Bishops Ban Confession

Multiple dioceses around the country are now prohibiting priests from hearing Confessions, for fear of spreading the Wuhan virus.

As public gatherings and public Masses were banned in recent weeks, some priests have found creative solutions like drive-thru confessions.

But in some parts of the country, the local bishop is trying to get rid of confession and other sacraments, all in the name of combating the epidemic.

On Twitter today, Catholic author Eric Sammons found thirty U.S. bishops have banned the clergy in their diocese from hearing confessions.

Similarly, many U.S. dioceses have halted confirmation, baptism, and even anointing of the sick.

Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of Springfield, Massachusetts has suspended anointing of the sick and last rites, for the sake of social distancing.

In Detroit, under Abp. Allen Vigneron, the archdiocese issued guidelines on March 23 suspending the sacrament of baptism.

Last month, in the span of about a week, every bishop in the country suspended public Mass. 

Already deprived of the Eucharist, many U.S. Catholics fear a similar thing might happen with the remaining sacraments.