How can they justify keeping communal places of worship open?

[Didyousaynutella]

People’s livelihoods are being destroyed, children are being denied an education but you can still go and sit together in church! It makes no sense.

@FippertyGibbett

In my city groups of people were seen entering their place of worship by the back door during last lockdown. I suppose it’s better to allow it with restrictions, rather than them doing it against the rules ?

If people do this, thinking they're above the law, then they should be treated as the lawbreakers they are.

Sorry - 'should have been', as this relates to previous lockdown and its rules.

@FippertyGibbett

In my city groups of people were seen entering their place of worship by the back door during last lockdown. I suppose it’s better to allow it with restrictions, rather than them doing it against the rules ?

It would be much better to take action against people who are breaking the rules like this. They're pretty clear.

@Didyousaynutella

and all those who think they shoud close, do you think playgrounds should close too?

as people appear to have different standards for things that inconvenience them personally

Most Anglican vicars and bishops are closet Tories.

Some churches are still holding services - and doing communion - drinking from the same cup 😫

I'm sure the arrangements vary from church to church, but in my church you can only attend 9am Morning Prayer or 6pm Evening Prayer on a Sunday in person, both of which are sparsely attended and with lots of space to distance. Most people log on to the main service at 10.30am via Zoom. I hate 'Zoom Church' but I've not been going into church other than for private prayer except at Christmas, where I attended a ticketed carol service and a ticketed midnight mass, both of which were well distanced. I'm on the parish church council and we've had no contact from track and trace re any of our services, though we take names and contact numbers. So it doesn't necessarily have to be unsafe but I can see why it would feel unfair.

Thank God I’m an atheist

and all those who think they shoud close, do you think playgrounds should close too?

No, because the difference is outdoor vs indoor. I do not think there is sufficient reason to keep religious worship indoors any more than theatre or lectures on beekeeping, or if you want to go "playgrounds" a climbing gym or a swimming pool. (Chosen because they can be similarly made "covid safe" in the same a church can justify it with masks and 2m)

Indoors vs outdoors is an obvious difference knowing how the virus spreads - with ventilation and humidity being so important in reducing spread and both being so much more significant than even a super well ventilated indoor space.

Personally I'm not convinced churches should be closed, but because they are no different than other spaces which are closed, and are similarly as "essential", then they should not be considered differently.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

They're not. They're only permitted to use them to broadcast, hold weddings & funerals

NO communal worship

Individual churches might chose to cancel communal workship but it is allowed under this lockdown.

sirfred churchgoers don't tend to move around with the same speed and frequency as swimmers and climbers.

@Mrgrinch

Well firstly, people can't sit together. And secondly, for many people their faith is the only thing getting them through this.

My son's music group is the only thing that gets many of its teenage members through a lot of things. But it's still not allowed to open.

@Welikebeingcosy

You cant play tennis with a face mask on.

Yes you can

This government still doesn’t seem to have properly twigged to the fact that this is an airborne virus. Allowing the mixing of people from different households in an enclosed space is a no no and undermines the whole bloody lockdown.

I am a little surprised given that we have the first non-religious Prime Minister ever (unless you count David Lloyd George on account of his behaviour). However, if numbers and times are restricted and as others have noted, small congregations, seems reasonable to me.

Some indoor exercise with strict limits and things such as one-way entry/exit I think should continue.

I also don’t understand why vaccinations and testing is occurring indoors. Why are we not following Israel’s lead and using outdoor gazebo type setups in car parks?

for many people their faith is the only thing getting them through this

Isn't faith a matter between you and your god? What sort of faith is it that requires assembling indoors with other people? Christianity clearly doesn't require it (as per Matt 6:5).

@Em777

I also don’t understand why vaccinations and testing is occurring indoors. Why are we not following Israel’s lead and using outdoor gazebo type setups in car parks?

The British winter climate, I'd imagine.

@Rosehip10

Most Anglican vicars and bishops are closet Tories

Isn't it clever to identify who/which matters appear to seem unpopular on threads and link them to the government in a convoluted and distorted way?

Yes totally agree it makes absolutely no sense.
You can’t swim in an outdoor pool in chlorinated water but you can sit in a church!!

Rant over.

@ErrolTheDragon

for many people their faith is the only thing getting them through this

Isn't faith a matter between you and your god? What sort of faith is it that requires assembling indoors with other people? Christianity clearly doesn't require it (as per Matt 6:5).

Exactly.

Churches want mass gatherings because they don't collect as much money when people practice at home. Simple as that. And craven politicians cave to it.

We have gone back to online worship only. We did this when we went into Tier 4, with immediate effect. It was the only possible responsible thing to do IMO (speaking as the person who read all the guidance and wrote all the risk assessments).

@ErrolTheDragon

Yes, but it’s not like we live in Siberia! Most of us are taking our daily exercise in these cool/occasionally drizzly conditions. I’ve already heard of an elderly lady who likely contracted the virus the day she had the vaccine. No wonder when they’re making people stand around together indoors.

@sirfredfredgeorge

and all those who think they shoud close, do you think playgrounds should close too?

No, because the difference is outdoor vs indoor. I do not think there is sufficient reason to keep religious worship indoors any more than theatre or lectures on beekeeping, or if you want to go "playgrounds" a climbing gym or a swimming pool. (Chosen because they can be similarly made "covid safe" in the same a church can justify it with masks and 2m)

Indoors vs outdoors is an obvious difference knowing how the virus spreads - with ventilation and humidity being so important in reducing spread and both being so much more significant than even a super well ventilated indoor space.

Personally I'm not convinced churches should be closed, but because they are no different than other spaces which are closed, and are similarly as "essential", then they should not be considered differently.

Churches are not "essential." No one dies without them (in fact many would be alive if not for warmongering religions) as they would without food, sanitation and medical care.

Spot on there .Do you know how much a church has to pay to actually stay open?A small fortune.