Why won’t the timid bishops let us mourn our dead at funerals in church?
by Stephen Glover, Mailonline:
The other day I learnt that an old friend had died. But although I can accept this as a matter of fact, I can’t really take it in because there has been no shared recognition among those who knew her that her life is over.
There hasn’t been a funeral. Tens of thousands of people have died in recent weeks, many from Covid-19, some from different causes.
Because of lockdown, and the prohibition of more than 10 mourners at a graveside, their deaths have barely been marked in the public sphere.
[…] The odd thing is that even now in the midst of lockdown there is nothing to stop people holding such ceremonies in a church, mosque or synagogue.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman has just confirmed that ‘funerals are able to go ahead in places of worship and crematoria where it is possible to do so’.
Indeed, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has recently revised official guidance to ensure that funerals can take place in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, provided that social distancing and other safety measures are put in place.
Why isn’t this happening? It’s possible that in some places it is. But not in the C of E, England’s national Church, with which many millions of people still identify.
Having known the Church of England pretty well over the years, even I am flabbergasted by the pusillanimity of its top brass.
They are continuing to prevent funerals taking place in Anglican churches, even though the Government has said such services are allowable.
A group of 36 Tory MPs, including two former Cabinet ministers, has just written to Anglican bishops urging the Church of England to resume conducting funeral services in church.
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