Belarus priests denied access to help political prisoners
Christian charity accuses the country s rulers of using the coronavirus as an excuse for refusing pastoral access
Updated: May 07, 2021 06:06 AM GMT
Trending
Opposition supporters rally to protest against disputed Belarus presidential election results in Minsk on Aug. 23, 2020. (Photo: Sergei Gapon/AFP)
A Catholic Church spokesman confirmed that clergy are unable to minister to political prisoners in Belarus after a Christian charity accused the country s rulers of using the coronavirus as an excuse for refusing pastoral access. The coronavirus is providing very neat possibilities for all kinds of negative answers, said Father Yuri Sanko, spokesman for the Belarusian bishops conference. Our church has no signed agreement with the Interior Ministry, so a priest can only visit if a prisoner requests it. Even if such a request is made, however, the authorities can decide whether to let the priest in.
Belarus church cites denial of pastoral help to political prisoners cruxnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cruxnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.