The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore says that first communions and confirmations ceremonies proceeding is vital to the "spiritual health" of our young people.
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan said the Church is "not trying to show muscle" in going against Covid guidelines by proceeding with ceremonies in August.
Rather, he said, the Church cares about the spiritual health of its young people who are suffering from a "huge lack of direction" at the moment.
"I believe that to deprive them of a sacrament, is to put them further from Jesus," he told Maria McCann on Deise Today, saying that Churches are safe spaces that have been handling the Covid situation well for the past year-and-a-half.
"There were 25,000 people in Croke Park last Sunday. Electric Picnic is going ahead and all sorts of restrictions are being relaxed. And the Church is just saying why are Communions and Confirmations prevented from going ahead when all of these other things are going ahead."
Last week, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran was the first to advise priests in his diocese that communions and confirmations could go ahead. He was quickly joined by Bishop Cullinan as well as the Bishop of Clogher, the Bishop of Meath and the Bishop of Raphoe.
It has also emerged that the Archbishop of Dublin has written to priests in his archdiocese to tell them that they can proceed with the ceremonies "if you consider it safe".
Several Government ministers have voiced their disappointment with the stance of the clergy. Agriculture Minister Charlie said he understands the frustrations that members of the Church feel but religious ceremonies should not go ahead as the guidance is "there for a reason and it's important that it's followed."
Bishop Cullinan said on WLR this morning that the Bishops had tried "over and over again" to engage in the meaningful way with the Government but communication had been poor on their (the Government's) side.
He said churches were much safer than "any supermarket" in the past 18 months and the feeling of the church was that there was a "certain discrimination" operating here.
