Communion placed in hands and dry stoups in India as well
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has released pandemic-related guidelines. “Communion can be distributed in nearby halls, the Eucharistic chapel or small designated areas outside the church.” Only a third of a church's capacity can be occupied during religious services.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) on Sunday released its guidelines on the preventive measures that churches must follow. The most important one is about distributing holy communion, an important sacrament for the faithful, during church Mass.
The guidelines, made public by Card Oswald Gracias, follow the central government’s directives banning food offering (prasad) at religious sites. However, they will allow offerings outside the church after the Mass.
"Communion can be distributed in nearby halls, the Eucharistic chapel or small designated areas outside the church,” read the guidelines.
“Communion can only be given to the faithful in the hand. If he (priest) accidentally touches someone's hand, he should immediately stop and sanitise the hand before resuming distribution.”
The guidelines also state that only a third of a church's capacity should be occupied during religious services. Holy water stoups must be kept dry. There should be no sprinkling with holy water”. Choirs will also not be permitted inside churches.
Meanwhile, church opening varies according to states. The main Catholic churches in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already opened, but things are different in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In Tamil Nadu, no religious institution has been authorised to open. In Kerala, although the state government has allowed places of worship to open under certain conditions, most dioceses have said they will not open churches soon.
Syro-Malabar churches in the Archdiocese of Ernakaulam-Angamaly will remain closed until 30 June.
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15/03/2020 13:44
