In the dispatch, Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng spoke highly of efforts made by the Archbishop President of the Vietnamese Catholic Bishops’ Conference and bishops of Catholic dioceses in guiding Catholic people to take preventive measures against the coronavirus. The chairman also praised practical contributions made by many Catholic followers and local organizations for preventing and controlling the pandemic. 

However, the GCRA leader also pointed out several activities taking place against joint efforts for controlling spread of the epidemic, such as organizations of mass with large gatherings of parishioners (about from 200 to 500 participants) by several priest of parishes under Ha Tinh Diocese last Saturday and Sunday. These priests have disobeyed the Prime Minister’s Directive, disregarded warnings of competent authorities, not followed guidelines of the Vietnamese Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Catholic dioceses, creating risks of the nCov spread and sparking public outcry.

The chairman of the government religious committee asked Vietnamese Catholic Bishops’ Conference and bishops of dioceses to instruct Catholic dignitaries and members to suspend all religious gatherings with the participation of parishioners, and to hold religious services online instead.

The GCRA official also requested the President of Bishops’ Conference and bishops of dioceses to instruct the above-mentioned priests not to hold large religious services again and strictly observe the Prime Minister’s Directives No 15 and 16 on urgent measures for preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic.  

Nguyên Hải