Humanist Society gives evidence to Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry

April 30, 2025

Humanist Society Scotland attended the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry to give evidence on two panels on Tuesday regarding the impact of covid and related restrictions on weddings and funerals.

Our CEO Fraser Sutherland spoke on behalf of Humanist Society at the Scottish covid inquiry on 29 April. He highlighted in particular how restrictions on funerals had a lasting impact on bereaved families and the grieving process. He also paid tribute to the hard work and community support role the Society’s celebrants played during the pandemic. This was often in the face of significant individual pressures.

Funerals and grieving

Fraser noted that, while there was strong agreement from the society with the restrictions that were put in place, the inquiry needed to understand the complicated impacts of the pandemic on grieving processes. He cited examples of bereaved partners came living alone after the death of a partner. Many of these people had sat on their own at funerals and then returned home alone. Because of the restrictions in place on human touch, physical comfort was sometimes not possible.

Fraser also told the inquiry that many humanist celebrants saw it as their duty to continue providing funeral services during the pandemic. He highlighted the emotional toll this took on celebrants, who were themselves having to operate in isolation, without the benefit of peer support.

Weddings

In an earlier session, the inquiry took evidence regarding weddings. Fraser recalled a significant increase in smaller weddings, although couples would often have preferred a larger one. He also noted that some couples were “relieved they didn’t have to have a big wedding. I think a lot of couples feel pressure from family and friends to have a big ceremony.”

Fraser noted that rule breaches by high profile individuals in the government had made the jobs of celebrants and others involved in weddings and funerals significantly more difficult. He said the public pushed back on the requirement to follow rules when those seen as making the rules were not following them.

Planning for the future

Alongside other panel members, Fraser complimented the work done by the Scottish Government to ensure faith and belief organisations were heard on numerous different matters at the time. However he highlighted the current failure to plan for a future pandemic> He noted that no work was being done with community groups on this possibility, and that this should be addressed quickly.

The evidence sessions can be viewed on the Scottish Covid Inquiry website, alongside the written evidence statements provided to the inquiry.

Support our campaign work, make a donation today

Our campaign work is funded by the generous support of our members and supporters. Support our campaign work and help to create a fairer Scotland and world.

Find out more

Donate now

Cartoon showing a person dropping a coin into a collection box.

Join us!

Your membership will help to fund our campaign work to make Scotland a more secular, rational, and socially just country, and to ensure everyone in Scotland has access to humanist ceremonies to mark important life events.

Find out more

Join now