Christians challenge legality of Scottish church closures

The decision to close churches in Scotland while others across Europe remained open is being challenged in a hearing today (Thursday 11 March).

A total of 27 church leaders from different Christian denominations across the country brought the action following the decision by the Scottish Government to criminalise public worship in churches as part of its lockdown restrictions.

They will contest State interference in the human right of religious freedom in Scotland at a time when churches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland remained open with safety measures in place.

The two-day full judicial review began at the Court of Session this morning. It comes just days after the announcement that places of worship can reopen on 26 March.

Canon Tom White, parish priest of St Alphonsus' Church in Glasgow, is one of those taking part in the judicial review.

No other Catholic clergy are part of the legal action. However three bishops, including Archbishop Leo Cushley, have individually submitted affidavits (written statements).

In his affidavit, submitted in a personal capacity, Archbishop Cushley challenges the proportionality of criminalising the opening of churches, which the Scottish Government imposed without consultation.

He does not dispute whether or not churches should be open or closed at this time but instead highlights the lack of consultation with Bishops from the Government, the imposition of seemingly arbitrary numerical caps (50 and 20) and the characterisation of public worship as 'non-essential indoor contact'.

If successful, the judicial review could see the Scottish Government's blanket ban on public worship due to the Covid-19 pandemic deemed unlawful.

Read more about the full judicial review here.

Archdiocesan Review of the Year 2020

Here's a look at just some of the news from across the Archdiocese in an eventful 2020.

January

-Parishioners from across the Archdiocese came together to attend the annual pro-life Mass at St Margaret’s Chapel in the Gillis Centre, followed by a chance to socialise.

-The Requiem Mass for the Very Rev James Canon Friel, who died aged 86, took place at St Mary’s Church in Haddington, with burial at St Mary’s Cemetery.

-The Very Reverend Nick Welsh, then parish priest at Our Lady & St Andrew in Galashiels, was appointed the Vicar Episcopal for Catholic Education for the Archdiocese.

-Archbishop Leo Cushley headed to Washington as part of a week-long stint at the International Commission of English in the Liturgy (ICEL).

-Professor David Jones was the keynote speaker at an Archdiocesan Bioethics Day held at the Gillis Centre, Edinburgh

-Archbishop Leo Cushley paid tribute to the role of the Augustinian community at the Annual Day for Religious in Edinburgh.

February

-The first 'Ask Me Anything' event was held by our vocations team and featured Sister Mary Margaret, of the Sisters of Nazareth in Bonnyrigg.

-People crammed into the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh for the Archdiocesan Day for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

-The UK’s leading Catholic university announced it will launch postgraduate courses in Scotland for the first time. St Mary’s University, Twickenham, agreed arrangements with the Archdiocese for a range of subjects to be taught at the Gillis Centre.

-Archbishop Leo Cushley led the Ash Wednesday service at the Scottish Parliament.

March

-Tributes were paid to Monsignor Brian Provost Halloran who died suddenly at his home in North Berwick. He was 84.

-Dr Adrian Treloar and Sister Andrea Fraile spoke at the Archdiocesan mini-symposium on gender theory at the Gillis Centre.

-Parishioners paid tribute to the positive impact of the Augustinians as the order left St Joseph’s, Broomhouse, after 25 years.

-Archbishop Cushley released this message to parishioners following the suspension of public Mass due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

April

-Tributes were made to Fr Joe Miller, a priest of St Patrick's Missionary Society, who died peacefully in Strathcarron Hospice, Stirlingshire.

Archbishop Leo Cushley gave an Easter message of hope when he appeared on BBC1 Scotland's Reflections at the Quay.

-Priest School aired on the BBC Scotland channel giving viewers access to life as a seminarian at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome.

-Tributes were paid to Sister Mary Steedman RSM (Sisters of Mercy) who passed away peacefully at the Rosehill Care Home in Dalkeith. She was 86 and had cancer.

May

-Fr Chris Heenan of St Margaret's Church in Dunfermline became a social media hit after performing with his accordian on Facebook to lift spirits during lockdown.

-Archbishop Cushley rededicated the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Fátima.

-Tributes were paid to a priest of our diocese who served the poor in Central America. Fr Thomas Greenan died peacefully at St Margaret’s Care Home in Edinburgh. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s and was 64 years old.

