Confession in Singapore Cancelled

"This year in view of the SARS epidemic, I have obtained permission from Rome for our priests to grant a general absolution instead of individual confessions and absolution," [Archbishop Nicholas] Chia said in a letter to Singapore's 152,000 Catholics.

Catholics in multicultural Singapore are already banned from holding or shaking hands in church to prevent spread of SARS and holy communion wafers can only be issued on the palm of the hand. Usually, Catholics can choose to receive communion on the tongue.

Chia said churchgoers must be resolved to confess their sins in due time for the general absolution to work.