There is so much fear in the world today that decision makers are no longer waiting for facts to make very critical and sometimes life saving actions during this pandemic.

Many politicians and church leaders are either leading with a hidden agenda, leading without facts, or simply leading with what they believe will get them elected or keep them in power. I fall short of saying all leaders because there are some leaders who are looking at the data and making sound policy decisions with the well being and livelihood of their constituents in mind.

There are so many examples to highlight but let me start with the Catholic Church. Our bishops in the USA were among the first to be overly cautious about large gatherings and for a short time decided to close down all worship services. After all, the secular world was looking to ‘flatten the curve’ as everyone put it. The reason we were going to ‘flatten the curve’ was to make sure our hospital staff would not be overwhelmed with the large amount of illness and deaths that would accompany this pandemic. Without any data we would have to assume it might be as bad as the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918.

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal consensus regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide during 1918-1919. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918.

It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. Mortality was high in people younger than 5 years old, 20-40 years old, and 65 years and older. The high mortality in healthy people, including those in the 20-40 year age group, was a unique feature of this pandemic.

https://www.cdc.gov/

With that possibility, everyone seemed willing to pitch in and tighten the belt so to speak to ensure we minimize the deaths or ‘flatten the curve’ so that hospitals would not be overwhelmed. With little factual data on how this disease spreads, the first measure was to minimize large gatherings and cancel church services. Fair enough. The less gatherings the less likely a sick person can infect the rest of the group. But, for all the healthy people in the world, that action has now impacted their freedom to some degree. Sometimes freedom and quality of life needs to be compromised for the sake of those at risk of catching and then being killed by the disease. But, how likely is that. At first, there was not enough data to define that answer.

I was very fortunate to be in the Diocese of Las Cruces where Bishop Baldacchino was the first to allow the Catholic Mass to continue but with occupancy limitations. “It has become increasingly clear that the state shutdown will last for some time. Depriving the faithful of the nourishment offered through the Eucharist was indeed a difficult decision, one that I deemed necessary until I had further clarity regarding our current state of affairs, but it cannot become the ‘status quo’ for the foreseeable future.”

With that action though came the ill informed decision to limit the reception of the Eucharist to allow it to be placed in the hand only. In Europe the traditional way to receive communion is on the tongue. The person receiving the bread from heaven, the ‘body of Christ,’ never touches it, except on the tongue to allow it to nourish the soul. As it says in the Gospel of John:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

John 6:51-58

Receiving the Eucharist, the body of Christ, in the hand was claimed to be safer so the priest would not touch the tongue of the recipient and possibly transfer the disease to another person. But, what data would back that up? Again, in Europe and even the oldest traditions of the church had recipients receiving the Eucharist on the tongue. And now there are 21 doctors telling bishops Communion on the tongue is ‘safer’ than in hand.

21 doctors tell bishops Communion on tongue ‘safer’ than in hand

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/21-doctors-tell-bishops-communion-on-tongue-safer-than-in-hand

Why would they say the hand is not as safe as receiving on the tongue?

As a doctor, I am convinced that Communion in the hand is less hygienic and therefore less safe than Communion in the mouth. What is certain is that the hands are the parts of the body that are most exposed to pathogens.

Prof. Filippo Maria Boscia

These doctors go on in their report with this acknowledgement:

It is part of the traditional rite that the priest should wash his hands in the sacristy immediately before the beginning of Holy Mass. Only he touches the chalice and ciborium. After the consecration, he keeps his thumb and index finger – which he has ritually washed with water again just before – closed until after Communion, so he does not touch anything with them except the consecrated Host. The priests who celebrate in the traditional rite are experienced in administering communion on the tongue and practically never have contact with the mouth of the communicant. Should this happen, however, a priest can be credited with such a sense of responsibility that, taking into account the present situation, he will interrupt the giving of Communion and clean his hands.

Comments from Catholic doctors in Austria

The point here is that a practice was embraced that was not based on facts, but based upon emotions. That decision has left many faithful Catholics to receive the Eucharist on the hand when their instincts and reverence to the Lord would want them to receive on the tongue. How long will this ill informed decision continue before the facts become overwhelming in support of the opposite?

