Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
    • Catholic Gift Ideas
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Priest challenges Scotland’s coronavirus ban on public worship

Priest challenges Scotland’s coronavirus ban on public worship

Canon Tom White, who is challenging Scotland’s ban on public worship. Photo courtesy of ADF International.

Glasgow, Scotland, Feb 19, 2021 / 05:01 pm (CNA).- Scotland’s coronavirus-related ban on public worship goes too far and churches that follow appropriate precautions should be allowed to open for in-person worship like in other parts of Europe, a Scottish priest has said in a challenge to the government.

“As a priest, I have witnessed first-hand the grief and suffering that Covid-19 has caused for my parish members,” Father Tom White, Dean of the City East St Alphonsus Church in Glasgow, said Feb. 16. “Therefore I know, as a priest, that we need to open my church to be able to support them best in their hour of need.”

White’s parish in the Calton district of Glasgow contains three of the poorest areas in the U.K., which had very low life expectancy even before the pandemic.

He has filed a pre-action letter with the Scottish government seeking to lift the ban on gatherings for places of worship. The government must respond before Feb. 23.

“I speak for many in the church when I say that it’s very important to keep people safe and well during this pandemic,” the priest said. “But this can and should be done while also allowing people to fulfil their need to draw close to God and worship in community at the church. With appropriate safety measures, we can accommodate both of these outcomes, as is shown in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.”

After restrictions took effect Jan. 8, places of worship may only conduct weddings and funerals, with strict limits on the number of attendees. They may only broadcast other services online.

In neighboring England, churches have remained open for worship with strict public health measures to limit coronavirus spread. In Northern Ireland, public worship is technically allowed but the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, and Presbyterian and Methodist leaders have said churches will be closed until at least March 5, The National newspaper reports.

White’s effort to open churches safely has the support of the religious freedom group ADF International.

“Freedom of religion is a foundational human right,” said Ryan Christopher, director of ADF International in the U.K. The group supports the priest’s case “because domestic and international law require the government to protect freedom of worship, including in public or in private, individually or in community with others.”

“This right should be limited only to the extent that is necessary and proportionate,” Christopher continued. “The government’s medical advisors have conceded there is no robust medical evidence for the closure of churches, which remain open in most European countries. We must find solutions which protect both the vulnerable and those who understand their communal worship to be as essential as food and water.”

Lois McLatchie, a communications officer for ADF International from Scotland, was also critical of the strict ban.

“Why should Scots be denied the freedom afforded to our English neighbors?” she asked. “Authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and indeed, most of the rest of the world – have found a way to protect the public while also respecting the rights of religious communities. It is unclear why the Scottish government cannot do the same.”

White said he was “most encouraged” by ADF International’s support. The ban on public worship is “an issue which is weighing heavily on the heart of my community at this difficult time.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said priority will be given to re-opening churches in the government’s plans to exit the lockdown, the Glasgow Times reports.

At the Scottish Parliament Feb. 16 Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, had asked Sturgeon for reassurances about church reopenings, given the start of Lent and the approach of Easter.

Sturgeon said the government will “try to get places of worship back to normality.”

“Places of worship are not closed but of course the ability to worship normally and freely is restricted and I deeply regret that, as I know everybody does,” she said. “We want to get that back to normality as quickly as possible.”

“I think you will see that there is a priority given to getting places of worship open again given the importance we attach to that,” she said. “So we will continue to try to do that as quickly as possible.”

Sturgeon stressed the need to exit the lockdown in “a sensible and sustainable way and hopefully avoid the need for another one later in the year.”

In a Jan. 5 statement, Scotland’s Catholic bishops said they were “perplexed” by the decision to close churches again, given that other sectors closed during the March lockdown, like construction, manufacturing, and elite sports, were allowed to continue to operate.

The bishops said the ban on public religious services seems “arbitrary and unfair”, given the evidence that public safety measures in churches have been effective at preventing the spread of coronavirus infections.

They emphasized the “spiritual, social and psychological benefits” of public worship.
“Public worship is a human right and is a duty humanity owes to God,” they said, stressing the importance for Catholics of the physical encounter with the Eucharist.

Fraser Sutherland, chief executive of the secularist group Humanist Society Scotland, was critical of churches taking court action against restrictions.

“Such actions would not only put their own congregations at risk but also risk further community spread,” he said, according to the Scottish newspaper The National.

A poll commissioned by The Humanist Society and conducted by the pollster Survation indicated that only 17% of people in Scotland wanted places of worship exempt from coronavirus restrictions.

Father White is not the only clergyman opposed to the strict rules.

In January several representatives of the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), and independent churches sought judicial review of the ban on public worship. Lawyers say a substantive hearing is scheduled for March and could lead to a court order that churches be allowed to reopen, the Glasgow Times reports.

However, as a body the Church of Scotland has distanced itself from the legal action.

“We fully accept that the latest pandemic restrictions mean that we have to close churches again for the time being,” a Church of Scotland spokesperson said in January. “The vast majority of our members understand and support these temporary restrictions and anybody associated with the Church of Scotland backing this action are speaking purely for themselves.”


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Feb 19, 2021CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
Despite pandemic, Planned Parenthood’s abortions increased in FY 2020February 20, 2021 – Saturday after Ash Wednesday
You Might Also Like
 
South African Bishop: The ending year calls for reflection on the signs of the times
 
Pope Francis urges European countries to take ‘shared responsibility’ for refugees and migrants

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
1 year ago Catholic News, Church in Scotland, Europe, lockdown, News Briefs, Scotland, Scottish National Party, SNPCatholic Church, Catholic News, Church in Scotland, Europe, lockdown, News Briefs, Scotland, Scottish National Party, SNP27
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Archbishop Pezzi: Pope’s visit to Kazakhstan important for Russian Catholics
  • Kenya: Religious leaders appeal for peace in wake of elections
  • SIGNIS speakers call on communicators to embrace synodality, hope
  • Twenty years ago John Paul II entrusted the world to Divine Mercy with this prayer
  • Irish Capuchin: Poverty should not be the case in 2022
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!