Catholic priest joins legal action

A CATHOLIC priest has joined legal action by other Christian leaders against the Scottish Government over lockdown church closures.

Canon Tom White, of St Alphonsus RC Church in the Calton area of Glasgow, issued a pre-action letter to the Government in February demanding it lifts lockdown restrictions forcing places of worship to close.

Separately, a group of other religious leaders launched legal proceedings in January.

Canon White has now joined the action by the other religious leaders, including representatives from the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the Free Church of Scotland, and a number of independent churches.

They state the closures are unlawful as they breach human rights law and the Scottish constitution.

The case will be heard at a two-day remote hearing on March 11-12.

Churches are currently closed and are only permitted to conduct weddings or funerals – with the number of attendees strictly limited – and to broadcast services online.

In England, communal worship is allowed subject to restrictions on attendance.

The Scottish Government currently plans to allow churches to open from April 5 with attendance limits – though First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has indicated they will be able to open earlier for Easter.

Canon White, who is being supported by legal advocacy organisation ADF International, said: “We’ve seen the Government allow bicycle shops and dry cleaners to open throughout the current lockdown, while my grieving community has had no access to their church.

“Freedom of religion is a foundational human right. This right should be limited only to the extent that is necessary and proportionate.”