The ACDP has posted a petition calling on the South African government to recognise the Church as an essential service provider and allow it to open for ministry and humanitarian aid, while adhering to Covid-19 restrictions and precautions.
At the time of posting this article, the petition on the Change.org platform, had 21 380 signatures.
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The ACDP is motivating its request to the government in accordance with rights of religious, cultural and linguistic communities listed in Section 31 of the Bill of Rights in the SA Constitution.
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Another petition, on the Citizen Go platform, urges the government to open churches and temples with necessary protective measures in place. At the time of posting this petition had garnered 14 210 signatures.
Church gatherings are prohibited in terms of the current national lockdown regulations and many churches have been streaming their services online. Police have taken action against church leaders and congregants for defying the regulations.
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These petitions are ill-conceived. “Ministry and humanitarian aid” are being continued by most churches even under the restrictions. One does not need to be in “gatherings” for ministry and humanitarian aid to continue. It is the “gatherings” that enable Covid-19 to be spread. Remember how early spread of the virus happened out of the March Bloemfontein Christian gathering, and this showed the Church in a negative light. Technically, if church gatherings are allowed, then sports- and entertainment-gatherings must be allowed too. These petitions are ill-conceived.