Clare TD Michael McNamara 
Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne
If public worship is still restricted at Easter, a prominent TD has urged the Government to allow Mass to be celebrated outdoors.
Clare TD Michael McNamara has said due to the religious significance of the period outdoor Masses should be considered if the Government is not willing to permit Mass indoors.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic he said: “Obviously, churches by-and-large are large, cavernous spaces. Not all of them, but the majority of them are. I would’ve hoped that it might be possible to say Mass safely, particularly given that Easter is obviously the most important liturgical event in the Christian calendar.”
Necessary
“If it was deemed necessary that Masses be celebrated outdoors…I’m sure it’s something that priests and their congregations would be willing to consider,” he said.
He added that he “would certainly support it” and “at the very least, I think they [the Government] should consider allowing Masses to take place outdoors – at the very least.”
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath said reopening for public Mass by Easter “shouldn’t be a pipedream” as “there has been no evidence of any transmission of the disease that I know of in any place of worship”.
The Easter period is “hugely important for people of faith, the Passion, the crucifixion and the resurrection”, he said, adding that there has been “sheer utter disappointment” among his constituents due to the continued closure of churches for public Mass.
Peadar Tóibín TD of Meath West said there is still a need to be cautious but that public worship should be recognised as “an essential element in many people’s lives” in the new roadmap for the reopening of society – expected to be published next week.
Regarding an Easter reopening Mr Tóibín said the Government should be looking at it as a possible date for public worship to return but Covid-19 cases, mortalities and vaccination figures will “play a major role in this decision”.
He stated that religious worship is a human right according to the universal declaration of human rights and “is an essential element of people’s lives”.
If it was deemed necessary that Masses be celebrated outdoors… I’m sure it’s something that priests and their congregations would be willing to consider”
“I think unfortunately this country has looked at it as a nonessential service up until now,” he said, “There’s no doubt in my mind that the Government haven’t weighted the level of importance of religious practice as the reality is in many people’s lives. A strong message needs to be sent to the Government,” he said.
Senior Fianna Fáil TD and former Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary said that he does not believe by first weekend of April it will be allowed to hold public Mass.
Indication
“I’m just not seeing any indication that we’re going to get there and I think it would be wrong to give false hope because it means something very important to people. I don’t think we’re going to be able to have that number of gatherings this Easter,” he said.
He added that it’s not about the church as a venue, but the movement of people – which creates the conditions for the virus to spread.
“For public worship I think it’s incredibly important to people, some people find the online experience works but most people don’t, let’s be honest. I think what we need to do is do it [a return to public worship] in a manner that is safe and in a manner that doesn’t put anybody at risk – that’s the most important thing.
“At a time when it is safe, it has to be safe, then we can get back to having Mass and having faith-based services,” the Mayo TD said.
