The world was shocked last week when news emerged that the Irish State had fined Cavan priest Fr. PJ Hughes €500 and threatened him with jail for leaving his door opened as he said Mass.
Ireland’s ban on public worship has been the longest in Europe, and perhaps the world, standing at 35 weeks now.
The inconsistencies of this have been mentioned time and again, donut shops packed each day, media outlets operating as normal. You can get an abortion, but not a cancer appointment. You can allow hundreds to be involved with international soccer and rugby, more than are allowed at a funeral.
TD Michael McNamara stood up this week and accused the Irish government of being ‘Cromwellian’. Pro abortion TD Thomas Byrne has denounced the accusation, despite his government colleague Neale Richmond being photographed at a parade a number of years ago in front of a banner honouring Cromwell. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly previously said that Ireland would not lock up priests who said Mass, are they about to change that?
Now the increasingly sinister actions of the Irish State are under the spotlight with global attention towards their efforts to clamp down on religious worship on Holy Week. It will look even more absurd if they do it after allowing dozens of Luxembourg soccer players this weekend, some of the worst in international football, to travel to Ireland for a game that will include dozens more involved with it, sweating all over one another.
Father PJ is saying Mass this coming Sunday as normal, with his doors open and many have said that they will travel to attend the Mass. While this is only one small area of state harassment of Catholics using lockdown as an excuse, the fact that Mass will be available 40 minutes up the road in Northern Ireland only serves to underline the absurdity of Ireland’s approach to this issue.
Germany has already made a U-turn on their Easter lockdown, can Ireland’s government exercise a rare act of humility and do the same?
