In chapter 8 of his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes about the pastoral difficulties surrounding eating meat sacrificed to idols. The meat from animals used in pagan sacrifice was being sold in Corinthian markets.

Eating the meat of sacrificed animals was seen as an extension of the sacrifice and participation in it. Paul states that there is but one God and that idols don't exist, so eating the meat sacrificed to them amounts to eating the meat of an animal sacrificed to nothing. Therefore, Paul has no theological difficulties with eating meat leftover from pagan sacrifices.

However, he is concerned with the pastoral issues it raises. Paul admits that not everyone shares his understanding of idols, and that, when a Christian brother/sister who does believe idols exist eats that meat, the Christian brother/sister violates his/her conscience and, by doing so, sins.

So, Paul tells his fellow Christians to not eat the meat that comes from pagan sacrifices in order to protect their brothers and sisters in Christ who may not be so enlightened. Paul's point: to exercise Christian freedom well, one must consider the needs of others and strive to build them up.

Now, I'm going to go where only angels dare to tread-the wearing of facemasks. As for the efficacy of facemasks in preventing COVID-19 virus, I will leave that to the scientists. However, even if a Christian were to believe that masks were completely ineffective against the COVID-19 virus, shouldn't we, as Christians, be concerned with how others who do not share that opinion may be affected by our refusal to wear them? Shouldn't we consider the fear that an elderly person or person with an underlying medical condition might have just being out in public, running essential errands? If something as simple as wearing a mask can lift that burden from them and give them some peace, shouldn't we do it?

Additionally, consider our neighbors who are business owners, and appreciate the precarious situation that they find themselves in. If they don't enforce the mask guidelines, they risk large fines or having their business shut down.

Moreover, if they don't enforce the guidelines and an employee were to be infected with the virus and get sick or die, the financial liability would be staggering. Running a business is difficult-even more difficult in the midst of this pandemic, so is it too much to ask a Christian to give up a little freedom by wearing a mask so that business owners can be relieved of at least the worries and risks associated with masks?

As Christians, the exercise of our individual freedom must take into consideration the needs of others in our community. Sometimes individual freedom needs to be sacrificed for a greater communal good--a cross embraced for the sake of others. The Christian faith rests on that principle: after all, the Son of God freely accepted our human nature and embraced the cross for our salvation.

Fr. Steve Werner

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Dayton

St. Marks, Waitsburg