Catholics are calling on the BBC to broadcast Mass as the coronavirus continues.
The Catholic Union has urged the BBC to broadcast Mass celebrations on Sundays because many parishioners have no access to live-streamed services on the internet.
Public Masses have been suspended by Catholic bishops in Scotland, and England and Wales, following Government guidance on social distancing. Churches have have also closed their doors to visitors completely as efforts to stop the spread of the virus intensify.
In a letter to the BBC Director General, Lord Hall, the Catholic Union has called on the BBC to find time on television and radio schedules to make the Mass available to people in their homes.
The letter, signed by Catholic Union President Sir Edward Leigh MP and Vice President Mike Kane MP, asks the BBC to take account of the needs of the 4.5 million Catholics in this country during this time of national emergency.
The Catholic Union said that while some churches are live-streaming Masses, these services are not available to everyone – particularly the elderly and the most isolated, without decent broadband connections.
Nigel Parker, director of the Catholic Union, said: “Weekly or daily attendance at Mass is a central part of the spiritual life of all Catholics.
"Churches have shown fantastic innovation in live streaming Masses, but this does not benefit everyone. For the elderly and most isolated – without digital services – this will be an extremely difficult time. We’ve called on the BBC to step up to its responsibilities as a public service broadcaster and make the mass available to people in their homes.
"At this time of crisis, we need the BBC to be a truly national broadcaster and consider the needs of Catholics and other faith groups in its content. Just one hour a week would make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of people across the country. It’s time for the BBC to deliver for Catholics.”
The letter to Lord Hall is signed by Sir Edward Leigh MP, president of the Catholic Union and Mike Kane MP, vice-president of the Catholic Union and convenor of the Catholic Legislators Network.
In the letter, they write: "We are writing on behalf of the 4.5 million Catholics in this country to ask you to take account of the needs of Catholics and others in how the BBC responds to Covid-19.
"The public celebration of Mass has now been suspended for understandable reasons by the Catholic Bishops in the UK and while some churches are now able to live stream their services, that leaves a proportion of the Catholic population unable to view or hear Mass on Sundays.
"Weekly or daily attendance at Mass is a central part of the spiritual life of all Catholics and elderly people who are among the most vulnerable in the present crisis are precisely those who are least likely to have access to religious services online.
"We therefore urge you to consider finding a place in the schedule of BBC TV and/or BBC Radio for the regular celebration of Mass on Sundays while the present crisis continues. It would also be appreciated if there could be coverage of special events such as the Urbi et Orbi blessing which Pope Francis announced will take place on Friday 27 March at 6pm (local time in Rome).
"We appreciate that there will be competing demands on the BBC at this time from other religious groups but hope that you will be able to give this request your fullest consideration."
The letter was also sent to the Secretary of State and Adam Conant at DCMS, and to Charlotte Moore, director of content at the BBC.
Susan Krier, a parishioner in the Diocese of Lancaster who has been in touch with The Tablet out of concern for Catholics without internet access, said: "It cannot be just our parish who has parishioners with no access to the internet, and so no access to a live-streamed Mass."
She said that many also had no smart phones, and traditional broadcasts remained their only hope.
She added: "I think it is hard for some of us to appreciate that there are people without broadband at home and also without a smart phone. At the moment, neither can they benefit from visitors, maybe sons, daughters or grandchildren, bringing smart phones into their homes to share on-line material with them. They are actually truly isolated from online content."
The Tablet has approached the BBC for a comment.
To find a church live-streaming Holy Mass, see Isolated but not Alone, The Tablet's compilation of online resources for Catholics during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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