The following statement has been issued by the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates of All Ireland, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland:
At this time, both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland, the governments have not formally made mandatory the wearing of face coverings at services of worship. This is, in part, due to the fact that as churches we are committed to maintaining 2 metre physical distancing between household groups and strict adherence to all government guidance on hand hygiene, cleaning, ventilation etc.
It, however, remains our responsibility to ensure that our services of worship are safe places for all who join with us. It has become increasingly clear that the wearing of face coverings, in conjunction with hand washing etc., is likely to reduce the spread of coronavirus, thus helping to protect others. Their use is therefore one way in which we can evidence protection for the most vulnerable, support for our health workers, and practical love for our neighbours.
Following further recent consultations with public health authorities, we join with Christian church leaders all over this island in formally recommending and encouraging the use of face coverings at all services of worship, along with the ongoing maintenance of 2 metre physical distancing, from Sunday 30th August 2020, and earlier if practicable.
We understand that some people are exempted from the wearing of face coverings, as outlined in the two jurisdictions.
We also recognise that whilst it may not be appropriate for those who are leading from the front during worship, including preaching, to wear face coverings, they should at all times continue to maintain at least 2 metre physical distancing from one another, and 4 metre physical distancing from the front row of the congregation.
The Most Revd John McDowell
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
The Most Revd Eamon Martin
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
The Rt Revd Dr David Bruce
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Revd Dr Tom McKnight
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland
Ever since Covid-19 broke into our consciousness we and those who govern us have been tested for our curiosity about facts, our scientific intelligence, our ability to interpret statistics, our common sense, our understanding of risk and proportion, and the state of our mental and even spiritual resilience. I think in all these things we have failed pretty dismally. Months ago the facts and figures showed that the virus was nasty and lethal for a tiny minority of unfortunate individuals but that it was never going to be the mass killer which it might have been, scything its way through the world’s populations. For a variety of reasons, generally good levels of herd immunity seem to take effect at low percentages of people having contracted the virus.
Instead of embracing that good fortune and explaining it to a relieved general public, our governments allowed themselves to be taken over by characters who had every interest in making the most of the pandemic they had been given. Our UK government called it ‘listening to the science’; in fact they only paid attention to a tiny group of chosen advisors. And the media played ball. Certainly here in the UK the people have been scared witless by a barrage of over hyped stories and draconian prohibitions of normal human activity. Our churches have been more than happy to add their own miserable instructions to cease from much of what sustains the spiritual lives of their members. The UK remains in a shocking social and economic mess. The future looks bleak indeed. And it has all been so unnecessary.
We should have long since resumed normal life, careful to protect ourselves against unwelcome pathogens in exactly the way we always try to do, but not obsessed about achieving a level of ‘safety’ that has never ever been available to normal human existence. Instead facemasks are a new imposition for which no medical reason apart from ‘stopping the virus from spreading’ has been given. But the virus has long since spread through the population: just like the common cold and ‘flu it is likely to remain and cause periodic epidemics in different places. Sadly some vulnerable people (any one of us) will die – perhaps at levels rather similar to ‘flu. Our health effort needs to be focussed on best medical treatment for the greatly diminishing number of people who end up in hospital with Covid.
People have been willing to accept a doomsday narrative at face value (despite conflicting scientific evidence) and accept ‘orders’ to cease from normal activity, thereby laying up huge problems for themselves (and particularly their children) in the years to come. It has been shocking. Christian leaders, although not scientists, might have been expected at least to remind governments and people that God is sovereign through good and bad times; to advise wisdom rather than panic, fortitude rather than collapse, faith rather than fear.
I wonder at what point, if ever, we’ll be told that wearing facemasks is no longer necessary…
At the point where sufficient numbers of people accept that largely untested vaccines are their passport to that fictional safe zone. The pharmaceutical companies have been granted full indemnity and the politicos pushing the fear narrative have financial interests in Big Pharma.
And that’s not all. The Australian Prime Minister stated that he wanted vaccination to be mandatory, but has apparently pulled back (for now) from that position. However, it reveals what is in the minds of national leaders: having tasted a greatly increased level of power, courtesy of Covid, they like it and seem intent to hang on to it. It’s in such circumstances that actions with devastating results for ordinary people are meted out by those who have become intoxicated by power.
Today on a nationally broadcast radio talk show I heard a medical spokesman saying that we should be aiming to eradicate Covid-19 entirely from the UK. That’s the talk of totalitarian insanity; apparently any toll in economic devastation and lost lives is worth paying once your mind has become fixated on achieving one irrational goal.
“it has become increasingly clear..” Has it? What about the research at Duke University.
What is increasingly clear is that the Institutional Church is as non-essential as various Governments have called it to be. Worship of an Almighty God, through the preaching of a Gospel of New and Eternal Life in a Savior who has already died for our sins is non-existent. ALL that matters is doing anything and everything Government says in order to cling to this existence. Quantity of existence triumphs over quality.
On Sunday I attended my first service where wearing a face covering was “mandatory”.
We were there together, present with each other, but I felt like an observer looking over a wall rather than a participant. I found myself becoming drowsey as I struggled to get fresh air. I couldn’t sing. Neither, apparently could any others as the only ones I could heuar were the worship leaders who were nor wearing masks. The guest preacher stood up for an extended address on “living a life worthy of Christ.” All I could think is that a life of fear is not worthy.
I get it, wearing a mask is supposed to be me loving my neighbour. Funny, though, I didn’t feel that I was able to love God or love my neighbour during the service. There has to be a better way than essentially mandating masks …