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Original poster

Priest thinks churches should still be opened.

38 replies

malonybalony · 04/04/2020 16:43

www.irishnews.com/coronavirus/2020/04/01/news/access-to-church-at-least-as-important-as-access-to-an-off-licence-says-bishop-donal-mckeown-1885607/

FFS no one will die if they don't go to church. But they might if they do.

OP posts:
Rainbowunicat · 04/04/2020 16:47

He just wants the church to be open if people want to pray, he's not suggesting they restart masses and public gatherings. I think he has a point about off licences.

Original poster
malonybalony · 04/04/2020 16:59

Off licenses usually sell food. And going to church just to pray is still going out unnessecarily.

OP posts:
MirrorGold · 04/04/2020 17:02

He’s ridiculous.
Alcoholics not being able to get their fix is not what we need right now.

Saucery · 04/04/2020 17:14

Thing about faith is, it’s portable. If you need to pray in a church exclusively then your faith isn’t that strong in the first place.

swashbucklecheer · 04/04/2020 17:16

He's a bishop! Not a priest

isabellerossignol · 04/04/2020 17:19

This is slightly off topic but I've never been in an off license that sells food. Well, maybe a few packets of peanuts but no actual food.

Gingerkittykat · 04/04/2020 17:20

Is he going to enforce the rules about a couple of people at a time in church? Is somebody going to disinfect hymn books and pews and the confession booth?

I understand the need for religion at this time and feel for older people especially who won't be able to link into services online but safety must come first.

Original poster
malonybalony · 04/04/2020 17:38

I've never been in an off license that doesn't sell food. Maybe it's a regional thing.

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 04/04/2020 17:47

I've never been in an off license that doesn't sell food. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Could be. I know the licensing laws differ in the different parts of the UK. I remember being amazed the first time I went into a supermarket in England and saw the alcohol just for sale amongst everything else because at that stage (1990s!) they had to have a separate shop where I'm from. Even now, it has to be sort of fenced off from the rest of the shop with a wee gate.

lyralalala · 04/04/2020 17:50

Off licenses often have paypoint machines so that people can top up gas and electric. The last thing we need right now is limited access to them.

Original poster
malonybalony · 04/04/2020 18:05

Yeah, my local post office is shut and the only other places to top up my electric are off-licenses. Can't do that in a church though.

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 04/04/2020 18:12

I'm not having a pop at anyone for going into an off license btw, was just pondering! I see nothing wrong with going into an off license at all, regardless of what else it does or doesn't sell.

Parker231 · 04/04/2020 18:15

Going to church isn’t an essential journey.

marcopront · 04/04/2020 18:21

According to the president of Tanzania the virus is satanic and so will not survive in churches. So people should still go to church.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/tanzanian-president-criticized-refusing-close-places-worship%3famp

mostlydrinkstea · 04/04/2020 18:21

The archbishops in the C of E have made it really clear that the churches in England are shut. Priests all over the country are working out how to do live-streaming or recording of services from their gardens or studies. Easter services will be a challenge but as the first Easter was one woman in a garden I'm hoping to do something around that.

Original poster
malonybalony · 04/04/2020 18:52

The president of Tanzania is going to get people killed.

OP posts:
Rainbowunicat · 04/04/2020 19:19

Off licences round here definitely don't sell food except for maybe crisps.

I'm not actually saying I agree with him, I just don't think he's that awful for suggesting it. There are lots of churches here that I could walk to as part of my daily exercise, so no need for an unnecessary journey. I'm not personally hugely religious but I can see that it would be a comfort to some people.

It's probably right to keep them closed though. It's the start of holy week in the Catholic church tomorrow, so if churches were open they'd probably end up very busy.

Thankfully most religious leaders are being sensible and encouraging their parishioners to follow the official advice. Our church is livestreaming services on YouTube!

livingmyslothlife · 04/04/2020 19:27

Our off licence is the place in the village that you make paypoint payments. My gas can't be topped up online and electricity is a minimum of £20 online but £5 in shop.

Saucery · 04/04/2020 19:29

mostlydrinkstea That is very true Flowers

marcopront · 04/04/2020 20:18

The president of Tanzania is going to get people killed.

There are apparently only 20 cases here and there has only been 1 death. There is however only 1 testing centre so who knows what the true figure is. Schools are closed but otherwise life hasn't really changed.

vera99 · 04/04/2020 20:31

Time to seriously bash that bishop - the wanker !

RU562341 · 04/04/2020 21:19

People can pray in private. In fact, the bible says it's better to do so, so he is wrong.

ocarinan · 04/04/2020 22:48

Can't he just livestream services like everyone else? Safety is more important than religion.

Ferfooksek · 04/04/2020 22:57

He probably just wants money in the donation plate. The church is the biggest scam going

HeIenaDove · 04/04/2020 23:00

YY @lyralalala our town post office is now only open for three hours a day. So more ppl going there in a shorter space of time.