Australian police interrupted a Catholic Mass on Thursday after reportedly receiving a tip that a number of churchgoers were not wearing masks. (Screengrab image)
"On Thursday evening, police responded to a report from a member of the public of people not wearing masks inside a church in Mount Hawthorn," Western Australian (WA) Police told media outlet The West Australian.
A photograph of the incident shows a police officer checking mask exemptions in the front pew area of St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Mount Hawthorn, a suburb of Perth, according to Patrick Horneman, who posted the photo.
"Upon attendance, five people were spoken to by police and complied in wearing a mask. One person provided proof of an exemption," the police said.
Matthew, a parishioner of St. Bernadette's, said on Perth radio station 6PR "that the incident showed a ‘lack of trust,'" according to The West Australian.
"People are pretty taken aback by this. It's pretty confronting and it's pretty troubling really to see the liturgy that you love being stopped by police," he said.
Libby Mettam, deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Western Australia, decried the police's actions, telling The West Australian, "The McGowan Govt needs to explain how this type of state action is at all proportionate or necessary," she said.
On Friday, the church's social media page reportedly warned, "Heavy fines on the parish priest, our parish and individuals will be incurred if you are caught without wearing your mask"
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