SARS Forces Catholics to Halt Confessions:
The Roman Catholic church has suspended confessions in Singapore due to the spread of the deadly SARS virus, and priests will instead forgive all churchgoers for their sins, the church said on Wednesday.
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Singapore Archbishop Nicholas Chia said a general absolution, or forgiveness, without one-on-one confessions only can be given in times of "grave necessity," according to the Bible.

"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," Chia said in a letter to Singapore's 152,000 Catholics.