Monsignor Pope: The priestly robes replaced by lab coats

"It's astonishing to me the levels of fear that have utterly collapsed us into this — whatever the government says, I'll do — and even in the Church: whatever the government says, we must follow. The priestly robes have been replaced by the lab coats. Ultimately, we're in trouble. The main bugaboo is fear. How many times did Jesus say, 'Do not be afraid,'" said Monsignor Charles Pope, a parish pastor in Washington, D.C., a writer and speaker.

He recently wrote a two-part reflection for the National Catholic Register, "5 Hard Truths We’ve Come to See With 2020 Vision" and "5 More Hard Truths We’ve Come to See with 2020 Vision." Follow him at msgrpope.com.