Faith, Reason and Pandemics

 As a scientist (retired MD,  in Geriatrics and Internal Medicine) and person who has been given the gift of faith, it has been difficult to watch how the pandemic has torn our country apart, killing 240,000 souls. There has been a worrisome alignment of religion,  junk science and politics. I am surprised that good doctors with respected careers in medicine have spoken out against basic infectious disease principles.  On my Facebook page, a former medical colleague has schooled me in the futility of mask wearing! These are the facts:

The science has told us this virus is novel, and there are no natural defenses yet.

The majority of folks who contract it will resolve without complications.

People with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and age >65 are at risk for severe infections resulting in prolonged intubations, and possible death.

The county nursing home where I served as the medical director lost 81 patients which is far more than I have ever seen in the worst flu seasons.

Countries, states and counties that have enforced strict mask wearing and social distancing have far less cases and death.

The latest science tells us that the only way to combat a pandemic is to minimize exposure to aerosol particles that could contain virus and maintain common sense social distancing principles. 

Forty percent of individuals who are Covid positive have no symptoms and can be spreaders if they ignore mask wearing in public. 

Our faith tells us that we are all created in the image of God and every life is precious, regardless of age or disability so we should always err on the side of life and follow the latest recommendations to limit the spread of this pandemic until the vaccine is widely distributed.

As Catholics, our politics should not cause us to ignore science or promote conspiracy theories that have not been validated.  John Paul 2 reminded us that good faith never contradicts good science and good science will not contradict faith.

 ​"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."
​--Pope St. John Paul II, in Fides et Ratio [Faith and Reason]