Irish Church leaders meet with premier: ban on Mass not discussed (Irish bishops’ conference)

The leaders of Ireland’s largest Christian groups met on April 15 with Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin. A statement issued after the meeting indicated that the discussion had centered on violence, the situation in Northern Ireland, and the National Economic Recovery Plan. No mention was made of the ban on the public celebration of Mass in Ireland, aside from a vague reference to “the importance of faith to the spiritual and mental well-being of many people.”