The Rule of Six – we are being robbed of our liberty

Sep 14, 2020 by

by Archbishop Cranmer:

“In England from Monday we are introducing the Rule of Six”, the Prime Minister said. “You must not meet socially in groups of more than six. And, if you do, you will be breaking the law.”

This draconian restriction on our civil liberties was not announced to Parliament; Her Majesty’s Opposition have not uttered a word of opposition. There has been no democratic debate about this new law; no nuanced consideration of the fine balance between personal freedom and collective safety. It has been imposed by executive fiat; a statutory instrument; the flick of a ministerial pen, and state coercion nullifies individual responsibility. From today, any gathering of more than six people in England, indoors or out, will be illegal. If seven people meet, they can each be fined £100. Repeat offenders can be fined up to £3,200. The Government has created a force of ‘Covid Marshals’ to ensure compliance. All pubs, restaurants and hotels must now collect customers’ personal data to aid contact tracing: it is no longer voluntary to disclose this. There is a 10.00pm curfew operating in some towns and cities. There is also talk of introducing a ‘hotline’ for your neighbours to call if they happen to see seven people in your back garden (including children).

Weddings and funerals are exempt from the Rule of Six. For a moment it seemed as though all Church services would be prohibited (at least those where the congregation is still above five), but the Archbishop of Canterbury sought clarification from the Government, and he was told that worship is the work of God, not a social gathering. This is a bit of nonsense, of course: worship may be the work of God, but the gathered Church is most definitely a social community. And so are gatherings at synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, mandirs and temples, who may all welcome their faithful to worship their gods, provided there is no nattering at the back afterwards.

Interestingly, secularist, humanist and atheist meetings may also take place. A gathering of secularist-humanists is not concerned with worship or the work of God, but equality demands that non-faith be treated the same as faith; non-worship is equal to worship. Quite why seven secularist-humanists may meet in a temple of secularity to contemplate the ethical life, but can’t meet in a pub to ponder happiness over a pint, is something of a profane mystery.

Read here

Read also: How the Government is wading into the swamp of despotism – one muzzle at a time by Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday

 

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