In gross violation to the Covid-19 norms, an annual retreat meet was held in Munnar by the Church of South India from April 13th to 17th where 350 priests attended the event from various parts of Kerala without wearing any masks and nor following any social distancing norms.

Over 110 priests who attended the superspreader event have been infected of Covid, three of them have died and many critical. The Kerala Police had also registered a FIR against the organisers of the superspreader Munnar retreat event.

Over the past one week over nine Christian priests have succumbed to Covid in Kerala. Six of the priests who died belonged to the Syro Malabar Church and three from the Church of South India Church. Around 15 priests have died across India since last month as per reports.

The fact is , many priests are falling victim to the disease as many evangelist organisations have used Covid as an opportunity to convert many vulnerable people to Christianity. The priests also hold huge congregations without observing any social distancing norms nor wearing masks.

Some priests even contract Covid as they go to give religious service people infected with Covid at their homes. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Church and a former president of KCBC said that the Church has given clear directions to the priests to follow the Covid protocol strictly when they participate in religious services and programmes.

Image not actual, representative image of Christian Priests sourced from internet.

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