What other ill informed decisions are there? Let’s talk masks for a minute. Whenever there are infected people with diseases that can spread you limit the exposure that person has to others. Usually infection comes with symptoms that will alert the sick person that they should self quarantine. With this disease, there are a small percentage of the population that do not have symptoms even though a test might show they do have the disease. So, the decision is that all people should wear masks. By wearing a mask you are then helping out the person next to you. Instead of sick people wearing the mask, all healthy people are wearing the masks. Did anyone stop to ask, what is the likelihood of a healthy person becoming sick from wearing a mask? How many people would be surprised to hear you have more of a risk of becoming sick by wearing a mask?

Pretty bold statement right? Is it possible this ill informed decision is actually making more people sick than it’s helping?

OSHA says some masks are okay and not okay in certain situations. What are they?

Appropriate respiratory protection is required for all healthcare personnel providing direct care of these patients.

https://www.osha.gov/memos/2020-03-14/temporary-enforcement-guidance-healthcare-respiratory-protection-annual-fit

Health care professionals are wearing N-95 masks. Should you? N95 masks are designed for contaminated environments. When you exhale through N95 the design is that you are exhaling into a contaminated environment. The exhale from N95 masks are vented to breath straight out without filtration. If you have a disease, that disease will be exhaled into the environment. They don’t filter the air on the way out. Conclusion: if you are healthy, the N-95 mask protects you, not your neighbor. If you have the disease, you are doing more harm by giving the appearance that you are protecting others, when in fact, no mask is better than wearing an N-95 mask. At least people might stay further away if you were not wearing a mask.

How about a surgical mask. Should you wear a surgical mask? Chris Barr (OSHA 10&30 certified) posted this on Facebook on June 25th, 2020:

Surgical Mask: these masks were designed and approved for STERILE environments. The amount of particles and contaminants in the outside and indoor environments where people are CLOGGING these masks very, VERY quickly. The moisture from your breath combined with the clogged mask will render it “useless” IF you come in contact with Covid and your mask traps it, YOU become a walking virus dispenser. Everytime you put your mask on you are breathing the germs from EVERYWHERE you went. They should be changed or thrown out every “20-30 minutes in a non sterile environment.”

Chris Barr (OSHA 10&30 certified)

Unless you are a healthcare provider, a surgical mask is not likely something you want to start wearing.

But maybe these cute little face masks we all are wearing is the real answer right?

Cloth masks: I can’t even believe I’m having to explain this, but here it goes. Today, three people pointed to their masks as they walked by me entering Lowe’s. They said “ya gotta wear your mask BRO” I said very clearly “those masks don’t work bro, in fact they MAKE you sicker” they “pshh’d” me. By now hopefully you all know CLOTH masks do not filter anything. You mean the American flag one my aunt made? Yes. The one with sunflowers that looks so cute? Yes. The bandanna, the cut up t-shirt, the scarf ALL of them offer NO FILTERING whatsoever. As you exhale, you are ridding your lungs of contaminants and carbon dioxide. Cloth masks trap this carbon dioxide the best. It actually risks your health, rather than protect it. The moisture caught in these masks can become mildew ridden over night. Dry coughing, enhanced allergies, sore throat are all symptoms of a micro-mold in your mask.

Chris Barr (OSHA 10&30 certified)

Professionals are also weighing in, these two ER doctors were not wearing a mask during their interview. They were asked why they didn’t wear a mask. Their response was something to the effect “because we understand immunology.”

And if a convincing argument has not been made, let’s turn to the New England Journal of Medicine where 3 doctors and a nurse say “a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection.” They continued with “the chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefor minimal.”

Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era

Michael Klompas, M.D., M.P.H., Charles A. Morris, M.D., M.P.H., Julia Sinclair, M.B.A., Madelyn Pearson, D.N.P., R.N., and Erica S. Shenoy, M.D., Ph.D.
Author Affiliations: From the Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute (M.K.), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (M.K., C.A.M., J.S., M.P.), Harvard Medical School (M.K., C.A.M., E.S.S.), and the Infection Control Unit and Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital (E.S.S.) — all in Boston.

We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.

N Engl J Med May 21, 2020

And this same hints to these masks actually causing more harm.

What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.

N Engl J Med May 21, 2020

Why are we wearing masks? Symbolism? Here’s what that article says about symbolism and masks. There’s little to no benefit to wearing a mask. It’s simply a placebo.

