Religious leaders have launched a legal challenge against the decision to close churches for public worship during the second lockdown.
More than 100 are seeking a judicial review of the decision by the Government to ban people from worshipping together in England. They are also challenging the Welsh Government’s similar ban during its 17-day firebreak which ended earlier this month. The church leaders claim the restrictions on public worship breach Article 9 of the Human Rights Act on freedom to express religious beliefs. Ministers failed to ascertain the extent to which leaving churches open for public collective worship would risk contributing to the spread of Covid-19, they also suggest. Pastor Ade Omooba, who is leading the church leaders’ legal challenge, said: “We have been left with no alternative but to pursue a judicial review on this crucial issue and at this significant moment for the freedom to worship in church in this country.
“We call on the Government to recognise the vital importance of church ministry and the principle of church autonomy from the state.” The legal action follows the introduction of the second lockdown on November 5, which prevents people gathering for public worship. Churches can still hold funerals, broadcast acts of worship and facilitate individual prayer. Ahead of the second lockdown, over 1,500 church leaders signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to close churches for public worship. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, a former bishop of Rochester, said: “Church leaders recognise the seriousness of this pandemic, and that the Government need to take the best scientific advice about the measures that are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus, especially to vulnerable groups. “This task has to be held in tension with the ancient liberties of the church which have been won through hard struggle over the course of our history.
“These liberties include freedom of belief, expression and worship.
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Harrison Okafor
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Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
