BECAUSE social distancing – one to two meters – is needed help prevent the spread of COVID-19, mass gatherings of all kinds are now banned – in sports arenas, in offices, in streets and parks, in buses and light rail coaches and stations. This is on top of face masks everywhere outside the house and face shields in public transport.
To help ensure that people maintain their distance from one another, the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) also issued rules related to the capacity of enclosed spaces like malls and restaurants.
Under the strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), all places where people usually gather were closed. Restrictions were eased under Modified ECQ (MECQ) and restaurants were allowed to open up to 10 percent. Under General CQ (GCQ), it was further eased to 30 percent. Metro Manila is now under General CQ, so restaurants are now up to 30 percent capacity.
This schedule of easing restrictions, however, has not been applied to churches. Last Thursday, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco noted that churches in Metro Manila continue to be limited to 10 percent. But we will follow what the authorities say, he said. “We may not agree but we follow.”
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, similarly assured they would abide by what the government decides, even if it seems “illogical.” “All we are asking is if they will give business enterprises a larger capacity, the same should be given to churches,” he said.
Our churches in Metro Manila were closed to parishioners at the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns last March. Holy Week came in April, without the usual Visita Iglesia when the faithful traditionally visit seven churches leading to Good Friday.
Under the first MECQ in May, when churches were allowed to accept 10 percent of their capacity, Plaza Miranda in front of the Quiapo Church was filled with people standing in line, waiting to enter the church. Only about two persons per pew were seen sitting six to ten meters from each other.
It may be time to open our churches to more people. If indeed, people can go to restaurants up to 30 percent under the present GCQ restrictions in Metro Manila, the same 30 percent rule can be applied to churches.
We can understand the need for great caution as the country lifts itself from the COVID-19 lockdowns that began in March. We need to recover from the tremendous economic losses the country has suffered in the last five months – hence the gradual reopening of business and industry in the country.
We also equally need to recover from the losses we have suffered in the social, religious, and other aspects of life in our country. Churchgoing is very much a part of that life in Asia’s biggest Christian nation. Gradually, we must also start reopening our churches to our people.