Albuquerque priest calls off basketball game after some crowd members refuse to wear masks

[left-of-center2012]

The pandemic has brought out a lot of different emotions from people and recently, a local Catholic priest called off a middle school basketball game because of the issue of face masks. "This pandemic, it has brought out the best in all of us and it's also brought out the absolute worst in all of us," Father Vincent Chavez, the pastor of St. Therese in Albuquerque, said.

He described to KOB 4 what happened on Jan. 7, during a sixth-grade basketball game between Hope Christian School and Legacy Academy that was held at his church’s gymnasium. He was at home when he got a call from someone at the game who asked him to go to the gym after people refused to wear their masks.

"I would go up the steps of the bleachers with a box of masks presenting them to people just presenting them to people gently and I was getting scattered push back on it," Chavez said. That's when he decided to step onto the court in the middle of the game to address the crowd.

"I am the Catholic priest here, you are in our home," Chavez said in the video.
He also said, according to state law and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, masks must be worn inside. In the video, some of the crowd can be heard reacting negatively. "So we ask that you put on masks, or the doors are here and there," Chavez said. "Our boys are trying to play. It costs you nothing to put your mask on, just put it on so our kids can play."
One of the people who was seen not wearing a mask replies, "Mind your own business. I'm drinking, thank you."
... after a few seconds, Chavez decides to call off the game.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-priest-calls-off-basketball-game-after-some-crowd-members-refuse-to-wear-masks/6372060/?cat=500

[multigraincracker]

1. Priest must be an Exorcist.

Get out you devils.

[Delphinus]

2. Haha!

That was good!

[colorado_ufo]

14. Spot on!

[LoisB]

23. Amen.

[calimary]

25. Well, he sure cleared the demons out of that building.

NO exceptions. NO compromise. NOT here. And DEFINITELY NOT now.

Not when there’s a DISEASE THAT CAN AND DOES KILL - still running amok through this country.

(“One of the people who was seen not wearing a mask replies, ‘Mind your own business. I'm drinking, thank you.’ “ )

And I don’t give a damn what - or why - you’re drinking.

[niyad]

3. Excellent

[karin_sj]

4. Good for the priest

These people are such idiots, ruining everything with their own selfish and ignorant behavior. I'm glad it wasn't tolerated. This should happen more often.

[wnylib]

5. That's the way to handle anti maskers.

If they refuse, shut down. The players and masked people will be disappointed and angry enough at the anti maskers to blame and shun them, as it should be in the rest of society.

Kudos to that priest.

[dalton99a]

6. He had every right

[inthewind21]

7. Not fair to the boys playing

Good for the priest for throwing the ass-hats out. However, I would have allowed the game to continue if the players wanted. No sense punishing the kids for the self centered, childish behavior of the adults.

[Cozmo]

12. The anti-maskers were very rude and inconsiderate, why condone bad behavior. shut it down.

The priest's action is the only resolution these bullies understand

[patphil]

8. Empty the stands, then play the game.

If the game is cancelled, then the anti-maskers will consider it a win for them.

[KS Toronado]

16. Good point

[Hekate]

9. "You are in our home," he said, after their refusals to wear masks. Fr. Vincent did the right thing.

Takes guts.

[Piasladic]

13. I don't usually appreciate religious figures,

but damn! Good on him. Guts indeed.

[L. Coyote]

10. Bravo. Local school board decided masks should be optional last Friday, closed ever since.

Maskhole Superintendent Marc Thielman wants to be governor, so he puts our lives on the line for his political gain.
We are having the very worst surge of the pandemic right now in this area, and over five percent of 70-79 year olds are dying if infected. But who needs grandparents, right?

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Warpy]

11. Not a bit surprised, masking is serious business here

which is why we haven't been hit quite as hard by the omicron variant, even though it represents the same number of new cases as elsewhere.

Our cases are starting to decline a little, the small pool of maskholes have either gotten over it or are taking up room in the ICUs.

[StarryNite]

15. Good on him!

[KS Toronado]

17. Catholic priests around here are reQublicOn

No masks required for Mass, my Mom quit going on account of it

[whathehell]

18. Good!

[Kid Berwyn]

19. Bravo, Fr. Chavez!

Thank you for standing up to the idiots and sociopaths.

[h2ebits]

20. Children's Museum in Denver closed its doors. . . .

until February 4th because adults were causing problems with refusing to wear masks. They wanted to give their employees a break from the stress for a week.

February 4th is the day that the mask mandate will end. Hopefully, it will get extended.

[McKim]

21. That is Real Christian Behavior!

Good for him! That is real Christian behavior, to protect everyone from getting sick. Well done!
Yes, there are some Christians on the Left like me and following the teachings of Jesus is a good thing.

[left-of-center2012]

22. These were 6th graders

And some of the adults ruined the game for them.

[Grins]

24. Reminds me of an incident at a Jesuit University years ago...

Home court. Some Marquette University fans didn't like a particular call and began loudly chanting a reference to bovine scatology.

The Marquette coach heard that, stopped the game, took the mic to mid-court and said, "This is not us! This is not our university!" Then said if he heard it again he would forfeit the game to the visiting team.

He meant it and it stopped. He did this during a nationally televised game!

The coach was the now-deceased, Rick Majerus.

[calimary]

26. GOOD! Glad to read this story, Grins.

There’s still guts, courage, and noble principles to be found in America.