The Diocese of Belluno-Feltre conforms to the provisions of the Bishops’ Conference. Don Davide Fiocco: “The ban would have been an unacceptable discrimination”
Belluno. Masses without the Green pass but with the obligation of a mask, of distancing and, at the entrance, of the sanitation of the hands.
On the other hand, it is mandatory to check the vaccination certificate upon entry to cultural, social and recreational centers (senior citizens center, parish cultural center); at projections, theatrical performances, concerts (both indoors and outdoors); at conferences, congresses, book presentations; to museums, archives, libraries and in the administration of food (eg parish parties, festivals, but not for summer camps).
This was communicated by the diocesan curia of Belluno-Feltre. Verification of the Green Pass is entrusted to either the parish priest or the organizer of the activity.
“With reference to the indications of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, it is particularly recalled that, both for activities where green certification is required and for various parish celebrations and activities, all the health regulations in force must be scrupulously observed and”, he recommends the curia, “we are not authorized in any way to be superficial in the application of this protocol, for the good and health of all. Special attention should be paid to compliance with regulations, in particular distancing, on the occasion of participatory or significant celebrations as well as funerals ». As for processions or other particular situations, such as funeral processions, the Curia strongly invites, for greater security, a direct confrontation with the local authorities (mayor and possibly the Prefecture) regarding their feasibility and methods, for greater protection. of parishes and participants.
“We only needed the Green Pass to participate in the sacraments; it would have been the end »comments Don Lorenzo Sperti, parish priest in Farra d’Alpago–. “The problem, to tell the truth, does not seem to have arisen, also because in this year and a half of the pandemic it was the parishes that were the most rigorous observers of safety standards. One has never entered church without a mask, without hand sanitation and without distancing. If anything, now the problem is for other collateral activities of the parish communities. For example, we organize a solidarity market and those who come must show the Green pass. This is definitely too much ».
Don Sperti, however, remains confident: practicing Catholics, at least the most convinced ones, participated, perhaps with even greater convictions, in the celebration of Mass and other liturgies.
Don Vito De Vido is the parish priest of Canale d’Agordo. «I would really like to see if they had imposed a limited number at masses only for the vaccinated (even if we believe that immunization is an act of solidarity as well as a civic duty). We have already given too much in the early days of the pandemic “, emphasizes the priest,” when someone from above, without knowing the reality of our communities, imposed a whole series of restrictions, even with the mass being streamed “. According to De Vido, the live online of the Eucharistic celebration is an oppositionunity but cannot replace direct participation: “Today we see the results: the churches are left without faithful.”
The parish priest of Canale and Vallada Agordina is not worried about the exhibition of the Green pass in other activities of the parish. «Even for the simplest concert», he informs, «we have long used not only to request a mask but also to measure the temperature at the entrance to the church. And in church, of course, you are spaced out ».
Don Davide Fiocco is the head of the cultural office of the diocese and spokesperson for the bishop of Belluno-Feltre, Renato Marangoni. «The Italian Episcopal Conference has issued norms to which our diocesan church refers and which are substantially the same as those of the Government and other institutional bodies. So », he highlights,« no restrictions but also no more liberalization. The approach to the Eucharistic table cannot be valid only for those who are vaccinated; it would be inconceivable discrimination. Even if our diocese has always recommended immunization ».