Mattie McGrath demands churches reopen for Mass in November
Deputy Mattie McGrath urged the Taoiseach to reconsider regulations that prevent congregations from attending Mass during November. He argued the restrictions damage mental and physical health, particularly for elderly worshippers, and cited a penal provision that could prosecute priests.
Restrictions on Mass and worship
McGrath said people are not allowed to attend Mass, even when 25 are permitted for weddings and funerals, and that all denominations are being denied their right to worship in November when Masses for the dead are traditionally held. He warned the new Act contains a penal provision to prosecute priests for holding services.
Appeal on mental and physical health
He pressed that attending church is vital for mental and physical wellbeing and social contact for elderly people, noting they often treat it as their only outing and can currently only walk in and say a prayer rather than participate in the celebration of Mass.
Church safety measures and costs
McGrath argued that most churches are large, have substantial ventilation and have made significant Covid provisions at their own expense, with no supports, and therefore should be allowed to reopen for worship for all faiths, while he focused particularly on the Catholic Church in November.
Government response and grave visits
A reply in the debate noted the Taoiseach met with the four Catholic Archbishops to discuss options but expressed reluctance to change regulations now because piecemeal relaxations could undermine the aims of Level 5 restrictions. The reply also reminded the house that visiting graves is permitted and will be allowed even beyond five kilometres.
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I've written to the Taoiseach, and indeed, thank you, Colonel Colum, Deputy Collins and myself raised the issue of people not being allowed to attend Mass, even 25 for a wedding and a funeral, and nobody can go to the Church for Mass. Indeed, there's a penal provision in the new Act to prosecute priests. This is the minute of November, traditionally you're in a Catholic faith, where people pray for their dead and have their Masses, and all other denominations as well, they're denied their right to worship as well. Could you please look at the regulations? In view of the mental health of people, physical health, people need to attend Mass. to be able to go to church, for elderly people especially, it's their only outing, and they love it, and they meet their friends, I know they can walk in and say a prayer, but they can't have the celebration of Mass physically, and the aspirant was made to Taoiseach, but it's falling on deaf ears, so would you please reconsider to allow people to save, churches by the nature are as big as this, most of them, and some of them are huge, and there's huge ventilation, and the churches have made huge provisions with dealing with Covid, and cost them a lot of money, which they've got no supports in, so they need to be allowed back to worship, all faiths, but I'm talking today about the Catholic Church, especially in the month of November. Thank you Deputy, Tarnashton. Thanks Deputy, as you mentioned the Taoiseach met with the four Catholic Archbishops to talk about what might be possible in the next couple of weeks, you know we're reluctant to change any of the regulations at the moment, and I understand the point you're making about people being able to attend Mass, and in most countries it is allowed, for obvious reasons, it is north of the border, but there are, nearly every day there is, one group or another making a very good case as to why the rules should be relaxed, whether it's hunting, whether it's coursing, whether it's tennis or golf or gyms or children's clothes, and we feel that if we start relaxing regulations on a piecemeal basis at the moment, that we'll actually undermine what we're trying to achieve, and we don't want to do that, certainly at this stage, Level 5 is for six weeks. All right, thank you, Tarnashton. But one thing I would say though is we did make provision to allow people to visit graves, and I know it is November and a lot of people will want to visit graves, and that is permitted even if it's beyond five kilometres. Deputy Fitzgerald.
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