Bishop Denis Brennan of Fern Bishop Denis Brennan has said that the “continued existence of church closures” needs to be “revisited and amended” in his letter encouraging solidarity in the “age of coronavirus” for the month of November.
The Bishop of Ferns asked that people do more than “what is simply right at present”, saying “Let us as Church go the second mile.”
Homing in on the continued closure of churches, he said, “One thing that has become abundantly clear in recent times, is the need to revisit and amend the continued existence of church closures for public worship, as implemented from level 3. Being the only place in Europe where church closure exists in this instance, is clearly sufficient reason to revisit the matter, to reassess its necessity and to re-examine its appropriateness, and to consider the positive benefits of its being lifted.”
Advice
In the meantime, his advice to the Faithful was not to lose heart and to stand together in solidarity. He applauded those whose efforts to this point have continued to hold communities together, such as volunteers, good neighbours, priests and parish councils.
Bishop Brennan also highlighted the special role the month of November must play this year as those who died of the coronavirus and their families are remembered, encouraging the laity to join him online as he leads a service of remembrance at the Enniscorthy Cathedral at 3pm on November 1.