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The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) has already determined some of the recommendations to dioceses to resume face-to-face activities of the Church. Although the opening of churches to the faithful is scheduled for the weekend of May 30 and 31, the CEP recommends that some sacraments, including marriage, be postponed until after September.
In a statement issued this Saturday, the CEP praised the “rejoicing in the creativity of Christian communities by intensifying the ways of practicing the faith among youth and families.” That same creativity will now have to be combined more carefully and also some commitments in the resumption of activity of the Church in Portugal.
Some activities are expected to resume on May 30 and 31, among which are masses and also him individual visits. For this to happen, the “requirements determined by the health authorities” must be observed. Similarly, the sacrament of reconciliation, also known as confession – but “the necessary distance between the confessor and the penitent” must be guaranteed, without this breaking the “inviolable secret of confession”.
The funeral ceremonies It should be celebrated in the temple or in the cemetery, ensuring the possibility that family members are present. Although there is no mention of a limit on the number of family members, the CEP recommends that “safety rules that prevent the transmission of the coronavirus be observed”.
According to the statement in question, all sacraments that “involve physical contact, such as the anointing, should be postponed until the next pastoral year”, that is, until after September 2020. This is the recommendation to postpone beyond that. date on wedding meanwhile scheduled. The same applies to anointing, although CEP recognizes that in “particular cases such as baptism and anointing of the sick“An exception can be made, provided that” due health and safety standards are guaranteed. “
Likewise, the CEP recommends that dioceses postpone in-person training activities such as catechesis – that until then it must be done “only by telematic means”.
further processions, festivals, religious gatherings, camps and other similar activities that the CEP classifies as “susceptible to a strong spread of the epidemic” should be postponed to the next pastoral year.
These measures are not mandatory and only serve as guidelines for each diocese. This Thursday, the Government had already announced the opening of the churches for the weekend of May 30 and 31, except for a new evaluation.