-St Joseph's in Peebles opened its doors to welcome the local Foodbank who urgently needed a new location due to spiralling demand during the Covid-19 lockdown.

June

-Sr Aelrid Timmins, of the Sisters of Mercy in Edinburgh, appeared on a BBC religious programme to explain the founding of the Order.

-Churches re-opened for private prayer

-Fr Nick Welsh was chosen by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland to be the new vice rector of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome.

-Archbishop Cushley appeared on BBC Radio Scotland to share his thoughts on what the gradual easing of lockdown might mean for Catholic churches in Scotland.

July

-A Lourdes pilgrim was delighted when her idea to request a plenary indulgence for those attending a virtual pilgrimage in the Archdiocese was granted by the Vatican.

-The Archdiocese said farewell to Fr John O’Connor OP, parish priest and superior at St Albert's Chaplaincy at the University of Edinburgh, who was appointed to a new post in Oxford.

-A Midnight Mass at St Mary's Cathedral marked the return of public worship in Edinburgh.

-Family and friends celebrated the ordination of Fr Samuel Burke OP to the Sacred Priesthood at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.

August

-The Archdiocese welcomed two new deacons at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh - Martin Eckersley and Bobby Taylor.

-Sunday Rosary sessions helped inspire parishioners in Queensferry, Dalmeny and Kirkliston to create a cookbook. Over thirty budding chefs got creative to raise funds for St Margaret's Parish.

-Tributes were paid to Father Donald McGlynn OCSO, Abbot emeritus of Sancta Maria Abbey, Nunraw in East Lothian, who died aged 86 and who had been a member of the Cistercians for over 65 years.

September

-Holy Mass with Archbishop Cushley was broadcast on national TV. The Catholic Church in Scotland welcomed more religious coverage on the channel during lockdown.

-Tributes were paid to Sr Immaculata Murray RSM who died on 12 September. She was 93.

-On the tenth anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic journey to the UK, Archbishop Cushley reflected on the historic visit.

-The Archdiocese welcomed three Religious Sisters of Mercy (RSM) to Edinburgh - Sr Edith Mary was appointed Clergy Welfare Co-ordinator (assisting retired clergy) Sr Anna Marie became Catechetics Advisor, while and Sr Miriam Fidelis was appointed to assist at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.

October

-Tributes were paid to Fr Hugh Purcell who died at St John Vianney’s parish house in Gilmerton, Edinburgh. He was 62 years old.

-Fr Andrew Garden hosted a Zoom event on St Mark's Gospel, to help prepare people for a new liturgical year.

-The Religious Sisters of Mercy (RSM) led the Archdiocese in prayer as part of the National Rosary Relay Rally.

-The Archdiocese announced a new Diploma in Catechetics - a year-long course to help people spread the Good News!

November

-Catherine Wylie, of the Catholic Grandparents Association, hosted an event for grandparents' on their mission in the Church and family.

-Four areas in the Archdiocese were moved into level four restrictions, reducing Mass attendance from 50 to 20.

-A Great Toy Giveaway appeal saw hundreds of gifts donated to St Francis Xavier's Parish in Falkirk.

-Four priests were renewed in their roles as Vicar Episcopal for the Archdiocese: Frs Basil Clark (Caritas, Justice & Peace), Daniel Doherty (Catechetics), Jeremy Milne (Marriage & Families) and Jeremy Bath (Ecumenism).

-A pro-life Advent Rosary was held over four weeks to pray for the unborn and their mothers and all pro-life intentions.

December

-Level 4 restrictions were lifted for several parts of the Archdiocese, meaning many parishes returned to having a maximum of 50 people at Mass.

-A national pastoral letter from Scotland's Catholic Bishops highlighted “reasons for hope, as we live through these difficult times”.

-Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of St Joseph, from 08 December 2020 to 08 December 2021.

-Archbishop Cushley shared his Christmas message with parishioners, as he reflected on a difficult year for us all.

-Schools across the Archdiocese kept Christ in Christmas to contribute pictures to our Silent Night Christmas video gallery.

For all our videos from this year, visit our YouTube channel.

WATCH: Back to church basics

Ahead of the expected phased opening of our churches later this month, Mgr Allan Chambers has shared the basics of what we can expect upon returning to church for private prayer.

