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.”
On the church’s social media page on Friday, they warned people to wear masks.
“Please ensure that you are wearing a mask when you are attending mass/adoration,” the post read.
“You are not permitted to enter the church unless you are wearing a mask.
“If you have an exemption letter from your doctor, then please make certain that you carry this on you at all times.
“Heavy fines on the parish priest, our parish and individuals will be incurred if you are caught without wearing your mask.
“Please co-operate with this request so as to avoid any complications.”
Catholic Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe said in a statement that it was a regrettable incident.
“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,” he said.
“The celebration of the Eucharist is the central act of Catholic worship and is sacred to all Catholics.
“It is my hope that other ways can be found to deal with this delicate issue in future and my office stands ready to co-operate with the police in this manner.”
The Archbishop said it was the policy of the Archdiocese of Perth to do everything it could to facilitate compliance with all the government’s Covid-19 requirements.
“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,” he said.
“They should not have been placed in this position.
“The office of the Archbishop will continue to provide all Catholic parishes and other agencies with very clear advice as to their obligations to act in compliance with the government‘s directives.”
It comes as WA recorded 18 new local cases and 14 travel-related infections overnight.
Of the 18 new local cases, 14 are linked to close contaxjmtzywcts of known cases and have been in isolation while infectious.
Some of the new local cases were infectious in the community, WA Health said.