It is also clear that masks serve symbolic roles. Masks are not only tools, they are also talismans that may help increase health care workers’ perceived sense of safety, well-being, and trust in their hospitals. Although such reactions may not be strictly logical, we are all subject to fear and anxiety, especially during times of crisis. One might argue that fear and anxiety are better countered with data and education than with a marginally beneficial mask, particularly in light of the worldwide mask shortage, but it is difficult to get clinicians to hear this message in the heat of the current crisis. Expanded masking protocols’ greatest contribution may be to reduce the transmission of anxiety, over and above whatever role they may play in reducing transmission of Covid-19.

N Engl J Med May 21, 2020

People are starting to question these draconian practices, and for good reasons.

Enraged Italians Abandon Masks, Denounce Pandemic As Scam

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/enraged-italians-abandon-masks-denounce-pandemic-scam

And now we are learning the organizations we thought knew everything are actually changing their minds. When science is based upon a changing set of rules and statements, it’s not science but folklore. A science based upon faulty data collection and theories.

Infuriating: We may have shut down the country for nothing

Kaylee McGhee, Commentary Writer | | June 08, 2020 03:30 PM

The World Health Organization announced that asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus “rarely” spread the virus to others according to this report in the Washington Examiner.

Even the esteemed Dr. Fauci stated in March that masks were not effective for this disease. In 2005, he also said HCQ was an effective drug for these types of diseases. I’m sure the powers to be reminded him of the narrative they were paying him to promote and in May he changed his tune and started to wear a mask in public. This was something he was very adamant was not effective just two months prior. And recently he has been very vocal that HCQ is not effective for these types of illnesses. He seems to be making decisions based on some sort of agenda. But what agenda could it be?

And so what are the facts about this disease. We hear the fear porn saying cases are increasing as if “we’re all going to die!” Well, as the Bible clearly states:

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:32

50 Percent of New CCP Virus Cases Come From Arizona, California, Florida, Texas: Pence

BY JACK PHILLIPS  July 1, 2020

That is an interesting stat but it says nothing for the trend. So what does the trend look like?

The steepest graph on the left depicts the amount of new tests. We are testing more than ever before. Over three times the rate as to when we first started in March. The number of new cases is on the rise but still only about 30% more than it was in March. The chart on the right is the number of new deaths. Yes there are more deaths, but those deaths are over 50% fewer than what we started with in March.

The people that want to make ill informed decisions are at it again. Now that the disease is on the retreat, as can clearly be seen with current hospitalization, and now that we have indeed ‘flattened the curve’ and there is no risk to overwhelming the hospitals, our leaders want to impose more draconian measures on us.

Is it time to wear a mask or is it time to go out in public and let the immunology experts weigh in that say herd immunity is the most likely strategy for success at this point.

I started this article with the corollary of the 1918 Spanish flu. During that time, in 1919, there was the third wave of the pandemic and it continued seasonally for 38 years. During that time, no one wore masks. The deadliest disease in the 20th century and no one wore even cloth masks. The economy had its best years right after the pandemic, until the great depression of 1929-1932.

The world is on track for a major economic crash. An economic crash that would indeed be biblical.

Let’s hope our leaders start making decisions based on facts and not emotions or political advantage. If this is truly the time depicted in the last book of the Bible than our hope will be on the false peace that is to come just before the rise of the Antichrist. And the extended peace that follows the tribulation of those days.

—————————————–
References:

Countdown to the Kingdom, https://www.countdowntothekingdom.com/

1918 Pandemic, CDC https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html

The COVID Tracking Project, https://covidtracking.com/data

50 Percent of New CCP Virus Cases Come From Arizona, California, Florida, Texas: Pence, BY JACK PHILLIPS July 1, 2020 The Epoch Times

21 doctors tell bishops Communion on tongue ‘safer’ than in hand, Lifesite News, https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/21-doctors-tell-bishops-communion-on-tongue-safer-than-in-hand

Face Masks, Chris Barr, https://www.facebook.com/chris.barr.9081

Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era, MICHAEL KLOMPAS, M.D., M.P.H., CHARLES A. MORRIS, M.D., M.P.H., JULIA SINCLAIR, M.B.A., MADELYN PEARSON, D.N.P., R.N., AND ERICA S. SHENOY, M.D., PH.D., New England Journal of Medecine, May 2020, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372?query=TOC

Infuriating: We may have shut down the country for nothing, by Kaylee McGhee, Washington Examiner,
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/if-asymptomatic-carriers-dont-spead-coronavirus-we-just-shut-down-the-country-for-nothing