In the below video, he takes us round his church, St Mary's Bathgate, to show his parish preparations, which will be similar in churches across Scotland. It comes following the issuing of online guidelines from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland (BCOS).

Please note, this video is not meant to be a comprehensive guide, but a basic introduction to the practicalities of returning to church. It is based on the document Guidance on preparing for the re-opening of Churches, which was prepared by the Working Group on COVID-19 Infection Control. 

 

Mgr Chambers, a Vicar General for the Archdiocese, said: "Your priest will decide what works best for his church, within the guidelines. Please support him practically and with your prayer. If you have worries or questions about reopening, please contact him. He can get in touch with the designated co-ordinator for reopening in the diocese if further assistance is required."

Keep an eye on our coronavirus updates page and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) for updates and information. The parish posters that feature in the video have been sent to all priests in our diocese.

Clarity on face masks
Wearing a face mask while in church is current church guidance. It is under ongoing review and changes will be considered in the weeks ahead. Face masks will not be available in all churches, so bring your own. Coverings other than masks are suitable (eg scarf). It is recommended that those unable to wear a face mask (including young children) should not attend church at this time. The recommendations come with agreement of scientific experts from the Scottish Government and were developed by BCOS, given the evidence for routes of transmission and the length of time of exposure indoors.

Vocations: 'I realised that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist’

What happens when you realise you may be called to the priesthood or religious life? Here are some of the fascinating stories from those who decided to give their entire life to the service of God and His Church.

"I have spent a lot of time recently reflecting on the journey that has brought me to the brink of my diaconate ordination. Since the first discussion with my parish priest as a teenager I have revisited my calling several times, every time getting closer until – just when I thought everything was settled in my life – it was an undeniable fact that the time was right to follow the call that I had from God. The call is not an easy thing to follow. It meant leaving a comfortable job, my friends, family and home, but making that leap of faith is the most rewarding experience of my life. For those who are thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Take your time to explore it. Pray on it, speak to people you trust about it, be patient, but most of all spend time with God. He will show you the way." Bobby Taylor, seminarian for Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh (Number 1 in main picture) 

"I was attracted to the religious life from the age of 14, but all I knew was that I wanted to give my life to God. The form my life was to take began to take shape when I was 20, and I read Evangelium Vitae. Centred on John 10:10, ‘I have come that they might have life, life in abundance’, those words, so familiar, struck a new chord in me. I remember thinking as I sat there of all those around us who live lives at half-mast because of fear, shame, sadness, guilt, regret, addiction… and in that moment I longed to give them all a sense of the incredibly beautiful life God intended for them. That idea, planted in my soul by God, never left me. So here's the thing: He made you for Himself, and He has a perfect plan for you alone – be open, generous and courageous, and true happiness will be yours." Sister Andrea Fraile, Sisters of the Gospel of Life, Glasgow (2)

"I felt the Lord’s call at the tomb of St Paul, while I was on pilgrimage in Rome with other young people. During Mass, I heard the Lord say in my heart: ‘Karin, you are mine!’. At first I did not know what to do with this. A short time after that, when I met Mother Julia, our foundress, I knew that the Lord was calling me to the religious life in the Spiritual Family The Work. After praying and speaking with a Sister and a Priest, I said my ‘Yes’ to the Lord. I entered and I have been very happy in my vocation! If you think that the Lord might be calling you, pray about it, receive the Sacraments, do not hesitate to ask advice, and know that the Lord wants your happiness! As Saint Pope John Paul II said: ‘Do not be afraid’!" Sister Karin Hugens FSO, Spiritual Family The Work, Edinburgh (3)

"When I was 21 years old, I came to realise that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. I moved to Rome to learn about the faith, and I was received into the Catholic Church later that year. A few months later, a priest I knew encouraged me to go and visit some Sisters and join them for Holy Hour and dinner. When I met the Sisters, it felt like I had finally come home. If you think God might be calling you to give Him all your life – be courageous and active! Seek Him in times of prayer and, when you think you know where He is leading you, take the step! The novitiate (or seminary) is a time of discernment, no one is absolutely sure when they enter. It takes faith, but is a beautiful life. And you can only come to know it by living it." Sister Mary Simone RSM, Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Edinburgh (4)

