Mass in breach of COVID-19 restrictions; case against a priest in Cavan… Fr. Hughes says he will continue to hold Mass

Cavan: A case has been registered against a Christian priest for carrying out Mass and prayer services without regard to Level Five restrictions. However, it continues by PJ Hughes, a Catholic priest in County Cavan. This priest’s journey is based on the belief that God will help us.

Father PJ Hughes is the parish Father PJ Hughes is the parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mullahoran. He held a Mass last Sunday where around 50 people attended. Fr. Hughes said that Gardaí called five minutes before the Mass. The Garda said that the COVID regulations were being violated and demanded that those gathered at the church be told to go home. “It was a punch in the stomach, it was the worst time to come… if it was an hour before… It made me sad,” Fr. Hughes said.

The priest told Gardai that he would not tell anyone who came to church to go home because he thought it would be a great insult to the faith of the people. Gardai said that they would file a case and prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions and could face up to €2,500 fine and spend up to six months in prison if convicted. Fr. Hughes says it’s okay and that he is doing his duty as a Catholic priest.

Religious services are not permitted under Level 5 restrictions. But Fr. Hughes doesn’t agree with it. The priest said that the right to practice their religion was essential and is therefore not considered a breach of the law. “I’m here to serve the Church and the people, not the government,” he said.

“It’s telling people you cannot practice your faith. Are we going to live in a Communist state or what? I know the virus is there, but at the same time, we have to live.

 God can help us, god is creater of heaven and Earth. A scientist cannot tell me that what he does is more important than what god does,” Fr. Hughes explained.

Scientists say faith cannot prevent the transmission of a virus from one person to another. But Fr. Hughes argues, “Well I can tell you, the scientist is wrong, because God has healed people, even raised people from the dead.” He said that he would continue the Mass, but would not publicise what time the Mass is at.

“The Government has no regard for people who are living alone,” he said. Fr. Hughes said that his parishioners are 100% supportive and that no one said he should stop the Mass. “We have a divine right to worship god, somebody show me the law that says I’m wrong,” he added.

Dr. Gabriel Scally, a public health physician said the priest’s arguments were shocking. “People can pray to their god and worship their god and say their prayers by themselves.” He said it was wrong for people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, to gather together during the pandemic. He said it’s not just the people who gather who are at risk, because it can spread beyond that to others in their community. Dr. Scally added that the virus does not discriminate on the basis of religion or caste.

In any case, whether or not people agree with Father Hughes, Former minister for social protection Regina Doherty said on Twitter that Fr. Hughes “certainly is giving life to the frustration that far more people are feeling regarding living in lockdown.” We need a debate about Reopening Ireland now,” she added.