SYDNEY (CNS): Catholic dioceses in Australia began cancelling Masses as the government limited indoor gatherings to fewer than 100 people in mid-March in an effort to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) spread. In a short statement on its website, the government said new measures announced by prime minister, Scott Morrison, for nonessential gatherings included religious services, even Mass.
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference said it would not put blanket bans on Mass, including for Holy Week, calling the issue a “diocesan matter.” However, dioceses have increasingly placed bans and restrictions on Masses since March 16, with a surge in announcements on March 18 and 19.
Bishops in the state of Victoria said that suspending Masses was difficult, “and every encouragement is offered as clergy and parish staff seek to explain sensitively to our people the reasons why Mass will not be offered as a public celebration,” a note on the website of the Archdiocese of Melbourne said.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane suspended Masses and released Catholics from their Sunday obligation. It said it would livestream Masses from the cathedral.
In some places, weekday Masses—attended by fewer people—are still being celebrated, with restrictions on how to receive the Eucharist.
However, Catholic schools in New South Wales, Australia’s largest state, will remain open temporarily after the government warned it would cut funds if they closed. Some parents chose not to send their children to school.
Countries that appear to have been most effective in slowing and containing Covid-19 shut schools as part of their strategy to combat the disease.
Gavin Abraham, spokesperson for the bishops’ conference, said it was monitoring information about Covid-19. The first of two sessions of the Church’s Plenary Council is due to be held in Adelaide in October. This falls just outside the latest guidelines from the prime minister of a six-month process to try to get through the Covid-19 crisis.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions about the first assembly when advice relevant to October 2020 is clearer,” Abraham said.
As of March 25, Australia reported 2,522 cases of Covid-19 and eight deaths. Worldwide, 101,003 people have recovered out of 397,047 cases, while over 18,100 have died.
