Many do not understand the measures imposed by the PM, Pravind Jugnauth since last Thursday to break the chain of transmission of Covid 19 and the Variant delta. Although they are taking the necessary steps to be within the norms, they question the logic of depopulating the less risky places to leave more masses in the riskier places! Moreover, the word is out that police patrols will control the places of worship.
Outraged churches
Religious leaders are not indulgent in their reactions to the restrictions concerning the places of worship. In a video posted on Facebook, Father Gérard Mongélard, parish priest of the church of Saint Helene in Curepipe, said: “I am outraged by these inconsistencies. If we celebrate a wedding which is joy, we are entitled to 50 people, if we celebrate funerals, which is sadness, we can have 50 people but when we celebrate life and the resurrection of Christ, we are limited to 10 people. We use the same place in all these cases mentioned. We understand that we have to adhere to the health regulations and the authorities because the deaths are increasing. But we must have consistency in what is ordered in the measures. People come to pray. It is mentioned in the Gospel that we will face unknown distresses and we are in the middle of it. But it also says that we have to keep hope, but if we don’t have a place where we can keep this hope, where will we go? We will have a mass outside, in the open. There is an indignation that must be shown. I say this in my name without committing the church.”
Following up on the parish priest’s comments on the Facebook page, the Vicar Father Laurent Rivet denounced the incomprehension and even anger that parishioner are experiencing when faced by these measures: “The church has always played the game in respecting the health regulations. Funerals and weddings can accommodate 50 people, but only 10 people for masses. This infringes on a fundamental right of all Catholics and all Mauritians to be able to gather for prayers. We encourage communication between the concerned parties to find a solution. If it is finally decided that we have to close the churches from 15 November, as Law Abiding Citizens, we will do so but we will proceed with the mass outside.”
Not thoughtful enough
The Jummah Mosque issued a statement on Friday 12 November. In order to comply with health measures that limit public and private gatherings to a maximum number of 50 people, Friday prayers will be held in several sessions with a maximum of 50 people participating as well as for weddings (Nikaah) and funerals. The smaller mosques will be open for daily prayers but access will be limited to a maximum of 10 people at a time.
As Maulana Yunus Mohomodhossen, a member of the Jamiat Ul Ulamah and Imam of the Al Khalil Mosque, explains, “The law is the law and we have to comply. But logic should prevail in such a time that prevents a practice, especially on a daily basis. I think that this maximum number of 10 people should be reviewed. There is no mosque in Mauritius that is not big enough to accommodate 50 people at a time for the 5 hours of daily prayers while ensuring that they keep at least 1 metre distance between them. And if the mosque is not big enough inside, there is always the outside area which can be used as an extension. On the contrary, during a Nikaah or Namaz Janaaza (funeral prayers) there is more proximity than during the Salaat, which is a Farz (Obligation). We can accommodate a Namaz Janaaza by conducting it in a common area in the courtyard of the mosque, and the same for the Nikaah, but not for the daily prayers. These measures for places of worship are not well thought out. The public will end up believing that the risk of transmission is greater in a place of worship than in a bus!”
They are not unwilling to follow the rules for the greater good. But they only want more consistency in the measures imposed.
