When the stay-at-home orders were announced in March 2020 there was shock and a variety of reactions. For most people, whose employment was now in jeopardy, a major concern was paying their bills if they were laid off or lost their jobs completely. Obviously everyone’s health in the midst of a pandemic with an unknown virus was the major concern, but how we would live during this time was a priority.

Equally shocking was that Churches would not be allowed to gather their people for public worship. Without gathering there would be no monetary collections. So Church leaders shared the concern of how do we pay the bills. Faith alone does not keep buildings heated, powered, etc. While this was a very valid concern what disturbed me was that it seemed to be the only concern.

If I think of what Church is or is supposed to be or even Jesus’ message in the Gospels my initial response to humanity facing an unknown virus and stay-at-home orders is:

How do we walk with the people of God during this time?

I believe that should have been our Church’s primary question. It should have guided our efforts. Instead I witnessed furloughs, lay-offs and even terminations of ministry positions. At the time when people needed prayer, companionship, etc. most, Church leaders were advising parish leaders about how to lay people off. That does not sound like the Jesus who stopped teaching to heal the paralytic whose friends lowered him through the roof.

I observed this pattern across the country in the Catholic Church. This was not only my diocese. I also know of many parishes who had their ministry leaders make personal phone calls to parishioners. It was a beautiful concerted effort. Another parish’s pastor gathered all of his staff the moment this began and started with that question, “How do we walk with the people of God during this time?” They created amazing outreach efforts, and their collections did not falter. When we truly minister to people, they respond in kind.

Jesus told people that he was the rock upon which his Church would be built. Peter was human like us. Our Church leaders represent that rock today, and I fear our rock is indeed crumbling. One could say that the abuse scandal, the cover-ups, the inhumane treatment of people – all of that alone is enough to say our rock is crumbling. However the response of Church leaders as this pandemic began disgusts me. The scandals involve the misuse and obsession with power on so many levels. The pandemic response seems to me to show that our Church does not care about its people.

My prayer is that this experience of our human weakness will help Church leaders to refocus our values and priorities. Perhaps we will one day be the Church Jesus meant us to be.