THERE were socially-distanced queues at a west Belfast church at the weekend as a priest heard confessions.
Fr Paddy McCafferty of Corpus Christi in Ballymurphy was kept busy for an hour on Saturday as parishioners waited in line.
He sat in front of the church behind the gates while those making their confessions stood at least two metres in front of him.
"I started hearing confessions at 11.40am and I was kept busy for about an hour with a constant stream of people, with everybody observing social distancing," he said.
"As they came to me outside the church, there was a two-metre distance, maybe more.
"There was no-one close to them to hear what they were saying and it was easy for me to hear what they were saying.
"Everything was observed, the sanctity and privacy as well as protecting people from the virus.
"I intend to do it again next week and so on until we are able to get people back into the church again."
Fr McCafferty had previously been hearing confessions by appointment, meeting parishioners at a safe distance.
"Before Easter I did the same, I was outside the church and people were coming but I decided to stop that as we went into Holy Week because the worry at that time was the virus was going to peak, so I didn't want anyone at all leaving the house unnecessarily," he said.
"There is nothing to stop you hearing confessions from people provided you observe all the precautions.
"I am aware of other priests who are doing it too. We are not breaching any of the safety mechanisms and it does help people.
"A lot of people were very moved to be able to do it, and we have to comfort people and strengthen them in every way possible."
