The new Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell No decision yet on postponing Confirmations
Chai Brady, Róise McGagh and Aron Hegarty
Irish bishops say they are poised to take radical steps to stem coronavirus infection, including, if necessary, postponing Confirmation ceremonies and other gatherings, The Irish Catholic has learned.
Dioceses around Ireland have already taken on board guidelines issued by health authorities to contain the virus, but with Confirmation season in full swing bishops say they are ready to take “more radical steps” if the outbreak worsens.
Bishop Dermot Farrell of the Diocese of Ossory told The Irish Catholic: “there is no immediate plan to stop gatherings, but that may change depending on how things develop and we will be keeping a close eye on things. We are in a contamination phase at the moment, but we are following the general guidelines which have been distributed around all the parishes in the diocese.
“It’s a delicate and important purpose in order to contain what is a risk to where we are at now and we may have to take radical steps going forward, should the situation worsen,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment Bishop William Crean of Cloyne said they have circulated the HSE guidelines and are focused on “containing the virus”.
“Now if it advances beyond the current situation surely that will lead us to reconsider matters but now that’s not the intention. Should things change…we will seek their [HSE] advice and guides,” he said.
Dr Crean said that “as of now we don’t envisage cancelling any gatherings in light of the advice that we have.
“Almost every gathering for Confirmation is in a very crowded church even if it’s a small enough number with all families and relatives and all that,” he said.
The number of confirmed cases has jumped in Europe in the past few days, with the EU commission raising the risk level of COVID-19 to the EU to ‘moderate to high’.
Contained
Meanwhile, Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin said that anything the Church can do to help contain the virus “should be encouraged”.
Bishop Nulty like many other bishops has been travelling across his diocese to preside at Confirmation ceremonies, which involves anointing each child with oil on the forehead. Regarding having to postpone Confirmation he said “we very much hope not, they’re wonderful ceremonies”.
“But again in those ceremonies you’re going into churches that won’t be using holy water in fonts, won’t be having a sign of peace. People who have any kind of a sense of a cold, any respiratory issues obviously should stay at home, that’s always important, to mind yourself and to take good precautions,” he said.
Bishop Nulty said that he believes that “we’re a long way away” from suspending gatherings like Confirmation, adding: “the important thing is we show some responsibility, we show some caution and common sense.”
Fears
Asked whether he felt that Confirmation ceremonies might have to be postponed as a result of fears around the spread of the virus Bishop of Meath Dr Tom Deenihan said: “I would think not, I would hope not.”
However, he warned “we have to be careful and see how it develops, obviously we’d listen to whatever advice we were being told, but I’d be surprised if it [Confirmation] was problematic.
“I would feel that those who feel unwell have an obligation in charity not to attend liturgies so as to avoid the risk of infecting others,” he told The Irish Catholic.
Responding to a query regarding Confirmations the Department of Health said that the National Public Health Emergency Team have formed a sub-group who will develop criteria for the risk assessment of mass gatherings and this will be done on a “case by case basis”.