Masses suspended in churches, Archbishop of Bombay tells HC – Outlook India

Mumbai, Mar 20 (PTI) Public masses across 123 Catholic
churches in Mumbai have been suspended till April 4 in view of
the coronavirus outbreak, the Bombay High Court was informed
on Friday.

The Archbishop of Bombay on Friday filed an affidavit
to this effect.

A lawyer had written to the high court, claiming that
despite warnings and requests by the authorities that public
gatherings should be avoided for containing the epidemic,
people were attending masses in the city”s churches.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice B P
Dharmadhikari and Justice N R Borkar had taken cognizance of
the letter and asked the government to respond.

Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, said in
an affidavit before the court that all masses have been
suspended till April 4.

“In light of the changing situation, with a view to
protect and safeguard all faithful and humanity as a whole and
in support of the Prime Minister”s address including his
request to observe Janata Curfew, the Archbishop…has
directed that all masses will be suspended from March 21,” it
said.

The bench accepted the statement and posted the matter
for further hearing on April 7.

Advocate Savina Crasto claimed in her letter that
masses were being conducted twice daily, and the distribution
of the Holy Communion which is received by the faithful on
their mouth was an unhealthy practice in the current
circumstances.

She also attached photographs showing people attending
a mass at a church in south Mumbai, seeking a direction to the
government to take appropriate action. PTI SP
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