Covid-19: Churches in New
Zealand to re-open without religious services
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| Churches in New Zealand to re-open without religious services amid pandemic (AFP) |
The Bishops of New Zealand express their disappointment that
churches will re-open allowing only private prayer with a 10-person limit amid
the pandemic.
By Vatican News
After weeks of restrictions in New Zealand due to the
coronavirus, 338 churches in the country will re-open their doors beginning on
Thursday.
In a letter sent to parishioners and priests on Tuesday, the
Bishops of New Zealand said that from 14 May people will be able to go to
churches for private prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Phase Two
Public Masses, however, are still suspended under the Alert
Level 2 phase.
Under the new Level 2 guidelines announced by the Government
on Monday, religious gatherings must be kept to a maximum of 10 people.
Last week the Government had stated that Masses and other
religious services would have been possible with a 100-person limit.
Restrictive measures
Following this latest announcement, the Bishops have
expressed their disappointment at the limited number allowed to assemble in
churches, calling the latest measures too restrictive.
The Bishops’ letter noted that the Government will
reconsider the limit of 10 people at religious services in two weeks.
It also said Catholic bishops are joining with the Anglican
Church in asking the Government to look again with urgency at increasing that
number.
While this is a difficult and challenging time, the Bishops
said they continue to be “encouraged and inspired by the number of people who
have taken the opportunity during this lockdown time to deepen their spiritual
life and re-evaluate their daily lives as individuals and families.”
All celebrations of Mass were suspended on 20 March and
churches closed five days later as New Zealand was locked down in response to
the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the announcement of these latest rules, the online
streaming of many Masses is likely to continue for some time.
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