BISHOPS are planning the reopening of Catholic churches in line with government hygiene rules. 

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has formed a team to examine how to allow church-goers to attend mass in line with the law and government guidance on hygiene and social distancing.

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The Covid-19 working group will look at creating proposals, to be presented to the Scottish Government, of how best to open chapels across the country. 

It aims to establish a set of infection control protocols, which will set out how social distancing and hygiene standards will be maintained in churches to allow worshippers to return. 

The team will be lead and guided by scientific experts, including chair Sir Harry Burns, Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer and professor of global public health at Strathclyde University. Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland will also sit on the group.  

Bishop Gilbert said: “Our lives remain greatly restricted by this crisis in a way that is painful and difficult for us as Christians. As bishops, we want to offer our thanks to our clergy, religious and laity for their patience and forbearance during these testing times.

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“Throughout these weeks of lockdown, there have been many signs of hope and faith and it is in the hope that we will recover, that we must plan for the future and find a safe pathway to the resumption of our sacramental life.

“The bishops are keen to benefit from the advice of experts in medicine and public health and are very grateful to Sir Harry Burns for agreeing to chair our working group. In the interests of everyone’s safety, we will proceed cautiously and carefully in step with public health guidance.”

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Sir Harry said: “The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic requires innovative and informed thinking. I am glad that the Catholic Bishops are acting proactively to develop Infection Control measures and delighted to be able to contribute to that work.

“The reopening of churches and the reintroduction of public worship will happen in a phased way, always taking account of best infection control practice and guidelines on social distancing and hygiene.”