N.B. archdiocese restricts Mass to double vaccinated

(Sept. 26 update: On Sept. 23 the four dioceses of New Brunswick adopted
a common policy on Mass attendance, encouraging vaccination but not requiring it.
See Moncton archdiocese won’t require proof of vaccination for Mass.)

As Catholic dioceses across the country grapple with COVID-19 vaccination policies, at least one has decided to allow only double-vaccinated parishioners into its churches.

In the Archdiocese of Moncton in New Brunswick, Archbishop Valery Vienneau has opted for a policy that means anyone over the age of 12 must be double vaccinated to attend any gathering at a church, rectory or community centre under its supervision.

In a Sept. 17 release, Archbishop Vienneau said he is following the “wishes” of provincial Minister of Health Dorothy Shephard “to have gatherings of fully vaccinated people to keep people safe and to act as an incentive for the unvaccinated.”

“We would not want one of our places of worship to be the location of a COVID exposure due to our negligence. The Minister of Health is counting on our co-operation,” Archbishop Vienneau said.

In the wake of spike of new COVID cases, New Brunswick also reinstated mandatory masks for indoor public spaces beginning Sept. 21.

Archbishop Vienneau’s announcement received worldwide attention and many Catholics reacted in shock on the archdiocese’s Facebook page. Others supported it, but by Wednesday the archdiocese was no longer allowing social media comments.

As dioceses continue to formulate vaccination policies, the overriding wish is to keep the church doors open for as many people as possible.

The challenge for churches is striking a balance on several fronts: safety for staff and parishioners, dealing with those who remain unvaccinated, and working toward a full re-opening of churches.

“The Archdiocese of Toronto will make every effort to ensure places of worship remain open and accessible to all, regardless of vaccination status,” said Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the archdiocese. “We are currently finalizing a vaccination policy for clergy, staff and volunteers that will be implemented shortly.”

In Vancouver, parish meetings and youth events can go ahead without checking participants’ vaccine status at the door, but masks are still the order of the day.

“In simplest terms, masks are required for all indoor events, meetings, and programs (archdiocesan requirement) and proof of vaccination is generally not,” said a Sept. 9 notice from the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Exceptions to this rule are the same as those outlined by B.C. health authorities: masks are not required for people with health conditions or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment that prevents them from wearing a mask, people who cannot remove a mask on their own, children under age 12 and people who need to remove their masks to communicate due to someone’s hearing impairment.

Proof of vaccination is not required to attend any worship service.

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in August that proof of vaccination will not be required to access religious services, health care, retail, or grocery settings.

She asked faith leaders to encourage “only immunized people” to attend services, although she hasn’t said the government has enforcement in mind.

“Those are decisions that faith leaders, communities, church groups, choirs, make for themselves; they don’t need an order from me to do that.”

Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller has voiced his support of getting the vaccine, calling it the “best protection” against the virus.

In Hamilton, Ont., Bishop Douglas Crosby has joined other faith leaders in the city in an ad campaign titled Faith in Vaccine to encourage people to be vaccinated.

In London, Ont., the diocese told CTV News: “Our priority is balancing the safety of our parishioners and ensuring access to the sacraments for the faithful.”

Canadian Catholic News