Eliora
Martyn Iles from the ACL (Australian Christian Lobby the advocacy organisation, not the ACL knee joint that can be injured in rugby) reports that they have been petitioning Government to let people go to church during the COVID 19 pandemic.
The sentiment of faith groups is clear, from a joint petition of 10,000 people of Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, Muslim and Hindu faiths, to 300 pastors and leaders who wrote to the Premier (Daniel Andrews), all urging him to allow them to open. Faith groups provide an essential service for community health and mental wellbeing.
The bias highlighted.
Victorians are relieved to see lockdowns restrictions easing, but while retail and hospitality sectors can open from 2 November, churches and other faith communities remain in the dark about their future. From midnight 1 November, metropolitan hospitality venues can host 20 people indoors and regional venues 40.
Yet church communities cannot hold an indoor gathering.
The Victorian Government applies a double –standard with 20 – 40 people allowed inside hotels from 1 November,
but zero allowed in a church,
Jasmine Yuen (ACL)
New Zealanders might think what happens in Australia is not our concern. We are sitting pretty and are safe from this pandemic as our lovely Prime Minister saved us from the terrible virus. The future of our country remaining COVID-19 free however is becoming remote. Prime Minister Ardern told us herself that “this virus is tricky.” New Zealanders woke up this week with a pub, a marine shop and a gym being closed for a deep clean because a COVID infected person had entered those premises. People in the community may have caught the virus.
COVID-19 has given Christians and other faiths in New Zealand and around the world, an opportunity to test whether their Governments consider churches essential or even a priority?
Here are some more ACL facts to consider, 21 October 2020.
Queensland allows 40,000 people at the football – standing, screaming and not exactly social distancing, because it “brings in a lot of money into the State.”
But the church limits remain.
New South Wales is about to allow 300 at a wedding, among other measures to provide a big boost to our hospitality venues.”
But there is no change for Churches.
In region Victoria, up to 40 people are allowed indoors in a pub, café, or restaurant.
But a church group is limited to 21 people, and outdoors only.
In less than 24 hours, Auckland, with a population of 1.6 million, was suddenly shut down in August.
Not diminishing the blow tor business, schools and shops, the previous lockdown prejudice against churches riled several NZ Christian leaders. They did not like their rights and freedom to meet taken away while others were opening. One group broke the lockdown rules, and another held a large protest rally. Some spoke about this and other injustices from their pulpits.
New Zealand saw new parties form that had Christian beliefs. People said they would vote for them as they liked their biblical principles and policies, and their preparedness to stand up against big Government. None, however, came near the 5% election threshold to win a seat in Parliament.
- Advance N Z 20,878 votes
- New Conservatives 35,954 votes
- One Party 6,470 votes
- Vision NZ 2,780 votes
Even combined, these small parties may not have reached 5%, though that was the goal of the One Party. I prefer Christian MPs to be ‘salt and light’ in a mainstream party.
Mental health concerns were exacerbated during lockdown. A media release study from Panadol NZ, 27 July 2020 found that more than half of Kiwi families have experienced depression, anxiety, or stress in recent months with one in five of those affected seeking professional help during the lockdowns.
Research shows people found lockdowns hard in the UK.
A national mental health study of more than 40,000 households before and during the COVID -19 pandemic took place. By late April 2020, mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre COVID19 trends. The potential impact of the pandemic on population mental health is of global concern, they report.
Detailed survey in The Lancet (UK Psychiatry) 1 October 2020
The main drivers of worsening mental health while people are on their own and unable to get out much, impact some groups more than others. The mainly affected are those who have social isolation/living alone, job and financial losses, housing insecurity and quality, working in a front-line service, loss of usual coping mechanisms and reduced access to mental health services
The Health Foundation (UK) 18 June 2020
The ACL interest group attempted to inform and influence Andrews to be reasonable regarding churches. He was reminded that churches are valuable and provide essential services and are good for mental health and wellbeing. Churches are known for friendship, food banks, drivers to appointments, home visits, financial assistance, prayer and much more.
The Australian petitioners have said that COVID-safe church opening is vitally important, particularly when people have been so lonely and isolated.
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