Archbishop Calls Incident ‘Highly Regrettable’
Timothy Costelloe, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, says it’s “highly regrettable” that police felt the need to interrupt worship to check that people were wearing masks in church. “It is my hope that other ways can be found to deal with this delicate issue in future,” he says. “My office stands ready to cooperate with the police in this matter.”
Costelloe adds, “It is the formal and very public policy of the Archdiocese of Perth to do everything it can to facilitate compliance with all the government’s requirements in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a matter of regret to me that the police were placed in a position which led them to take the action they did.”
On St. Bernadette’s Facebook page, the parish priest reminds attendees that “MASKS ARE MANDATORY!” He writes, “You are not permitted to enter the Church unless you are wearing a mask. If you have an exemption letter from your doctor, then please make certain that you carry this on you at all times. Heavy fines on the parish priest, our parish and individuals will be incurred if you are caught without wearing your mask. Please co-operate with this request so as to avoid any complications.”
