Confession COVID-19 Protocols
From the SACRAMENTS AND LITURGICAL PROTOCOLS, Issued by the Archdiocese of Agana. Updated May 6, 2020 at 12:40 PM
For Confirmed or Suspected COVID+ Penitents
If penitent is CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED COVID+ and is self-isolating at home or hospitalized
- Contact the Vicar for Clergy for instructions.
Protocols
Given the Catholic Church’s norms for confession:
- the priest must be physically present to the penitent in person, and must be able to hear the penitent without the aid of electronic devices (that is, independently of a wired phone, a mobile phone, an intercom, or other audio or video transmitting device).
- Amplification of natural sound is permitted (e.g., the priest or penitent uses a hearing aid) but only if the natural sound also reaches the ear.
- As always, the priest should take great care to ensure that the conversation with the penitent remains ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
- If the penitent is a minor or vulnerable adult, the parent or guardian must be within the line of sight of the child/vulnerable adult and priest at all times.