Mps WHO HAVE SPOKEN out AGAINST CHURCH CLOSURE: COVID REGULATIONS DEBATE, Pmqs and OTHER DEBATES
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MPs WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST CHURCH CLOSURE: COVID REGULATIONS DEBATE, PMQs AND OTHER DEBATES COVID REGULATIONS DEBATE Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) Col. 331-32 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-ECF47CC2-973E-45DE-9FA3-14E904BFE52A Every one of us in this House has received numerous emails and telephone calls about the closure of church services. I understand that, and I am making a plea to the Prime Minister for that to be reviewed. For many people, it is the only outing they have in the week and the only opportunity to have any contact with people for prayer and contemplation. In Northern Ireland, churches have been able to remain open through the use of masks and hands, face, space. Could that be looked at? I believe that people across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland would appreciate that, especially in England. Sir Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab) Col. 336-37 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-829B6760-893A-4B90-A823-6985DD6FDF84 Nobody votes for these regulations today with anything other than a heavy heart, on both sides of the House. I did not come into Parliament to restrict people’s freedoms, to prevent people meeting their friends and their loved ones, or to decide when people can and cannot leave their home or how many people may attend a funeral. I do not want Parliament to be closing businesses, gyms, bars or places of worship. Frankly, I do not want Parliament to be legislating on any of these issues, least of all after the British public have made so many enormous sacrifices already. These regulations will have a serious impact on faith communities and places of worship. There is real concern across faiths about the lack of consultation, and I hope that the Government can urgently address that, including by convening the places of worship taskforce. Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con) Col. 338 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-44395329-CE9E-4067-862F-CBEBC5D6BF31 The leaders of every single faith community have now written to the Government asking for the evidence behind the closure of churches during the next four weeks. The fact is there is almost certainly no evidence. Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman confirm that all the faith communities —Muslims, Jews, Christians—have really done their best to comply, through cleansing and in every other way, and will he demand of the Government now that the churches, mosques and temples are opened as soon as possible? Sir Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab) Col. 338 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-86D8DFA8-3CFD-4C07-A404-80157D83785A On the question of whether all faiths have done their level best to comply, I do agree. A huge amount of effort has gone in, in places of worship and many other places, to try to defeat the virus. The British public have done a huge amount, and so have all the institutions and faith organisations, to try to keep the virus down, but the truth is that it is out of control. The taskforce needs to be convened so that these issues can be discussed during the next few days and weeks, because this is a very deep issue for many people. Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD) Col. 338 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-8EB6F009-CDD5-4052-9A3C-BF9CAE51245D Does he accept that, for churches and other faith communities, although the buildings themselves may not be sacred, what goes on within them is? We have noticed over the last few months the importance of verbal and non-verbal cues when people are gathered together, which allows them to help one another when they are mentally and emotionally struggling. While I understand the logic behind the closure of these places, it is potentially hugely damaging to people’s mental health and wellbeing. Does he agree that this needs to be reviewed at the soonest possible opportunity? Theresa May (Maidenhead) (Con) Col. 342 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-60DE2D41-6F77-4691-AE4A-1C3C54FF2588 I want to make one point about public worship, echoing the concerns of others. My concern is that the Government today making it illegal to conduct an act of public worship, for the best of intentions, sets a precedent that could be misused by a Government in future with the worst of intentions, and that has unintended consequences. The covid-secure remembrance service in Worcester cathedral will now be turned into a pre-recorded online service. Surely, the men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom deserve better than that… The public and Parliament want to support the Government to take the right decisions, and to do that we need to have the right figures, the right data and the proper information. Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con) Col. 344 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-5F6637A6-473F-48BA-8B07-5CC472E8CBBE Were it possible to table amendments, I would have done so. I have been to three church services recently. One was for a funeral, one was the morning service on Sunday, and the other was the monthly communion at St Margaret’s, where I am the parliamentary warden. All those services were covid-safe. I believe that if we have to come back to this again, the Government ought to be able, with the faith leaders—the Jews, the Muslims, the Christians and other faith groups—to find a way for them to provide for at least a body of people to be together with the celebrant, with others participating remotely. Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con) Col. 349-50 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-22EFB865-8288-44A5-96AA-5B951F5CD1C1 I am concerned about places of collective worship… I understand the logic behind proscribing those activities, but we have to treat the British public as adults and individuals with autonomy and agency. I respectfully disagree with the decisions that have been made on those fronts, and I hope very much, particularly if this sadly has to be continued beyond the beginning of December, that they are looked at again. Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD) Col.350 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-1DB4F55D-8D6F-4201-B93B-C9C1C764A082 I add my support to comments that have been made by Members on both sides of the House about looking again at the regulations surrounding collective acts of worship and publishing the evidence to show whether they are a source of infections and outbreaks… That is critical to people’s mental health and physical wellbeing. Sir Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West) (Con) Col.355 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-EF1DE5BB-CAAF-4027-AC2E-2769B32AF60C Do the Government have the right to ban acts of collective worship? I am glad that at this point the Churches are standing up against this and objecting, because earlier in the year I thought they possibly went a little too quietly… We cannot ask people to follow rules that patently make no sense and expect them to have respect for what is being done. So I have a fundamental problem with much of what we are being asked to do here. Judith Cummins (Bradford South) (Lab) Col. 356 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-0FC0BFD4-6864-40C0-9E7F-22D1043D1C5A The Government need to plan and to deal with social isolation and loneliness, particularly among older people and those with caring responsibilities. Many of my constituents across many faiths have asked me to tell the Government and the Prime Minister that collective acts of worship are essential and should not be made illegal by any Government: they are an essential part of their faith and an essential part of their lives. I ask the Government to reconsider the ban on collective worship. Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab) Col. 358 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-C9038CCE-F876-42B2-994F-4CF7540A59F0 I agree wholeheartedly with my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Sir Keir Starmer) and others across the House about the importance of people being able to worship, and I hope that the restriction will be reviewed. Jane Hunt (Loughborough) (Con) Col. 358 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-BFF30AFD-25D3-42F6-A3A9-8702A33A239E There is a hard task ahead for many during November. There are a number of religious festivals and commemorations which in other years have attracted huge crowds and gatherings, such as Diwali, Advent and the birthday of Guru Nanak. These are often times when families get together to celebrate their faith. That will not be possible in private homes this year, but I still press for churches and places of worship to be allowed to open for those specific events in order to support their communities. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordhire) (Con) Col. 363 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-04/debates/94B2F2F9-3876-490A-96CA- 6066CBFCFB37/PublicHealth#contribution-522EF1A7-D604-4441-8624-8FE5B7ED9D45 As the Second Church Estates Commissioner, I am of course concerned about the lack of collective worship, and I think that churches are some of the safest places I have been in recent weeks.