The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has expressed “great disappointment” at the Executive’s decision to shut churches across Northern Ireland for two weeks from 27 November.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said the move was “contrary to the assurances given to faith groups at a meeting just last week at which we were praised for our attention to safety and public health”.
The Primate of All Ireland underlined that Catholic parishes have “consistently tried to support the Executive and public health authorities”. Though they would continue to play their part in making the necessary sacrifices, he said they would “prefer to do so in mature partnership and dialogue”.
“We urgently request that the ban on public worship will be for the shortest period possible,” Archbishop Martin stressed and requested “urgent clarification” on whether churches may open for individual visits and private prayer.
Elsewhere in his statement, the Archbishop of Armagh expressed frustration at the arbitrary nature of the restrictions saying, “I cannot understand how a person may still go to an off-licence to buy alcohol but might not be permitted to visit and sit in quiet solitary prayer in a large church. The right to do this is particularly important for Catholics.”
He noted that the new restrictions will coincide with the beginning of the season of Advent, a sacred time of preparation for Christmas.
“In speaking about ‘saving Christmas’, I urge the Executive to accept that for many people a ‘meaningful Christmas’ is about more than shopping, eating and drinking,” he criticised and added, “Spiritual preparation is essential.”
Separately, in the Republic, a parish priest whom the Gardaí threatened to prosecute for holding a Mass attended by up to 50 people in Co Cavan last Sunday has said the Covid-19 restrictions on public worship are turning the country into “a police state”.
Fr PJ Hughes of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mullahoran said the restrictions “have gone too far” and that “closing the whole thing down is an insult to my faith and to my God.”
However, a public Mass was not held in Mullahoran this weekend following the intervention of Bishop Francis Duffy of Ardagh & Clonmacnois.
Ireland is currently operating under Level 5 of the ‘Framework for Living with COVID-19’ which commenced on 22 October 2020. This means religious services must take place online, but churches are open for private prayer. The priest could face a fine of €2,500 and up to six months in jail if he were prosecuted. However, Gardaí have said no investigation is underway.
On Sunday, Knock shrine held Mass for all those who have died from Covid-19 on the island of Ireland, with 2,945 candles lit to honour the pandemic’s victims.
The liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Michael Neary who said the virus had “exploded on our world and scattered like shrapnel all over the globe”.
“We remember and we pray for all those who died without the consoling presence of the family and could not be with them to hold their hand and whisper words of appreciation and reassure them with our prayers as they passed from this world.”
Ahead of the Mass in Knock, Archbishop Neary issued a new pastoral letter on the virus’ challenges to people’s faith.
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