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Singapore Catholic Church says it won't solemnise marriages via video link despite COVID-19

Photo taken during the wedding ceremony in Catholic church. Groom and bride stand before crucifix. Focus is on the crucifix. Newlyweds are in focus. Bride dressed in wedding dress and bridal veil. Groom dressed in suit and shirt. Photo taken from the back of bride and groom.
PHOTO: Getty Images

SINGAPORE — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore will not conduct wedding solemnisations via video link, despite the government’s move to allow couples to do so for the first time.

In a notice to the faithful on Wednesday (6 May), the Chancery of the Archdiocese emphasised the importance of the physical interaction of the persons celebrating the sacraments, such as marriage and communion.

“As such, while the Church appreciates the efforts by the authorities in making marriage more accessible to couples in this difficult time, the Catholic Church in Singapore will not be able to solemnise marriages via video link,” said the Chancery.

Instead, it will focus on wedding Catholic couples in person, while observing health directives and social distancing measures. This may mean only having the essential persons - the couple, two witnesses and the priest - gathered, while having others join in via video link.

There are some 300,000 Catholics in Singapore.

On Tuesday, Parliament passed the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures for Solemnisation and Registration of Marriages) Bill. Under the new legislation, couples where at least one party is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident will be able to verify documents, make statutory declarations and have their marriages solemnised via a video link.

This applies to both civil and Muslim marriages.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli told Parliament on Tuesday that the Office of the Mufti has confirmed that marriages conducted through video link are equally valid under Islamic law, so long as all the conditions for a nikah (marriage contract) are satisfied.

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