A request by Ireland’s four Catholic Archbishops to ease Covid-19 restrictions on churches to allow public celebrations of the Mass has been described as unrealistic and inappropriate in an Irish Times editorial, even though the Republic is still the only place in Europe stopping public worship.

The paper argued against the request as the Archbishop of Dublin had said last month, when Level 3 restrictions were introduced in Dublin city and county, that the measures were “appropriate at this time.”

They likewise quoted him citing a Vatican document in his September 19 statement which he said “strongly supports the application of restrictive measures and ‘painful decisions even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period’, when the need is great.”

The editorial also cited the age profile of congregants, and objected to the Catholic church receiving any special treatment.