The Deacon's Bench
Citing the seriousness of the Ebola epidemic and a concern for the faithful in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Salvatore Matano has banned priests from traveling to West Africa, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Any priest who defies the order by making a trip without permission from the bishop or the diocesan vicar general or chancellor will no longer be permitted to work in the diocese.
The restrictions and penalty for defiance were outlined in an Oct. 29 memorandum to priests from The Rev. Edward Palumbos, the diocese director of priest personnel and pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Fairport.
“I hope this decision does not cause any grave inconvenience but the seriousness of the Ebola epidemic demands a strong and reasonable response,” Palumbos wrote.
Banned destinations include the three countries hardest hit by the disease — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — and four other countries that have not experienced outbreaks — Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Nigeria. There have been isolated cases in Mali and Nigeria, and Ebola has not surfaced at all in Senegal and Ghana, according to the World Health Organization.
The policy also bans traveling on connecting flights through the countries, and requests that anyone with plans to visit other countries in Africa delay their trip.
“The bishop deeply appreciates your many contributions to the life of our diocese and is extremely concerned that neither you nor the people with whom or to whom you minister fall victim to this disease,” Palumbos wrote.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In