Britain Churches: ‘Authorities Use Pandemic To Limit Christian Worship’
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Churches in several parts of Britain have told a court that authorities misuse the coronavirus pandemic to restrict Christian worship.
Christian Concern, a Christian advocacy company, told Worthy News that “122 church leaders from England and Wales have launched an urgent legal challenge.” They oppose “the English and Welsh government’s actions in unilaterally stopping church worship services,” Christian Concern said.
“Led by Pastor Ade Omooba MBE, and with the support of the Christian Legal Centre, the group’s challenge formally began on Friday. Papers were submitted asking a judge to urgently review the lawfulness of the bans,” the group explained in a statement.
Christian Concern called the court procedure, “an important Christian freedom case.” It stressed that the “independence of the Church to govern its affairs is guaranteed in the constitution, and religious freedom is protected throughout human rights law.”
Civil governments, the group argued, “should not simply be able to declare that churches are shut without providing any real evidence that it is absolutely necessary to close them. When church buildings are allowed to be used for secular purposes, but not for religious ones, this is clearly not the case.”
It acknowledged that some churches “may willingly stop” their services amid health concerns. “The crucial point is that it’s their decision to make.” Christian Concern said that “Jonathan Hough QC, a leading barrister in the area of public law,” was to argue the case as early as this week.
The controversy comes after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a new, month-long lockdown for England, which was due to end on December 2. Other parts of the country are also under coronavirus restrictions as the nation faces an increase in coronavirus cases.
In Britain, over 52,000 people died so far from COVID-19 related causes on a population of nearly 66 million people, according to official estimates.
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