Scotland's Iona Abbey represents the long-standing relationship between the Church in Ireland and Scotland, with St Columba establishing it after arriving from Ireland in the 6th Century. Photo: CNS The thoughts and prayers of the Church in Scotland are now directed “to our brothers and sisters in Ireland”, the president of the Bishops’ Conference in Scotland has said.
Commenting on the recent decision by the Irish Government to enact restrictions which criminalise public worship, Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen issued a statement, saying “As the Catholic Church in Scotland this year celebrates the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Columba who brought the Faith from Ireland to Scotland in the 6th century, the thoughts and prayers of the Church in Scotland are now directed to our brothers and sisters in Ireland.”
“Recent developments that penalise the celebration of Holy Mass have been disturbing not only to the Irish Bishops’ Conference but also to the bishops of Scotland,” he said, continuing “We all recognise the need for restrictions to protect the common good of all people in a pandemic but to enact legislation that criminalises those who gather to celebrate Holy Mass is indeed extreme and unjust.”
“May the strong bonds between the Catholic Church in Ireland and Scotland established by St Patrick, St Columba, the Celtic saints and the faith of our forebears reassure our brothers and sisters in Ireland that they are not alone and are always in our prayers.”
Public worship has been allowed in Scotland since March 24, when the regulations forcing their closure were deemed unlawful. At that time, a group of 27 Church leaders in Scotland launched a judicial review arguing that the Scottish government acted beyond their emergency powers.
Lord Braid agreed the regulations went further than was lawfully allowed, and the ruling was issued that allowed the reinstatement of public worship with “immediate effect”.