Priest From Lockdown-Defying Church Dies Of COVID

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

A San Francisco priest has died from COVID-19, a week after his church temporarily shut down after at least three priests and clergy members tested positive for COVID-19. Father Bob Stein of Saints Peter and Paul Church died early Tuesday morning, per a statement published by the North Beach institution on its website.

The church has repeatedly evaded COVID-19 health ordinances during the pandemic, warranting a cease-and-desist from City Attorney Dennis Herrera to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. It also held a wedding with an estimated 100 attendees, which led to at least ten guests testing positive for coronavirus.

Read the full article. My June 2020 report on the secret super spreader wedding is here.

The saga of the Catholic Church in SF during this pandemic has led to a high-profile tragedy this week as we learn of the COVID death of one of the priests at Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach. 2 others are also infected, as are 3 caregivers. https://t.co/PLZMlSTmdS

— SFist (@SFist) February 17, 2021