Thiruvananthapuram, June 7, 2020: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Church, has expressed disappointment over the federal health ministry’s decision to keep people above 65 away as places of worship open after more than three months of lockdown.
The federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare plans to let places of worship open on June 8 under strict rules.
On June 4, the ministry issued Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for the opening of religious places where large number of people frequent for spiritual solace.
Speaking to the media on June 6, Cardinal Cleemis said he wants all to come to churches, when they are opened.
The 60-year-old cardinal says the restriction on those above 65 years of age is fair when the government has eased lockdown norms for shops, malls, restaurants and liquor vends.
“We are ready to make special arrangements for such people when they come to church by even earmarking a special time for them,” he added.
The cardinal pointed out that all, including the Church, had adhered to the government directives and restrictions imposed during Covid times.
Most churches in India stopped public services from the beginning of March.
Under the new rules, persons aged above 65, those with comorbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years should stay at home.
The rules prohibit touching of statues, idols and holy books, besides large gatherings inside places of worship.
The government wants institutions to ensure proper social distancing and disinfection of spaces and wearing of masks.
The ministry also advises use of recorded devotional music and songs instead of live choir in places of worship. It rules out use of common prayer mats and advises individuals to bring their own mat or piece of cloth.
The SOP also bans physical offerings such as prasad and distribution or sprinkling of holy water inside the religious place.
Source: The Daily Pioneer