Several Australian Bishops
propose plan for church reopening
 |
| Interior of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia (AFP) |
Eighteen Bishops in Australia propose a four-stage plan to
reopen churches to Gladys Berejiklian, the country’s Premier.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
In a proposal to Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, several
Catholic Bishops in Australia have detailed a four-stage plan for the reopening
of churches. 18 Bishops, including Sydney’s Archbishop Archbishop Anthony
Fisher OP signed the proposal.
The Bishops note that “social distancing and other restrictions
have taken a significant psychological and spiritual toll on people.” For this
reason, “re-opening churches, at first only for private prayer and confessions
and with strict protocols in place, would be a significant benefit to many in
the community, offering solace to the faithful and hope to the anxious,” the
proposal reads.
The Australian prelates also appealed to the Premier to
allow baptisms and weddings to take place with ministers and up to ten people
in attendance. They also requested that a larger number of people be allowed to
attend funerals and graveside services.
Four stages
In the first stage, monitors will oversee the use of hand
sanitizers and physical distancing.
During the second, they suggest that Masses and services be
held in outdoor spaces like car parks with a limited number of persons in
attendance. There would be “no collection plates or hymn books” passed around,
“no shaking of hands or holding hands.” Holy Communion would be “given and
received safely.”
Stage three would see Masses and services moved indoors.
The final stage will be a return to the “new normal with
learnings from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Coronavirus
In January this year, Australia recorded its first confirmed
coronavirus case. In March, it closed its borders to non-residents and imposed
social distancing rules. Recently, however, with the cases of Covid-19 falling
in many states, the country has started to loosen some of its tightest
restrictions.
Australia currently has 6,825 confirmed cases of coronavirus
infections, 95 dead and 5, 859 recovered patients.
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