A group of British parliamentarians has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson, demanding the reopening of churches in the country to allow people come in for prayer, weddings and funerals.
The lawmakers questioned why shoppers could go to a “busy supermarket” but those who need spiritual sustenance could not go to empty churches to pray.
Christian Today reports that the 20 conservative parliamentarians made the demand in a letter to Johnson and seen by The Telegraph newspapers. Among them are former ministers and senior backbenchers.
Some signatories to the letter include Sir Peter Bottomley, Tim Loughton and Sir Bob Neil.
According to plan put in place by the British government, churches would begin to re-open from July 4 at the earliest.
The parliamentarians said there is demand for weddings and other services, noting that it is possible for these to resume.
The parliamentarians noted that it is easier to keep, a social distance of two meters in the church than in a supermarket, adding that sensible hygiene can be “quickly put in place.”
They said, “Weddings (whether in the church porch or inside), christenings and other services are wanted, safely soon. Ten can gather in a crematorium yet one cannot be in a church.”
The parliamentarians said many people would want churches and places of worship to open earlier than July 4.
They said, “We ask for clear guidance, rules removed and discretion allowed as local faith leaders stay alert and make churches, chapels and places of prayer and worship available to the faithful.
“Everyone understands the value of appropriate social distancing and the obligation to avoid contamination.”
Stressing on the July 4 timeline, the parliamentarians said it may be delayed further by “publishing regulations, decisions by diocesan bishops and local circumstances.”
“It seems odd that you can go for a walk, enter a busy supermarket, get on a bus, but cannot go to a large virtually-empty-for-much-of –the-time building.
“We ask that our leaders, Government and church, especially the Church of England, together find reasonably safe ways to reopen our churches for prayer, for funerals even with limited congregations and for worship sooner than July.”
