Last chance to respond to Sunday opening issue
With today (Friday, May 5) being the final opportunity to respond on–line to a proposal to extend Sunday opening hours in Belfast, Down and Dromore Bishop Harold Miller is urging the people of his Diocese to make their voices heard.
Speaking this morning, the Bishop said: “I sent in my own personal contribution to the discussion of extending Sunday shopping hours in Belfast.”
Explaining what is being proposed the Bishop continued: “This would be on certain designated Sundays, on the basis that tourists needed shops open.
“It might be expected that a bishop would oppose this, and that is the case,” he confirmed.
“I do a great deal of travelling, and have experienced many societies – including relatively secular ones – where one day of the week is quite intentionally kept as different from the rest – a time for quiet, for families, without work demands on people, and in some cases a time for worship and focusing on things eternal.
The Bishop added wryly: “That has never made it less likely that I would return to that tourist destination!”
Bishop Harold is keen to highlight what the proposed change will entail – and the cost beyond purely monetary considerations.
“Any society which protects itself from being totally consumed by consumerism does something very important,” he pointed out. “There are things in life which are more important than buying and selling – and that is the case for all humans, whether religious or not.
“It is also the fact that opening large stores all day on Sundays can disadvantage other smaller places who cannot compete.
“At the moment we have a fine balance, where Sunday morning and evening are protected, but five hours of shopping are allowed on Sunday afternoon. That is a reasonable balance of freedom and space for quiet.
“I do hope the council will listen to the many concerns raised and allow the situation to remain as it is.”
The on–line consultation ends today.