"I was born in a traditional Catholic family in Kerala, India. My greatest inspiration and teachers in Christian life were my grandparents and parents. They used to tell stories of saints and from a very young age we had to participate in family prayer. Such an upbringing instilled in me a desire to be a priest from childhood. The first invitation to become a Franciscan Friar and priest came from a friend of my grandfather, Fr Alphonse OFMCap. He gave me biographies of St Francis of Assisi and other literature on Franciscan life. I was greatly attracted and impressed by the simplicity and holiness of Francis and joined the Franciscan Order after my schooling. While in seminary there were moments of uncertainty and confusion. These led to a deeper and more serious reflection on my vocation and consequently evolved into personal conviction that 'I can with the Lord'. Father Thomas Prince Mathew, OFMCap (Friars Minor Capuchin), Parish of St Teresa of Lisieux, Edinburgh (5)

"I had been pretty lukewarm in my faith for several years. Then I began to feel restless, and to think things like: ‘There must be more to life than this!’ And my thoughts kept coming back to God. I wished I knew how to come closer to Him. I didn’t realise then that it was because God was calling me. Our Saint John of the Cross says: ‘If the soul is searching for God, much, much more is God searching for the soul.’ The love of God is so precious. If you think He’s calling you, try and respond; pray, search, listen, try to do what He’s telling you. A vocation is very demanding – so is marriage! - but you’ll never regret saying yes to God." Sister Teresa of the Holy Child, Discalced Carmelites, Dysart, Fife (6)

"At the age of 23 I finally gave in to a call which I had felt from late teenage years. Having enjoyed a varied life since leaving school, first of all to be with my mother who was ill, we were running a small business together in Bathgate, a sweet shop and later we added a coffee shop.  My mother was a great support to me during that time and when God called her to Himself I continued running this business, at the same time as looking after my father and brother at home. In between times I loved catching up with my friends on outings - dancing, films, theatre etc. I also had a boyfriend and the future looked rosy. We were both very committed to our religion without being fanatical and one day he told me that I would make a lovely nun! This did not please me but it made me think. Soon afterwards I was at a school reunion and met up with a nun whom I had known years before. She thought I would have been married by this time. However, she asked me if I had considered the Religious Life. I had, and from that day everything fell into place. I have now been a Religious of the Sacred Heart for 57 years and have had the most interesting and fulfilling life, filled with joy and happiness wherever I have been sent, meeting and sharing with so many wonderful people from all walks of life. It’s my way of helping to make known the love of the Heart of Jesus and bring happiness to the world." Sister Jean Lawson RSCJ, Society of the Sacred Heart, Edinburgh

To find out more about vocations in our Archdiocese, contact: Father Andrew Garden, Vocations Director 0131 663 4286, vocations@staned.org.uk or Sister Mirjam Hugens, Director for Religious Vocations 0131 623 8902, religiousvocations@staned.org.uk

 

Available now: latest children's liturgy resources

The latest Sunday-by-Sunday guide for those who lead Children's Liturgy in parishes has been uploaded to this website.

Available now:

  • 03 November, 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Click here to download.

Alternatively, click the menu button on the top left of this page, go to Pastoral Governance > Catechetics > Children's Liturgy Resources. You'll find the guide at the bottom of the page.

Available now: latest children's liturgy resources

The latest Sunday-by-Sunday guide for those who lead Children's Liturgy in parishes has been uploaded to this website.

Available now:

  • 27 October, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Click here to download.

Alternatively, click the menu button on the top left of this page, go to Pastoral Governance > Catechetics > Children's Liturgy Resources. You'll find them at the bottom of the page.

Please note, there is no children's liturgy sheets published for Mass during the October holidays.

Available now: latest children's liturgy resources

The latest Sunday-by-Sunday guide for those who lead the Children's Liturgy in parishes has been uploaded to this website.

Available now:

  • 29 September, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Click here to download.
  • 06 October, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Click here to download.

Alternatively, click the menu button on the top left of this page, go to Pastoral Governance > Catechetics > Children's Liturgy Resources. You'll find them at the bottom of the page.

Please note, there will be a two week break (13 and 20 October as Children's Liturgy does not take place during the school holidays. It will resume on Sun 27 October.