Archbishop of Canterbury joins faith leaders' outcry over lockdown ban on worship
Religious leaders have challenged the government's decision to ban “essential” communal worship during lockdown.
Continuation of public worship is “essential”, the leaders of the Church of England, the Roman Catholic church and orthodox Judaism, along with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Pentecostal representatives, have warned.
In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, and Minister of State Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, the coalition of England’s most senior faith leaders conclude: “We strongly disagree with the decision to suspend public worship during this time.”
In comments which mark a dramatic shift in tone from the first lockdown earlier this year, the faith leaders revealed that they disagree with the Government’s policy to close places of worship which, they claim, have proved they can be “made safe from Covid transmission”.
“Given the significant work we have already done, we consider there to be, now, no scientific justification for the wholesale suspension of public worship,” they added.
In the letter, made public as the second national lockdown is set to come into force on Thursday, the faith leaders set out how public worship can play a vital role in supporting social cohesion and mental health and offer “an essential sign of hope”.
They conclude: “We call on government to recognise and support this, and enable us to continue to worship safely, as part of the essential fabric of the nation.”
The open letter comes as a legal challenge over the ban on communal worship is set to be launched by a conservative faith-based organisation, with the backing of more than 70 leaders from different Christian traditions.
A pre-action letter organised by Christian Concern, which has been behind a string of legal cases citing freedom of religion in recent years, says: “Our clients fully acknowledge the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic and the need for drastic precautions.
“However, such precautions may only be lawfully introduced by the churches themselves … Our clients are gravely concerned about this infringement of the constitutional liberties of the church by the secular government.”
The open letter to the Prime Minister was signed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with the Bishop of London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, Gurmail Singh Malhi, President Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall, and Shaykh Dr Asim Yusuf, chair of the British Board of Scholars and Imams.
Agu Irukwu, Senior Pastor, Jesus House for all Nations, Rajnish Kashyap, director of Hindu Council UK and Daniel Singleton, National Executive Director of Faith Action also signed the letter.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.
