Communal Worship ‘Criminalised’ Under Lockdown, Church Leaders in England Say

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 11/14/20 | Harriet Sherwood

[marshmallow]

Christian leaders launch legal challenge against ban on services in England and Wales

More than 100 Christian leaders have launched a legal challenge against the ban on communal worship in England under lockdown restrictions.

They claim worship has been “criminalised” and the ban has “inflicted a terrible human cost” on congregations for whom collective worship is a core element of their religious life.

The restrictions on public worship, they argue, breach article 9 of the European convention on human rights which protects the right to freedom of religion.

The claim for judicial review by 122 church leaders from different traditions is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, an arm of the conservative evangelical organisation Christian Concern.

The ban on services of worship in England lasts until early December. In Wales, a similar ban was lifted at the end of a three-week “firebreak”, but could be reinstated.

In England, places of worship are closed, with exceptions for funerals, broadcast acts of worship, individual prayer, essential voluntary public services, formal childcare, and certain other activities. Gathering for worship or collective prayer is not allowed.

The claim says: “The English and Welsh governments have now introduced two successive sets of lockdown measures, which have completely prohibited and criminalised public communal worship, a core aspect of religious life for the claimants and their congregations.

“With these measures, the governments have inflicted a terrible human cost, without rigorous consideration of less onerous restrictions, and as part of a package which leaves places of worship open for secular activities.”

[lightman]

One would think, that, this side of the pond with the First Amendment our religious leaders might have stones at least half as big.

But nooooooo.....

[LadyDoc]

Wesley preached in fields and city squares, the Irish heard illegal masses at church rocks in fields.

One priest here in the slums of Manila put an altar on the back of a pickup truck and said mass in the streets.

In China, and in Saudi Arabia, they meet illegally to worship in peoples houses.

The bad news is that several outbreaks started at indoor church services... several hundred were infected in Korea at a revival.

But hey, no reason you cant worship outdoors, even in cold weather...people go to football games in the cold so why not a church service? They cant arrest you all.

And tell the old folks to stay home. Here in the Philippines elders cannot go into church (or into malls either), but we can stand in the parking lot.

[WVNan]

Well, that’s the best thing that could happen to the Church. Having to go underground proves to be very good for growth and spirit. Go for it people. I might even open a “Bible Study” in my apartment.

[Notthereyet]

Our religious leaders for the main part, have not got the hunger for Christ any longer. And they certainly do not have a desire to feed Christ’s flock.

They have gone the way of the Lost.

Indeed, many of the ‘religious leaders’ were never Christians.

[lightman]

“The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church”

—Tertullian, 2nd Century
A Martyr

[Karliner]

I wonder how Islam is dealing with this?

Jesus told us of these days. Temperature is rising in heaven as the Holy Spirit is being oppressed.