The CDC has recently approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a bird flu vaccine, even though the bird flu virus has failed to cause any significant illness in Americans and as of this writing, a total of 13 Americans have tested positive. None of them were even close to being critically ill. With regard to COVID-19, the CDC recently approved a new version of mRNA gene therapy vaccine for COVID-19, though most Americans are no longer receiving the this therapy and this therapy does not prevent transmission or infection with COVID-19. The World Health Organization has raised the alarm over monkeypox, even though this virus rarely causes severe disease and is spread overwhelmingly by male homosexual behavior. Some are predicting another wave of crises and pandemics as the presidential election nears.
Many researchers and pundits are critical of the public health response, noting that this is fearmongering for these diseases. Unfortunately, as was blatantly seen, the Catholic Church in the United States went lock step with public health restrictions. This led to severe harm, and in some cases, death of the spiritual lives of many Catholics. Mass attendance plummeted after COVID lockdowns and in many areas has not returned. Many thoughtful Catholics are concerned that if absurd and draconian public health measures resurface in light of “new” threats, will the bishops of the United States return to previous actions? It looks like that would most likely be the case, as over 60% of the budget for the United States Council of Catholic Bishops comes from the federal government. This was poignantly described in a recent article ( https://leilamarielawler.substack.com/p/the-bishops-want-illumination-and)
We can hope and pray that our bishops and clergy will have learned from the debacle of COVID misinformation and detrimental consequences endured by the faithful. We can also hope that faith and common sense will prevail if and/or when a new public health “crisis” appears. May we hope in God, not men, to guide us in doing the right thing in the future.