Calls for ministers to reopen churches in time for Holy Week
Plea for restrictions to be eased earlier for Easter services
Government ministers have been asked to make a firm commitment to reopening churches in time for Easter.
Councillor Andy Doig has written to health secretary Jeane Freeman requesting places of worship be allowed to welcome congregations from Maundy Thursday, which will be marked on April 1.
According to the latest route map out of lockdown announced by the Scottish Government, churches are not set to reopen until Easter Monday on April 5.
Councillor Doig - who is also running to become Renfrewshire South’s new MSP - said being able to celebrate Easter in its entirety would lift the mood of the Christian community.
The Johnstone Nor th, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch representative said: “The First Minister has announced a route map to lead us into the next phase of covid recovery, and that is very welcome.
“However, I did notice under Phase 3 the estimated plan was to allow places of worship to open on Monday, April 5, which is Easter Monday, and after the traditional Holy Week which all Christian denominations observe.
“Conditional on the covid figures still moving in the right direction, I am calling on the Scottish Government to give a definite commitment to try and reopen places of worship on Maundy Thursday, which would allow the traditional Easter observations to take place until Easter Monday.
“This would mean a lot to Scotland’s diverse Christian community.
“I think it is really helpful for the mental health of people coping with lockdown to be in a familiar place, with friends they have known for decades in many cases, taking part in collective worship.
“Easter is the primary festival in the Christian calendar and I think it would lift the mood of the whole country.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has so far said stay- at- home restrictions will be eased on Monday, April 5, but she will take Easter and Passover into account during the decision- making process.
She added chu rches could potentially be allowed to welcome a maximum of 20 people a few days earlier.
Diocese of Paisley, Bishop John Keenan said: “Catholics feel that allowing the opening of our churches on Easter Monday would be missing the boat.
“For the sake of a few days, we would be missing out on the most important feast of the Christian calendar.
“We are also aware for the Jewish community Passover begins on March 27 and opening public worship for this date would allow them to mark an important festival in their calendar.
“The government has indicated they will cap numbers at 20 worshippers.
“This effectively means no public worship in any real sense, but private services with only a priest and a few others.
“For the Church, Easter is even more important than Christmas.
“It means the world to most Catholics to come to church in Holy Week.”
Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “Christians are Easter people and we live with hope in all circumstances.
“The announcement in the Scottish Parliament is a good beginning to a return to normality and we look forward to further progress in the easing of restrictions.
“However, individual congregations will proceed cautiously according to their own circumstances and will only re- open buildings when it’s safe for them to do so.”
This would mean a lot to Scotland’s diverse Christian community