by Fred Hernandez

Church. A sanctuary. A place of peace, meditation and serenity. Hallowed ground and the home of God. For many the church is the last bastion of all that is good, decent and up lifting. Where people go to be spiritually nourished and with that nourishment even attain physical healing. A place of joy.

On Sunday, January 17th, that joy, peace, healing and all of what represents good was suddenly and irrevocably shattered at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in the little town of Westcliffe, high up in the Wet Mountain Valley, County of Custer, the State of Colorado, at the foot of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Like a fine and delicate glass of champagne thrown violently against a concrete wall, the crash reverberated throughout the hills and valleys of this peaceful community as social media echoed the sounds of impending totalitarian control.

It would have been a typical Sunday for Catholics with Mass at the usual time of eleven o’clock. The parish priest, Fr. Stephen Injoalu, was on his annual home leave and a substitute priest was to preside instead. A few minutes before the eleven o’clock Mass, the Diocese Deacon from Pueblo took to the alter and announced that he was asked to read a letter from the Bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo, the Rev. Stephen Berg. The message was yet another reminder of the dire need to don the mask. Only, this time there was a not so veiled hint of intimidation; if there are those who still do not wear the facial covering the Bishop has “authorized” the priest to refrain from offering the Mass ipso facto denying the congregation their right to worship. (See letter from the Bishop and letter from a parishioner to the Bishop.)
No sooner than the deacon finished reading the letter, two men entered the sanctuary and made their way immediately to one of the parishioners sitting at the back who had his mask around his chin. One of the men, big and tall, dressed incivilian clothes and wearing a plastic shield in front of his face and the other one, shorter, dressed in black from head to toe with a visible tattoo around his neck and sporting on his left hip what looked like a Glock with his hand on the weapon. They towered over the seated parishioner and asked him to adjust his mask to cover his face. The parishioner asked who they were and one of them responded that they were “security”. Sensing potential conflict the parishioner wisely requested the so-called security men to exit the sanctuary for a conversation outside the church.
Once outside and in response to the questions of the parishioner it was revealed that their security company had been retained by the Diocese of Pueblo. The purpose, they explained, was to “enforce” the mask mandate of the state government. When asked what they would do if people failed, for whatever reason, to abide by the mandate, their response was that they would defer to the local Sheriff who had, in fact, already been contacted prior to their arrival at the church. As it was, while this confrontation was going on, there was, it was understood, a Sheriff’s Deputy patrolling the vicinity of the church.
The parishioner was amused by the reply regarding the Sheriff since it is widely known locally that the Sheriff has said, in public, that his office would not enforce the mask mandate simply because his job is to enforce the law and the mask issue is not a law. A “mandate” is not law.
In the meantime, the congregation inside the church were left in bewilderment wondering what was happening. A number of them went outside as did the priest and the deacon who almost immediately proceeded to the parking lot and drove back to Pueblo. The choir director was left to mount the altar and address the congregation telling them that Mass had been cancelled and that the priest, and deacon, had left the premises. The congregation was in total disbelief at what had transpired in what seemed like a flash. The sadness was palpable and there were many moist eyes. Men and women were expressing grief and dejection.
Some voiced their concern and even fear. How could this happen in our church? This was for many, a refuge, a place of solace and tranquility and now that was all gone. How could we be sure this would not happen again? Why the need for “security” over an issue that is not even a law. One lady bawled in anguish expressing her heartbreak and melancholy.

In the early afternoon, a handwritten message scrawled on cardboard was mysteriously taped across the entrance to the church announcing that the Bishop and the substitute priest had declared “no mask, no Mass” and below that “Violation Religious Rights”. By nightfall social media was spreading fast across the valley and on to the cities below. The message was clear – how can this be happening despite the protections of the Constitution of the United States? Is this the harbinger of things to come in this great country, armed men in the House of God enforcing man’s imperfect edicts?

Looking back at what transpired, the whole drama begs answers to some questions. It is hard to believe that church authorities would specifically instruct anyone to enter a sacred space, armed, to implement the simple mandate of putting on a mask. Perhaps the security agency needs to have better training for their employees. Were the church authorities even given good and accurate information to begin with? Who within the parish is fanning the fire of division? Some of the details of the story reveal inaccuracies that point to attempts to misconstrue some simple facts such as the claim that furniture was moved around which is simply untrue. Then there are those who, because of preexisting conditions, are unable to wear a facial covering. Many members of the community are elderly and have challenges and medical conditions, not to mention simply having to breathe at this high altitude. Should we not consider them and respect their needs too? There are those who are so steeped in fear as to become obsessive in their behavior. Blinded by this fear they will lash out and do whatever they can to get their way. They see those who do not wear masks and immediately make judgments that are without foundation. With great humility and in prayer the parish might do better to look inward to their members and together discover a win-win solution. There are alternatives to this dilemma. We are a community of God’s children and as such we should behave like the family we are and together make this work for everyone.
May God bless everyone always and abundantly.

(Editor/GG: The article’s author, Fred Hernandez, is a member of this church and was an eye witness to the events. It is beyond belief that a senior church official would send armed guards into a sacred sanctuary and throw people out who are there to worship God. The scene outside the church was horrible – extremely angry parishioners, old
people crying, the look of disbelief on all faces. God help us.)