Dublin’s Archbishop, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has warned against what he calls ‘serious distortion’ of a Vatican document urging a return to worship as soon as possible.

He has also complained about the ‘complacency’ of those who want Communion and Confirmation ceremonies to suit school schedules and to ‘get sacraments done’.

The Vatican document referred to is apparently from the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated 3 September, Cardinal Robert Sarah.

“The document … strongly supports the application of restrictive measures and ‘painful decisions even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period’, when the need is great,’ Archbishop Martin insists.

“The idea that sacramental acts have to be done quickly and can be done outside the normal liturgical situation is false. There is no urgent need to celebrate these sacraments just because they fit into the school calendar. In many dioceses, celebrations of First Communions have yet to be begin.”

Archbishop Martin  is apparently concerned that people may be underestimating the seriousness of the current situation in County Dublin and other counties, as Irish government concern grows about rising levels of Covid19 infection.

To read Archbishop Martin’s complete statement, click here.