IRELAND; THERE HAS BEEN UPROAR AFTER WARNING THAT PRIESTS COULD GO TO PRISON FOR CELEBRATING MASS, ALLEGED NEWS. [1] 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. [1]
Warning by Deputy McNamara
Deputy Michael McNamara, a politician who chairs the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee warned that a priest could be imprisoned or fined for celebrating the Holy Mass in public under new restrictions passed into Irish law during October 2020; Alleged News. [2]
Deputy McNamara, an independent TD for County Clare, raised his concerns as the Dail debated the extension of public health emergency legislation restricting individual rights from 9 November 2020 until 9th June 2021, with the view to curbing the spread of Covid-19 virus; Alleged News. [2]
Article 8
Article 8 of the regulations prohibits various events, including religious services, with an exception for funerals; Alleged News. [2] Contravention of the prohibition is an offence with a penal provision which allows for the imposition of criminal penalties on the event organizer, such as a priest who celebrates a Mass attended by any members of the public; Alleged News. [2] The penalties include a fine, imprisonment, or both.[2]
Criminal offence
Addressing the Minister for Health in the Dail, Deputy McNamara cautioned that under the new provisions, priests will be committing a criminal offence if they open the doors of their churches for Mass; Alleged News. [2]
Deputy McNamara said, "I am not a Mass-goer. but I know how important it is in the community I represent for people to go to Mass or to a church or mosque. The government is denying them that. Is the government going to send gardai after priests who decide to say Mass? If the government is thinking of that, I have one word to say, "Don't"; Alleged News. [3] [Gardai are the police].
Deputy McNamara emphasized that Regulation 5[1] precludes people leaving their home without reasonable excuse and that under Regulation 5[2] saying Mass in public is not a reasonable excuse and that therefore there is a penal provision for any priest who does; Alleged News. [3]
The law is in violation
The law is in direct violation of Article 44 of the Irish Constitution which states, "The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion. Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen." [1]
All ministers of religion
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. [2] A number of church leaders have issued statements which call upon the government to allow churches to reopen for public worship; Alleged News. [2]
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 Irish 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. [2]
Archbishops meet Taoiseach
Taoiseach Martin met with Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Kieran O'Reilly and Bishop of Ossory Dermot Farrell during October 2020, Alleged News. [4]
Penal restrictions for all ministers of religion
Penal laws are laws which were passed against Roman Catholics in Britain and Ireland that penalized the practice of the Roman Catholic religion and imposed civil disabilities on Catholics. [5]
Various acts passed in the 16th and 17th centuries prescribed fines and imprisonment for participation in Catholic worship and severe penalties, including death, for Catholic priests who practised their ministry in Britain or Ireland. [5]
When our forefathers marched and suffered for independence, they proudly thought of the generations of Irish to come who would have access to freedom and protection. Little did they know that the 21st century would bring restrictions not only for Catholics but for all ministers of religion.
Are the dying to remain without the last sacraments?
What will the results be? Are the dying to remain unshriven and without the solace of the last sacraments? Are believers to be denied the comfort of worship (with due Covid-19 restrictions being faithfully adhered to) in cathedral, church, mosque or temple? Are respected leaders of religion to be criminalized for following their God-given call to minister to the spiritual flocks God Himself has entrusted into their care?
An account will be required of us all at our Last Judgement. Will it be said that our people were allowed to shop for fruit and vegetables to sustain life but were denied the Bread of Life for their eternal salvation?
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] Irish Catholics in uproar after warning that priests could go to prison for celebrating Mass, Alleged News https://thecatholicuniverse.com/irish-catholics-in-uproar-after-warning-that-priests-could-go-to-prison-for-celebrating-mass/
[2] Priests 'face prison' for saying Mass in public, Alleged News
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/13520/priests-face-prison-for-saying-mass-in-public
[3] Clergy who hold acts of public worship can go to prison under new Covid measures: Alleged News
[4] Restrictions on religious services to stay after archbishops meet Taoiseach, Alleged News
[5] Penal laws; British and Irish history
https://www.britannica.com/event/Penal-Laws
With thanks to youtube, thecatholicuniverse.com, thetablet.co.uk, ionainstute.ie, brittanica.com, irishtimes.com and change.org
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