LONDON: Twenty British MPs have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeking permission to open shrines for private prayers and weddings and funerals since June. A group of MPs, led by Conservative Party member Peter Bottomley, have called for the reopening of the shrines. In their letter, MPs pointed out the irrationality of not allowing even private shops to pray in private, even when supermarkets are open.
Opportunities should be made to perform the rituals, including baptism. Quoting his words, MPs said that a Catholic priest had asked them to raise their voices for the legitimate purpose of the people. She noted that the clergyman said the two meters were easy to maintain and that health precautions could be adopted. Meanwhile, the present government is of the view that it will grant permission to open churches in addition to pubs, movie theaters, and other temples.
The Catholic Bishops’ Council of Britain and Wales came out on May 11 to criticize the decision. The Metropolitan Committee explained that it had long before submitted to the government a set of health standards regarding the opening of temples for believers to pray in person. Portsmouth Bishop Philip Eagan recently requested permission to open Christian churches in the open, including supermarkets, shops, and churches.
