By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, March 6, 2020: Two Catholic prelates and a Hindu religious leader were among those calling for precautions in the wake of growing scare over coronavirus or COVID-19.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, has asked his people to take five precautionary steps during religious services until April 12, the Easter Sunday, to check the spread of the virus.

Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad Syro-Malabar Church has issued 10-point guidelines for his people spread over five states to follow during the epidemic scare.

Meanwhile, Mata Amritanandamai, a Hindu religious leader popularly known as the hugging saint, has stopped meeting followers in her ashram in Vallikavu in Kerala’s Kollam.

A message published on the website of the ‘mutt’ on March 6 said the move was taken on the advice of the state health department.

“We are sorry to inform you that due to extremely heightened restrictions by the health department, including mandatory quarantine and other protocols, currently the ashram cannot allow anyone to Amritapuri. This includes Indian nationals as well as foreign passport holders. This includes both day visits and overnight stays. This policy is irrespective of any amount of time the individual may have been within the nation of India,” the message explained.

In the Catholic Church, Cardinal Gracias and Archbishop Bharanikulangara urge people to trust in God’s protection and pray to Him to keep them safe during this scare.

Cardinal Gracias wants parish priests to advise his people not to panic. “The government authorities are doing their best to face the challenge. All of us need to cooperate so that we can combat this effectively,” says a March 5 circular from the cardinal.

The cardinal and the archbishop want priests to distribute communion in the hand, not on the tongue. Archbishop Bharanikulangara wants his priests to train their people to receive communion in the hand in a proper way. The Syro-Malabar Church normally discourages people receiving communion in the hand.

The two prelates ask Catholics to refrain from shaking hands at the sign of peace during Mass but greet each other with folded hands and bow of heads.

The two want churches to keep the holy water stoops dry. People traditionally dip fingers in the holy water to make the sign of the cross before entering the church or leaving it.

The Church is currently observing Lent in preparation for the Holy Week that commemorates the suffering, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Cardinal Gracias discourages Catholics from kissing the crucifix during the veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. “The blessing with a raised cross would be adequate. Those who desire, they could come in a queue make reverence with a bow and go back,” he suggests.

The cardinal wants priests to purify their hands in a bowl of water or sanitizer before they distribute the communion during Mass.

“Evidently, all these are temporary arrangements and will be reviewed from time to time,” Cardinal Gracias says.

The cardinal also urges parish priests to suspend meeting of parish committees and associations if he suspects a parishioner has been infected with the virus.

Archbishop Bharanikulangara wants his people to avoid crowded places as far possible and take precautions at their houses and environs. He also urges people to cover their mouths with towels or tissue papers if they cough.

The Syro-Malabar prelate wants parishes to educate catechism students and church associations about the precautions to check the virus.