ahead of the arrival of more than 50,000 college students from across the country and a return to school for more than 50,000 Boston Public Schools students. Most of the 100,000 children who live in the City of Boston are too young to be eligible for vaccination.

(snip)

Face coverings may be removed when actively eating or drinking. Masks must be worn for all other indoor activities, including ordering at a bar or dancing. Masks are also required in gyms. The order does not apply to gatherings in private residences when no compensation is paid, private buildings that are inaccessible to the public, places of worship, private work spaces inaccessible to the public, or performers who maintain six feet of distance from their audience.

(snip)

https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-janey-announces-indoor-mask-mandate-city-boston

So it took 3 months for the Diocese of Boston to finally make a decision on their own.

[Skittles]

4. imagine how much Covid has been spread via churches