Pastors Detained, Churches Services Banned Over Coronavirus Pandemic

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Special Correspondent

(Worthy News) — Authorities in Africa and Europe are evacuating churches and detaining pastors as governments say they prohibit worship services to halt the spread of the new coronavirus COVID 19. Video footage obtained by Worthy News showed the head pastor of the Open Arms Ministries congregation in Ghana’s city of Kumasi taken into custody during a recent worship service. The pastor, Kofi Nkrumah Sarkodie, was rushed to a police pickup truck. Several worshippers protested the move and applauded the pastor.

Elsewhere in Africa, authorities halted church services in the states of Lagos and Ogun in Nigeria, police, and Christian media confirmed. Similar measures were introduced in Rwanda, where law enforcement closed all places of worship and schools following the confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case in the country. In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni halted all worship services and other gatherings for a month, “in the interest of our health.”

Tanzanian President John Magufuli declined to prohibit people from continuing to visit places of worship, saying “there is true salvation.”

Tensions are also rising elsewhere in the world, including in Europe, where governments limit or prohibit church services. In Greece, the government overruled the authoritative Holy Synod of the leading Orthodox Church, saying that functions in all places of worship, regardless of religion or dogma, are suspended until Monday.

However, limitations were due to be extended. Last week, authorities detained an orthodox priest for celebrating mass in a church despite the ban. Metropolitan Seraphim of Cypher island, off the Greek coast, had observed a Mass ahead of the Orthodox Easter celebrations starting on April 19, police said.

Some church leaders have questioned the government restrictions saying pastors could play a role in informing worshipers how to deal with the new coronavirus pandemic. Globally some 731,598 confirmed infections were reported Monday. At least 34,663 have died and 154,430 recovered of the disease, according to the worldometers.info website. The World Health Organization (WHO) cited slightly lower numbers of the previous day.

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