The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh has called for the work of religious ministers to be deemed essential.

Archbishop Eamon Martin made his remarks in a meeting with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Monday where he also expressed concern about the “criminalising” of public worship.

In a statement issued after the meeting on Monday, the Catholic Communications Office said the Archbishop emphasised that “the vital pastoral work of priests and other ministers on the ground should also be respected and deemed essential, rather than subject to penal sanction”.

“Ministers of religion are often on the front line supporting the sick, the bereaved, the isolated and those who are struggling to cope. Pastoral ministry and spiritual support, which are so important for people during the time of pandemic, ought not to be confined to a small number of legally acceptable and ‘regulated activities’”.

The statement added that the Minister said that religious worship and spiritual well-being were taken very seriously by government “and consideration would be given to early re-opening of public worship in accordance with public health advice in the coming weeks”.