PLANS are being drawn up for the phased reopening of Catholic churches in East Renfrewshire.

Bishop John Keenan, of the Paisley Diocese, confirmed the Church is to approach the Scottish Government about resuming Masses.

He said an independent working group is being established to draw up a strategy that would allow churches to open again.

This will include social distancing, with the possible removal of pews and the suspension of the Sign of Peace, use of Holy Water at the back of churches and temporary discontinued use of hymn books and news bulletins.

Some of these measures were already in place ahead of the current lockdown as the Covid-19 pandemic grew in Scotland.

Bishop Keenan said the Church has been in discussions with the Scottish Government over issues such as funerals, which have been restricted to immediate family of the deceased.

However, he stressed that some changes to normal practice will be needed.

"We are not going to ask for our churches to be open when we don't think it is safe," he said.

"One priest in a big church looked at social distancing – he had a church of 500 and he said that the maximum you could get in was 60, maybe two to a bench for instance."

Bishop Keenan also said parishes have been hit financially by the lockdown.

"Our diocese, we are okay for the first part of the year but the longer it goes on, the tougher it will get," he added.

"Most Catholics still want to give money to the Church on a weekly basis if we would give them means to do so.

"Some have been furloughed or lost jobs, so they might not be able to, but a lot have been contacting their parish priest to ask how to donate.

"I think, ultimately, we will be fine because, if we put in place natural and easy means where people can donate, they will do so."

Other plans include giving those who have lost loved ones during the pandemic an opportunity to say goodbye, as they may have been restricted from being present in the hospital or at the funeral.

Bishop Keenan said: "Every priest, I would say, has buried someone with Covid.

"We are conscious that, once the lockdown is over, we'll need to provide means for the family to grieve."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it is in regular contact with all of Scotland's faith leaders "in order to understand their concerns and needs during this time."

However, he added: "Current guidance remains to stay at home and only travel where it is essential, so there are currently no plans to reopen places of worship.

"We will engage in further discussion before communities might safely begin to consider reopening places of worship for services at the time it is safe to do so."