THE SDLP’s Mark H Durkan has today welcomed agreement from the Executive which will allow places of worship to stay open for individual prayer.
The decision comes after calls for change to upcoming Covid-19 restrictions from church leaders in the North.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The decision to allow places of worship to remain open for individual prayer over the next fortnight is not only right but a necessary one.
“In these dark, uncertain times solitary prayer within churches provides many people with an opportunity to restore some semblance of calm and peace.
“When people’s daily routine has been sent into disarray, many missing out on seeing loved ones as well as struggling with the mental weight of the pandemic- religious spaces offer a refuge amid chaos.
“To strip people from their right to practice their faith, particularly during a pandemic, would be unconscionable.
“This concession albeit a small one, will mean a great deal for many and I hope it can give people a degree of comfort as we approach the Christmas period.
“It is vitally important that the public continue to adhere by health guidance during the next two weeks.
“It is incumbent on each and every one of us to do what we can to reduce the spread of the virus at this critical juncture.”
