On Monday, the churches and religious societies, in consultation with Minister of Culture Susanne Raab, extended the previously applicable Corona agreement: analogous to the generally applicable curfew restrictions in the lockdown, public religious services will be suspended for the time being until the end of the first week of February. How it continues after that, will be agreed according to the then valid new general regulations, it said on Monday afternoon in a dispatch of the ministry. As is already the case, however, the churches remain open for personal prayers.
“Our goal must continue to be that the infection figures in Austria go down. The current situation now requires further perseverance,” said Minister of Culture Raab, saying, “I thank the churches and religious societies for their commitment and for helping to bring the incidence of infection under control.”
For the area of the Catholic Church, this again extends those regulations that have been in effect since December 28 and were established on the part of the Bishops’ Conference. Accordingly, “services not open to the public” are currently permitted in the smallest circle. They can be celebrated by five to a maximum of ten persons, named in advance, including the presider, on behalf of the whole congregation and in compliance with protective measures. Baptisms and weddings are to be postponed to a later time during the lockdown.
(Framework order available in full text at: https://www.bischofskonferenz.at/behelfe/corona-rahmenordnung)
Source: kathpress.at/picture: pixabay.com
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