The Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference of England and Wales has responded to the government\u2019s document released on the 11th May, titled \u2018Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government\u2019s COVID-19 recovery strategy\u2019.<\/p>\n
This is the statement from the Catholic Bishops:<\/p>\n
‘The timing and the manner of the opening of churches touches profound sensitivities and spiritual needs. The Government\u2019s document and statements fail to recognise this.<\/p>\n
The Government\u2019s position, established today, includes these steps aimed at opening churches as soon as possible: the establishment of a task force for places of worship, to work closely with \u2018stakeholders\u2019 in ensuring that premises are COVID-19 secure; and heeding the experience of other countries in which churches are already open for worship.<\/p>\n
In dialogue with the Government, the Catholic Church will continue its engagement in this process and has already submitted a detailed plan, in full accordance with public health guidelines, for churches to be opened for private prayer.<\/p>\n
The Church is ready to play its full part in the task force, understanding that this includes the possible earlier use of churches for private prayer, as a first safe step towards their use for public worship.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference of England and Wales has responded to the government\u2019s document released on the 11th May, titled \u2018Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government\u2019s COVID-19 recovery strategy\u2019. This is the statement from the Catholic Bishops: ‘The timing and the manner of the opening of churches touches profound…<\/p>\n