KUALA LUMPUR – The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur said all public mass will remain suspended despite the government’s move to loosen public health restrictions for those who have been fully vaccinated.
In a statement, church chancellor Rev Father Michael Chua said the decision was made after hearing recommendations for the Archdiocesan Crisis Management Task Force on the public health situation in the country.
He said this is among the steps decreed by Archbishop Julian Leow D.D., which will take effect on August 13.
“Although we recognise the spiritual benefit of the sacraments in the lives of the faithful, this suspension is made pursuant to the common good as the risk of infection in any public gathering remains exceedingly high due to the transmissibility of new variants and large numbers of asymptomatic cases despite vaccinations,” Chua said in the statement.
“We also have the cognisance that the healthcare facilities and personnel are overstretched to the point of collapse. This suspension will be reviewed in the near future as we continue to monitor developments on the current public health situation.”
However, Chua said parishes may continue to provide live-streams of mass with volunteers not exceeding 12 persons, excluding from the priest, provided that all volunteers are fully vaccinated.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the relaxed rules for the fully vaccinated, which include the freedom for devotees of all religions to perform prayers and other rites in houses of worship.
While mass has been suspended, he said weddings may take place with a maximum number of 20 guests excluding the bride, bridegroom, minister and volunteers.
This was provided that all persons wishing to be physically present are fully vaccinated, while all guests are to be pre-registered for the purpose of contact tracing.
On funerals, Chua said all funeral parlours located within churches may remain open, but are subject to the conditions set out in the standard operating procedures.
“There should not be any wake prayers. Visits should not exceed 10 minutes and there should not be more than five people within the funeral parlour at any one time,” he said.
He added that funeral mass in churches, chapels and mass centres may proceed with a maximum number of 20 people, excluding the priest and volunteers.
Everyone attending funerals, he said, must be fully vaccinated and be pre-registered for the purpose of contact tracing. – The Vibes, August 12, 2021
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