It came as an abrupt surprise when governmental guidelines were applied to religious services. These restrictions became especially difficult to obey during our feast days. Christmas came and went. Then came Lent, culminating in that most important feast of all, Easter. And how have we been accommodated during this period of religious isolation and deprivation? By virtual Mass.

As someone unaccustomed to our virtual world, it took me a bit of time to even consider. But the results, for me at least, proved that I could immerse myself in the celebration to a greater extent than I thought possible. As the weeks passed, I came to look forward to “going to Mass each Sunday.” What I wanted most of all was a clear, relevant, comforting, and inspiring homily; thus, my fingers pressed the links to the cathedral. And I was not disappointed.

Given these unintended blessings, I propose that each and every one of us who has watched and participated in virtual Masses help defray the costs being borne by individual parishes and the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Consider how often you have taken advantage of virtual Masses during the pandemic and how much you have benefited. Calculate how much each virtual Mass was worth to your time and convenience.

Perhaps you can afford a single loonie, but multiplied by 10, 20, or 30 Sundays. Send a contribution to your parish or the archdiocese in support of our spiritual community.

My cheque is on the way. Where’s yours?

Robert C. Scott
Sechelt

  

The growing push for mandatory vaccination of post-secondary students is unacceptable given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not fully approved Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. They are approved for emergency use only. Emergency use authorization is a faster, less rigorous process compared to full FDA approval. This should be a red flag for all of us.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 is deadliest among older populations. Through Febr. 17, 2021, 93% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide have occurred among those ages 55 or older. Only 0.2 percent were younger than 25. This trend can also be found on the state level.

Why the push to vaccinate the young? Maybe because more vaccinations equate to higher profits for pharmaceutical companies. 

Joan Davies
Coquitlam

 

The abortion connection of all COVID vaccines available in Canada is, I believe, morally unacceptable, especially given the fact that there are other morally acceptable, highly effective options. The fact that the Canadian government has not approved Ivermectin for prophylaxis and treatment against COVID-19 is incomprehensible and extraordinarily serious, particularly given the world research consensus of the effectiveness of this drug against COVID.

The lack of testing on these experimental mRNA vaccines also leaves us with tremendous uncertainty around their long-term safety, especially for our children. Additionally, vaccine passports could prove disastrous for daily life in Canada for many.

I encourage all of you to write to your MPs and other government officials, particularly health officials. If we are silent, we may have ourselves to partially blame for some grave circumstances that may develop in the future.

Graham Osborne
Creston

 

This is in reply to a recent letter alleging Muslim women held in Chinese detainment camps were gang-raped, a very serious and baseless charge. These kinds of allegations can have damaging consequences, which is what happened when Iraq was accused of having “weapons of mass destruction,” resulting in that country’s people suffering loss of lives and property. The biased reporting by some media on unfounded negative aspects of China plays a role in the escalating anti-Asian hate crimes that are happening in Canada and the US.

Dolores Lee
Burnaby