By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Mar 31: Both Anglican and Catholic churches in Sarawak will not be deducting the salaries of their workers during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
Anglican Bishop of Kuching Diocese, the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute assured that all the church workers, including drivers, catechists, deacons and priests will get their salaries accordingly during the MCO period.
“We will pay them accordingly although we have minimal income during this MCO period,” Danald told DayakDaily here today.
He said that there were more than 100 church workers employed in all the parishes in Sarawak and Brunei.
Similarly, Catholic Archbishop of Kuching, His Grace Simon Poh said the Catholic Church will pay its workers “during this difficult time”.
“We have been paying all our church workers above the minimum wage as set up by the government for almost three years now,” he said.
Among the workers are catechists, clerks, gardeners and cooks.
He said the Catholic priests including the archbishop will continue to get RM400 monthly allowance, in following the three vows which they have taken, namely chastity, poverty and obedience.
On a related issue, Danald and Poh said that both the Anglican and Catholic churches will assist those in need regardless of their race and religion through their outreach programmes.
“Since we started the Facebook outreach programme yesterday, we have received more than RM25,000 in less than 24 hours after we started it. All monies will be used to assist those in need,” said Danald.
Similarly, the Catholic church has urged its members to donate for those who are poor and needy.
Poh said that the St Vincent de Paul Society had been tasked to carry out the charitable works and it is coordinated by the Catholic Welfare to seek donations from the faithful. Public donations are also needed to maintain the inmates at the Home of Peace, Kota Padawan.
“During MCO, we also have to remember and care for the needy among us who have lost their jobs or earning less due to shutting down of businesses. So, in the spirit of Lent, we hoped those who can afford it to continue to donate to the Church’s needs,” he said, adding that the church spent some RM600,000 annually to assist the poor and needy.
Donations for the poor and needy to both the Anglican and Catholic churches are tax exempted.
Meanwhile, both the Anglican and the Catholic churches have been subsidizing its poor parishes especially those in the rural areas.
The Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei has 45 parishes, with eight that continue to need subsidies every month.
As for the Catholic church of Kuching Archdiocese, there are 15 parishes with few rural ones which need subsidies from the central fund. —DayakDaily
