Pandemic Pandemonium And The Purple Powers

Mar 10, 2023 by Jill

by ‘Sioux Grey Wolf’, Psephizo:

The UK Government is conducting a review of how it handled the Covid-19 pandemic. We already know some of the successes (chiefly the roll-out of the vaccine) and some of the scandals (PPE deals, parties). More will be revealed. But how did the Church of England respond the biggest crisis since the Second World War? Bishops, especially those who sit in the House of Lords, are rightly keen to hold the Government to account and speak truth to power—but who does that to them?

So let’s have a look at how the hierarchy of the Church handled the pandemic.

The flurry of communiqués from the Bishops began on 24th March 2020 with this stern injunction:

Our church buildings must now be closed not only for public worship, but for private prayer as well and this includes the priest or lay person offering prayer in church on their own. A notice explaining this should be put on the church door (please find template attached). We must take a lead in showing our communities how we must behave in order to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus. […]

Our Church buildings are closed but the Church must continue to support and encourage our communities making use of telephones and other forms of technology to keep in touch with people and ensure pastoral care is maintained, and as shepherds of Christ’s flock we are committed to making this happen. […] Our church buildings are closed for public worship and for private prayer.

Without rehashing the whole appalling episode there are a few key details in that letter which stand out as emblematic the entire debacle.

Read here

Read also: Lockdown Has Shown Us That Our ‘Rights’ Are as Alienable as Can Be by Will Jones, Daily Sceptic