The Catholic Weekly 13 February 2022

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 13, February, 2022 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years ‘Mum, I don’t have a mask’ frightened 7-year-old pleads as WA police move through St Bernadette’s church pew by pew Shock at police raids of Mass St Bernadette’s parish in Glendalough. The small, quiet parish set beside the Mitchell Freeway just north of Perth’s CBD doesn’t normally see much excitement - until WA police raided Mass last week in the interests of Covid compliance. I n this edition News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-13 10-11 21 24-25 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 Adam Wesselinoff (02) 9390 5400 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5221. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by Spotpress Pty Ltd, 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville NSW 2204. DOWNLOAD THE OUR FAITH OUR WORKS APP Your one-stop location for Mass and Confession times, spiritual reflections and meditations, podcasts, local Catholic news, the Go Make Disciples mission plan, and much more. To download the app visit ourfaithourworks.org/app or scan the QR Code. FROM PG1 One of those at the Mass who did not wish to be identified told The Catholic Weekly that two other parishes - Our La- dy’s Assumption in Mandu- rah and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Willagee, both in Perth’s southern suburbs - were also raided. Masks were made manda- tory for all indoor settings in the Perth and Peel regions on 16 January to combat rising COVID-19 cases in the state. A mother-of-three said her children were left “dis- tressed” while an elderly pa- rishioner spoke of the shock of having the Mass interrupt- ed by the police in uniform. “It was confronting to see police officers in high-vis vests inside the church,” one parishioner said. “I felt shaken afterwards and was in shock at what had happened. “It was particularly upset- ting for some of the elderly people and young children in attendance. “A lady said that her 7-year-old son was very wor- ried by what the policeman had said, saying anxiously, ‘Mum, I don’t have a mask and she comforted him, tell- ing him that he didn’t need to wear one. “We are seeing an increas- ing medical-based Apartheid system in Western Australia. “The government-man- dated discrimination which now abounds in our society is shocking. It used to be great living in Australia, but now, not so much. “The state’s overreach into the affairs of individuals con- tinues to grow in WA. The use of police resources to enforce this government meddling is a silly, benefit-less, waste of tax payer funds. “No doubt the majority of the police force would prefer to be catching criminals rath- er than enforcing ever-chang- ing, senseless mandates.” The Archbishop of Perth, Tim Costelloe SDB said it was “highly regrettable” that po- lice felt themselves obliged to intervene during the Mass and hopes other ways can be found to deal with this deli- cate issue in the future. “The celebration of the Eucharist is the central act of Catholic worship and is sa- cred to all Catholics,” he said. “It is my hope that other ways can be found to deal with this delicate issue in future and my office stands ready to cooperate with the police in this matter. “It is the formal and very public policy of the Archdio- cese of Perth to do everything it can to facilitate compliance with all the Government’s re- quirements in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is a matter of regret to me that the police were placed in a position which led them to take the action they did. They should not have been placed in this po- sition. “The Office of the Arch- bishop will continue to pro- vide all Catholic parishes and other agencies with very clear advice as to their obligations to act in compliance with the Government’s directives. “The Catholic communi- ty forms an important part of our wider society, and we must play our part in ensur- ing that everything is done to help our society through this difficult and challenging period.” The church has since shared a message to its Face- book page reminding all pa- rishioners that they cannot enter the place of worship without a mask. West Australian Police confirmed they had attended the church last week. A spokesperson told The Catholic Weekly that “police responded to a report from a member of the public of peo- ple not wearing masks inside a church”. “Upon attendance, five people were spoken to by police and complied in wear- ing a mask. One person pro- vided proof of an exemption.”