‘We’re not there yet,’ says PM on re-opening of churches
from Christian Today:
The Prime Minister has resisted pressure to re-open churches before July.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson revealed concerns about the rate of infection going up if places of worship open to the public right away.
He was asked about the re-opening of places of worship by Jane Hunt, Conservative MP for Loughborough, who said she had been contacted by church leaders in her constituency about access to their buildings “both for services and to help to tackle homelessness”.
In reply, the Prime Minister said: “I very much understand the urgency that many people in this country feel about the need to reopen places of worship.
“It is a tough one: every time we do something like this, we push up the risk of infection and the risk of pushing up the R again.”
He added: “We are not there yet. We are getting there, but we are not yet there. It is vital that the people of this country understand the continued need to push down on the infection rate.”
See also:
Coronavirus: What is the future of religious worship in the UK? by Harry Farley, BBC News
Coronavirus: Places of worship to reopen for private prayer, by Harry Farley, BBC News
Clergy up in arms as pressure mounts on bishops to reopen churches, by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian: Calls for places of worship to be unlocked earlier than 4 July, in line with retail sector.
The way is shut: evangelical silence and the illusion of virtual Church, from Christian Concern: The Rev. Dr Joe Boot, Wilberforce Academy Director and Christian Concern’s Head of Public Theology, comments on how ‘virtual church’ in lockdown can never replace physical fellowship.
Christian leaders in joint call for churches to be allowed to re-open, from Christian Today
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