The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has canceled all funeral Masses, weddings and baptisms throughout the diocese after two priests in separate parish groupings were exposed to the coronavirus.
The church announced Saturday night that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) services that have taken place in churches or church parking lots are suspended. All churches are to be locked until further notice.
The ban on funerals includes those that take place in a funeral home.
“Direct burials of the deceased should be celebrated with memorial Masses to occur at a later time,” the diocese said.
The diocese said parishes will work directly with engaged couples regarding weddings.
The only baptisms that could take place are in cases where the person may be in danger of dying.
The cancellations come after two parish priests were placed in isolation. The diocese said the cancellations come out of “concern that these situations could be replicated in other parishes and parish groupings.”
Those priests are being tested after an unidentified person within their parish groups tested positive Friday.
The diocese identified the priests as being leaders of the Greenfield, Hazelwood, Oakland grouping and the Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Scott Township grouping. Both also serve as chaplains at nearby schools.
The entire clergy teams in those parishes have begun a 14-day quarantine.
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