On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that 20 people would be permitted to gather outdoors for religious ceremonies, replacing the limit of 10 people.

Gathering indoors at a place of worship or community facility remains off limits.

Bishop of Sandhurst Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay said the government's restrictions on gatherings for religious ceremonies "make no sense".

"Why can we go to the pub across from the church, now with up to 70 people outdoors, with our masks off and have contact at close quarters, but can't leave our masks on and be in a controlled, carefully spaced environment at church," Bishop Mackinlay said.

"That logic fails the pub test."

Victoria's four Catholic bishops penned an open letter to Mr Andrews on September 25, citing unfairness and inconsistency in the number of people allowed to gather for religious reasons by comparison to other sectors.

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"We remain at the same spot as we were when we wrote that letter, which only came after weeks of talking with the government and health authorities and getting nowhere," Bishop Mackinlay said.

"Until six weeks ago, restrictions pertaining to religious ceremonies were on par with hospitality and I see no reason why that couldn't continue."

Bishop Mackinlay said an allowance of ten more people at outdoor gatherings makes a difference, but is insufficient to meet demand from parishioners.

"For our bigger parishes, it remains problematic and very, very difficult," he said.

"When so much of our approach to people is to be welcoming and inviting, it's very hard to adopt a practice which says you can't come."

The next step of the government's COVID-19 regional roadmap permits public worship to resume in outdoor and indoor settings, subject to density limits, including up to 50 people outdoors.

That step will start when there are no new cases for 14 days, across Victoria.