Church worshippers were in total shock as a policeman interrupted the mass service at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Mount Hawthorn Perth, Australia on Thursday evening.
“It is highly regrettable that the police felt themselves obliged to intervene during a religious service in one of Perth’s Catholic parishes in order to enforce the mask-wearing mandate,” Catholic Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe said in a statement according to news.com.au.
“The celebration of the Eucharist is the central act of Catholic worship and is sacred to all Catholics,” he added.
Patrick Horneman was first to report that a policeman entered the church “demanding correct mask behavior and checking exemptions.”
“Where have we seen this behavior before in history?” said Horneman.
CHURCH PAPERS CHECK: Patrick Horneman reported that in Perth, Australia a policeman entered a church “demanding correct mask behavior and checking exemptions.” pic.twitter.com/zs0Wl5W2iQ
— Apex World News (@apexworldnews) February 4, 2022
Bishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas released a statement regarding this sacrilege, “This oppression of faith is evil and must be resisted as strongly as possible.”
We must pray for Australia and all the world. This oppression of faith is evil and must be resisted as strongly as possible. It illustrates the abusive power of human arrogance at its crescendo. All power in heaven & on earth is in the hands of Jesus Christ the Son of God. pic.twitter.com/SM7aWbmRjB
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) February 4, 2022
More from news.com.au:
Parishioners have been left “stunned” after a police officer stopped a Catholic mass at a Perth church to check whether people were wearing masks and found four were non-compliant.
Parishioner Matthew said it was “troubling” to see a policeman interrupt the service at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Mount Hawthorn on Thursday evening.
“Everyone was pretty surprised. It was pretty confronting,” he told 6PR radio on Friday.
“Everyone was sort of pretty stunned, I suppose. Then as soon as it started it was sort of over as he left.”
Matthew said people were left shaken by the incident.
“It’s just pretty confronting seeing police vests and stuff in church,” he said.
“He didn’t remove his hat, which is pretty disrespectful in that environment.”
Police confirmed in a brief statement that officers had attended the church.
“Police responded to a report from a member of the public of people not wearing masks inside a church,” police said.
“Upon attendance, five people were spoken to by police and complied in wearing a mask.
“One person provided proof of an exemption.”
Read more here.
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