SARS/Catholics

Reuters, 4/9/03: Singapore-The Roman Catholic church has  suspended confessions in Singapore due to the spread of the deadly SARS virus and priests will instead forgive all churchgoers for their sins, the church said on Wednesday. 

"The Archbishop of Singapore has issued a directive to the  priests that there will be no individual confessions and that they are to issue general forgiveness," said a spokeswoman for the Catholic News, which represents Singapore's Catholic Church. 

SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, has killed at least 103 people worldwide, including nine in Singapore. The city state has the world's fourth-highest number of confirmed cases. 

Singapore Archbishop Nicholas Chia said a general absolution, or forgiveness, without one-on-one confessions only can be given in times of "grave necessity" according to the  Bible. 

Catholics in multicultural Singapore are already banned from holding or shaking hands in church to prevent spread of SARS and holy communion wafers can only be issued on the palm of the hand. Usually, Catholics can choose to receive communion on the tongue. 

A council overseeing Singapore's Islamic community has excused Muslims from Friday prayers if they show SARS symptoms.