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| Declan Ganley speaking in Ireland at a Pro-life event attended by Lumiere Charity and Supportlife Group |
IRELAND: Irish entrepreneur Declan Ganley has begun a High Court challenge to the ban on attending Mass and other religious ceremonies, Alleged News. [1] and [2]
Declan is well-known as an ardent pro-lifer, son of Erin and man of honour to the people of Ireland and abroad.
County Galway-based Mr Ganley initiated judicial review proceedings against Minister for Health Stephen Donnolly and the State; Alleged News. [1]
Archbishop Eamon Martin
All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin used a column in The Irish Catholic to urge Catholics to write to their elected representatives calling for restrictions on Masses and other religious ceremonies to be eased; Alleged News. [1]
Archbishop Eamon affirmed that "In making the case for public worship at all stages of lockdown we are not claiming special privilege over other places - like gyms, restaurants or sports. We are simply stating the fact that, for Christians, gathering to worship God is not an optional extra - it is a profound expression of who we are as individual spiritual beings and as Church," Alleged News. [1]
Matter adjourned to December 8th 2020
The judge, Justice Charles Meenan, directed the application for permission to bring the challenge be heard on notice to the State and adjourned the matter to December 8th when he said circumstances can be reassessed; Alleged News. [2] Mr Ganley's lawyers said the matter was urgent; Alleged News. [2]
In his action, Mr Ganley represented by Neil Steen SC and Darren Lehane SC, instructed by solicitor Eamonn Cunningham of Gateley Tweed, seeks various orders and declarations, including an order that certain temporary regulations introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to deal with the pandemic – Regulation 5(1) and (3) of the 1947 Health Act – are quashed; Alleged News. [2]
He also seeks declarations the regulations at issue are incompatible with various articles of the Constitution, including article 44 where the State acknowledges the right of persons to freely practise their religion; Alleged News. [2]
In the alternative, Mr Ganley seeks a declaration the regulations do not prevent him from leaving his residence for the purpose of practising his religion, including participation in public worship; Alleged News. [2]
Mr Steen said the issue was extremely important for his client; Alleged News. [2] It was accepted the vast majority of religious services, including Catholic Masses, have been cancelled by church leaders due to the pandemic; Alleged News. [2] The regulations did not appear to prevent services like Masses but Catholic priests cannot leave their homes to perform a Mass nor can persons like Mr Ganley attend such services; Alleged News. [2]
Uproar
There was uproar in Ireland after warning that priests could go to prison for celebrating Mass, Alleged News. [3] In the wake of new laws which Catholics in Ireland are comparing to penal times and the persecution of the Catholic Church, an increasing number of priests and lay people are demanding the return of Mass and the sacraments, Alleged News. [3]
According to the Iona Institute, the new penalties apply to any minister of religion who holds a public act of worship, not just priests; Alleged News. [3]
A group representing Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal and New churches from all over Ireland, Irish Church Together, said that it supported the appeal made by 70 Pentecostal church leaders in an open letter to Taoiseach Martin, within which the religious leaders described the closure of places of worship as "counterproductive" at a time when people "desperately need the hope and community that so many find in church life and public worship; Alleged News. [3]
International horror
Countless abroad have expressed horror at the plight of the people of Ireland unable to worship in cathedral, mosque, church or temple.
WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?
LIFT THE BAN ON PUBLIC WORSHIP IN IRELAND; ALLEGED NEWS
https://www.change.org/p/taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-martin-lift-the-ban-on-public-worship-in-ireland
[1] Court challenge to ban on public Mass, Alleged News
https://www.irishcatholic.com/breaking-news-court-challenge-to-ban-on-public-mass/
[2] Ganley takes legal challenge to Level 5 ban on attending Mass; Alleged News
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/ganley-takes-legal-challenge-to-level-5-ban-on-attending-mass-1.4402319
[3] Ireland; Uproar after warning that priests could go to prison for celebrating Mass, Alleged News
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2020/11/ireland-uproar-after-warning-that.html
With thanks to irishcatholic.com and irishtimes.com
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