Posted on 04/04/2020 7:13:49 PM PDT by marshmallow
PORTSMOUTH, U.K., April 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― An English bishop has admitted that he is reflecting on his decision to close the churches of his diocese in the context of other public places, including places of worship, remaining open.
Bishop Philip Egan of the Diocese of Portsmouth wrote of his agony and confusion in the face of the British government’s self-contradictory orders regarding church closures.
“It was an agonising decision as a priest and as a Bishop to mandate the cessation of the public celebration of the Sacraments and to close our churches,” he wrote last Sunday.
“Regarding the latter, there has been a bit of confusion. In his address last week, the Prime Minister spoke of the closure of places of worship. Yet another arm of government seemed to suggest that they might be kept open, not for gatherings for public worship but for visits,” he continued.
“Over the last days, as I have been going out for my (government permitted, once a day) walk, I’ve noticed that supermarkets and a few shops are open and of course some people are going out to work. Some synagogues and mosques are open.”
Egan said that he shut the churches “very reluctantly in order not to be out of step with other dioceses” and that it is “a great sadness” to him that people cannot pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
The bishop of Portsmouth is, however, making the sacraments available to the laity on request.
“The Lord is offering us all the spiritual resources we need to fight and overcome this virus, to contribute to the common good and to care for the sick and those in need,” he said.
“We need therefore to be faithful to God’s Word, preaching the Good News, administering the Sacraments upon.......
(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...
we know now that the forces of satan fear Christians.
Why else would a mosque remain opens and the churches close.
socialists and progressives hate people of faith.
If Christians beheaded people and blew up stuff when they don’t get their way, the churches would be allowed to stay open too ...
Exactly, 2A. Christians are docile and easily cowed. The authorities, including the police, are scared to death of Muslims; they get a free pass.
Why are the mosques open when the Churches are closed??
It would be better if the Bishop were “repenting of” rather than merely “reflecting on” his decision to close churches.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.