Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
With Inputs from Media Release

Udupi, Jun 9: Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo has issued a circular notifying that common worship and other religious activities in the churches of Udupi district will not be held till June 30.

The bishop, who is also the president of United Christian Forum, Udupi, in the circular said, “The government of Karnataka has allowed the churches, which were barred from having any communitarian religious celebrations for the past 70 days due to Covid-19 pandemic, to resume worship and other activities from June 8. We are grateful to our state government for this opportunity.

Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo

“When the lockdown was imposed in India, the number of people infected by Covid-19 was minimal. Today the number has crossed 2,50,000. Approximately 10,000 people are getting infected daily. The situation in Karnataka is moving from bad to worse. Udupi, which, initially, was declared a ‘Green Zone’ has reached the top of the list of the infected in Karnataka with more than 6,000 patients.

“Taking into consideration the present situation, even though the state government has granted permission, considering the health and safety of our people as of paramount importance, the United Christian Forum for Human Rights, Udupi, has decided not to conduct common worship and other religious activities in the churches of Udupi district till June 30, 2020. Nevertheless, the churches will be open for the devotees who, with all necessary precautions, may visit the churches for personal prayer. This was decided by the Forum in a meeting held at Bishop’s House, Udupi, on Tuesday June 9 in which the heads of the Udupi Catholic Diocese, United Basel Mission Churches (UBM), Church of South India (CSI), Full Gospel Pastors’ Association and leaders of other churches and denominations were present.

“It was also unanimously decided to review the situation on June 30 to decide the future course of action. The church leaders appealed to everyone to show Christian charity by taking maximum care in not infecting anyone with Covid-19 and cooperate with the government in containing the pandemic,” stated the bishop in the circular.