Aidan O’Neill QC to represent faith groups in case challenging worship ban

Aidan O’Neill QC

Canon Tom White, whose St Alphonsus parish is in the Calton area of Glasgow, is supported by ADF UK, and the case will be heard next week at a two-day hearing next week.

Together with 27 faith leaders of other denominations, his arguments will be voiced during the hearing during a judicial review of the Scottish government’s “disproportionate” ban on public worship. 

Speaking ahead of the court action Canon White said: “I think we can all agree at this time that it’s very, very important that we keep each other safe, and that we keep our local communities safe; but as Christians, we acknowledge that we not only have physical needs, but spiritual needs.”

Canon White’s arguments will now be heard at the same time as those of other individual leaders from a range of denominations including the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), who are supported by Christian Concern. This group are also challenging the closure of places of worship in Scotland under recent Covid-19 measures.

If successful, the judicial review could see the Scottish government‘s blanket ban on churches due to the Covid-19 pandemic deemed unlawful.

The case will be heard remotely and the faith groups will be represented by Mr O’Neill, of Ampersand Advocates and Matrix Chambers.

Canon White said: “Freedom of religion is a foundational human right. This right should be limited only to the extent that is ‘necessary and proportionate’.

“The government’s own medical advisors conceded in November that there is no robust medical evidence for the closure of churches, which have remained open in most European countries throughout 2021.”

Ryan Christopher, director of ADF UK, said: “There is no clear reason why the Scottish government could not find solutions which protect both the vulnerable and those who understand their communal worship to be as essential as food and water.”