I was going to write something inspiring about Catholic Press Month, which ends in about a week. Then I received a voicemail message from a reader whose passion for this newspaper made listening to their call the highlight of my day. Although the caller said I could print their name, I’ll keep them anonymous so you can wonder whether it came from someone you know. I’ve transcribed it here, almost verbatim, although with a few editorial changes to add clarity and mystery. 

Thank you for Paul Schratz’s column on Feb. 8, “Projecting fear and closing churches.” I thought it was very good.

It isn’t true though that so few people care. It certainly is frustrating, and there’s lack of justification for this ban. Everybody says, “Oh, you’ve got to social distance and you’ve got to do this and that.” Those are people who haven’t been into the churches and don’t know how rigorous the priests have been. Every parish I’ve been to has been scrupulously maintained.

I still don’t understand at all how the government can have bars open and restaurants and social activities like that. It’s just unbelievable what this government has done, and maybe we’d better start thinking about it.

What I’ve decided to do is what a priest mentioned in the article. He talked about your evangelizing work – that the role of The B.C. Catholic is really evangelizing work, a kind of coffee table evangelism. That priest’s idea is right on the money. So, what I’m going to do is, I’m going to order The B.C. Catholic for all my nieces and nephews, and I’m going to pay for the subscriptions.

A relative of mine lives in the Lower Mainland and I’ve already paid for their subscription. They don’t really have a pastor in their little church; a priest goes over to say Mass once in awhile, but they don’t have an actual pastor and secretary and all that.

So, I want to give you my credit card number and their address.

At this point the caller scolded us a bit about the difficulty of getting a live person on the phone and having to leave a voicemail message, something I can sympathize with.) 

I’m going to keep doing this for my other relatives all over the province. I think this priest’s idea is really important and should be emphasized again so you’ll sell a lot of B.C. Catholics. I think it’s a marvelous newspaper and you’re doing just a great job.

I’m also really upset with the closing of the churches. I’ve worked in health care for decades across the country. We’ve looked after very infectious whooping cough cases, meningitis cases, people with HIV and SARS and everything, and this is just over the top. I’m certain that Mother Teresa wasn’t terrified as much as people are today. She and Father Damien dealt with lepers. For goodness sake, let’s use common sense and let it prevail and ask for the grace of God as we go out to do our evangelizing work.

Here’s my phone number. Next time I talk with you I’ll give you another address. I’d like the paper to go to them too. Thank you very much.

No, thank you very much!