Believers will be able to pray collectively and in their places of worship from this Saturday, May 23 in France. The religious ceremonies resume, but under high vigilance and according to modalities fixed by a decree published in the official journal and immediately entered into force.

The managers of places of worship and organizers of ceremonies must in particular ensure that the faithful respect barrier gestures and physical distance, that they wear a mask and disinfect their hands. At the entrance to the place of worship, a person will also have to regulate the flows so as not to exceed a maximum attendance gauge. The measures apply to "any person eleven years of age and over who enters or remains in these establishments", according to the decree.

"The prefects of the department may prohibit the opening or order the closure of a place of worship if these rules are not respected," said the ministry.

Consultation between the Interior and those in charge of worship 

The Minister of the Interior and those responsible for religions agreed during a meeting on sanitary measures. "We have worked and found a solution to allow the resumption of religious ceremonies while ensuring the health protection of everyone", welcomes the Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, in the press release.

This concerted action was imposed on the government after the Council of State on Monday ordered it to lift within a period of "eight days" the total ban on meeting of cults contained in the deconfinement decree of May 11. "If the objective of a generalized resumption of religious ceremonies remains on June 3", reminds the ministry, "it will thus be possible (...) to celebrate again, gradually, offices" from the publication of the decree .

The resumption of celebrations with the public was first announced for June 2, before the Prime Minister mentioned the date of May 29. The Catholic episcopate has lobbied in recent weeks to make it effective for Pentecost Sunday, May 31.

With AFP 

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