Ruadhán Jones
TD Michael Healy-Rae has said there is “blatantly obvious” anti-Catholic bias in Government.
The Kerry TD told The Irish Catholic that “governments present and past seem to be engaged in a continual downgrading of the Catholic religion”.
Faithful unfairly
“Of course there is anti-Catholic bias in Government – is that not blatantly obvious,” Mr Healy-Rae said, adding that the Government has “treated the rights of the Faithful unfairly”, particularly in relation to funerals.
“At the moment when people are going out of this world, it does not make sense that no matter how large a church is, only ten people are allowed to attend,” he said. “I think that that is wrong, I think it’s insulting and degrading to the families.”
According to Mr Healy-Rae, “the smallest church in Ireland is capable of hosting ten people safely and adhering to some proper social distancing”.
The TD’s comments come as pressure mounts on the Government over restrictions on public worship.
The Western Bishops released a statement last week in which they expressed concern that public worship may not be available “for months to come”.
“It ignores the important contribution of communal worship to the mental and spiritual well-being of people of faith,” the six Western bishops said.
They joined the call for an increase in the number of mourners allowed at funerals, arguing that “a modest increase to 25 would, without compromising safety, bring much consolation to grieving families”.
Meanwhile, Aontú representative for Cork-West Becky Kealy has started a new petition calling for a return to public worship for Holy Week.
Ms Kealy said it is “vitally important” that public worship be allowed from Holy Week on.
Holy Week
“People have been finding it really difficult being away from the sacraments, and the routine of attending daily Mass for the elderly,” she continued. “We’re pushing for it to be reopened by Holy Week because of the importance of it and because we were in lockdown for Easter last year.”