Clwyd West MS and Chair of the Cross Party Group on Faith in the Welsh Parliament, Darren Millar, has called on the Welsh Government to provide the evidence on which it took the decision to close places of worship during the ‘firebreak’ lockdown which comes into effect for two weeks from this Friday.
Raising the matter in yesterday’s Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament, Darren stressed that places of worship are more important than ever during these challenging times and that spiritual health is as important as people's physical and mental health and well-being.
He said:
“Many church leaders have been in touch with me to express concerns that they're going to be required to close for a further period from this Friday. This follows a period where churches, chapels, mosques, temples in Wales were closed for a significant period earlier in the year and longer than in any other part of the UK.
“In Wales we currently have an ongoing ban on congregational singing; a ban on church and cathedral choirs (unlike other parts of the UK); and we have recently seen reports in the media that people were being chastised for reciting the Lord's prayer at a funeral.
“In the absence of any evidence that suggests that churches and chapels in Wales pose a significant threat of transmission of the coronavirus, closure does not seem to be a proportionate or necessary act.
“I'm sure that you would agree with me, Trefnydd, that spiritual health is just as important as people's physical and mental health and well-being, and that houses of God should be places of refuge in times of crisis, not closed. Can we have a statement on this important issue as soon as possible, please?”
Responding the Trefnydd said it is not possible to look to every single type of setting, but said she appreciates the difficulties that it will cause people.
Darren added:
“I understand completely that we need to keep cases down, but we also need to be mindful of the affect these restrictions have on people’s spiritual well-being and mental health.”
