Bishop: Publicans do well from Christian feasts

In recent days it has been claimed the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday is “archaic” and “discriminatory” and causes a loss of income to the pub trade especially during this year when the 2016 celebrations will be particularly intense around Easter.

In reply to this we should ask why we have the ban on the sale of alcohol on that day in the first instance.

Good Friday is one of the most sacred days of the year. It is called ‘good’ because it is the day on which the Saviour was put to death for us and opened for us the way to eternal life. The ban is a mark of respect for the Lord and what he did for us, and helps us to make this sacrifice for Him who sacrificed everything for us.