The Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Dr Donal Murray, has said allowing bookmakers to open on Sundays, as proposed in the Finance Bill, would be "another step in the destruction of the rhythm of life, making every day a working day".
Apart from the religious context, it amounted to a "terrible impoverishment of our human environment". People needed time to relax at home, he added.
Canon Kenneth Kearon, rector of the Church of Ireland parish of Tullow in Co Dublin, said that the proposal was "just another stage in the invasion of what Sunday means to people". Sunday was not just a day for church, it was also a day for rest and for the family. There was also the question of employees. "More and more people are being forced to work on Sunday", he said.
Canon Kearon said that opinions about gambling ranged from "tolerance to outright condemnation" within the Church of Ireland, whether it occurred on a Sunday or not.
The Finance Bill proposes that bookmakers be allowed to open on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., from April to August, and from 7 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. from September to March. However, they would continue to be prohibited from opening for business on Good Friday or Christmas Day.
On-course betting already takes place on Sundays at race meetings throughout the Republic.
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