Leaders of different faiths and Christian denominations have reacted with anger [1] to a Statutory Instrument that formally institutes penal provisions for most indoor and outdoor gatherings including public worship. According to Professor Oran Doyle of TCD, the provision even makes hearing Confession outdoors an offence.
In response, the four Catholic Archbishops called the move, together with the associated penal provisions, “provocative” and “draconian”. Gardai had already been treating public worship as an offence.
“We will seek an immediate meeting with Minister Donnelly and we request the suspension of this harsh and unclear statutory instrument,” Archbishop Eamon Martin said.
The chair of Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council has said he is disappointed by the measure to outlaw religious services.
Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said faith communities have suffered enough and this is the second Ramadan that his community has been unable to visit a place of worship.
He said he is in agreement with the Catholic Archbishops [2] and he is also considering taking legal advice.
John Ahern, pastor at All Nations Church, said he was “appalled” at the outlawing of services. “We’re going to issue a letter to the government about it this week,” he said. “They’re going to be reviewing the restrictions on May 4. If they don’t lift the ban, we’ll be calling on churches to open up anyway because we can’t go on like this.
“None of us want to be breaking the law and we know this has been a very difficult time for gardai and the government, but it is wrong to be criminalising worship in what is meant to be a free, democratic country.”