Churches and mosques in Sydney delay reopening to avoid having to turn away the unvaccinated

Worshippers attended midday prayers at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque. (ABC News: Lydia Feng )

Mosques, churches and temples in NSW are allowed to open once again but some religious leaders are keeping their doors closed, fearing a backlash from unvaccinated people.

This week, religious gatherings were allowed to resume only for the fully vaccinated.

After nearly four months sitting silent, the familiar sound of the call to prayer returned to Auburn Gallipoli Mosque.

Osman Goreli was among the dozens of worshippers grateful to be reunited with his congregation.

Osman Goreli is "over the moon" to be back praying at his mosque in Auburn. (ABC News: Lydia Feng )

After enduring weeks of harsh restrictions during the lockdown, Mr Goreli said it was a relief to practise his faith freely again.

"We obviously got hit hard here in Western Sydney. Staying at home, praying at home just never felt the same, so coming back to the mosque for us is now just the best feeling."

Members of the Sikh community were also grateful to return to their temple.

Gurdwara Sahib temple in Glenwood has reopened.  (ABC News: Lydia Feng)

Rupinder Kaur, 32, was one of many people who were double-jabbed, masked-up and socially distanced inside Gurdwara Sahib temple in Glenwood in Sydney's north-west.

Mrs Kaur said she found comfort in returning to the temple, especially as she grieves the recent loss of her brother who died of COVID-19 in India.

But not all places of worship have resumed services.

Catholic churches across Sydney are suspending public masses until they can reopen to everyone once New South Wales reaches 80 per cent fully vaccinated. 

Father Peter Williams said the Catholic Church did not want to discriminate against those who were unvaccinated.  (ABC News: Lydia Feng)

Father Peter Williams from the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta said turning away people who are not fully vaccinated would be "an almost impossible" task.

"No priest or indeed no member of the congregation would want to have the onerous duty of being a sort of health police person and saying, 'sorry, you can't come in but yes you can come in,'" said Father Williams.

"So we thought the more prudent thing to do was to wait until we reached 80 per cent [full vaccination]."

Most Anglican churches are also holding off reopening until the second stage in the recovery plan.

Imam of Lakemba Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Safi says he doesn't want to create division. (ABC News: Lydia Feng )

Sydney's largest mosque in Lakemba is also doing the same.

Imam Sheikh Yahya Safi from the Lebanese Muslim Association said he didn't want to create division by turning away unvaccinated people while allowing fully vaccinated people to enter.

The mosque plans to reopen next Monday.

"It is only one week. We can sacrifice this week."