Churches.

[lostnfound]

I grew up going to church every Sunday. I consider my youthful exposure to Maryknoll sisters and Jesuits and the Franciscans and “Moral Guidance” classes to have shaped my liberal thinking and political beliefs for a lifetime.

But I heard two things today that are each absurd, and combined, they are atrocious, about churches.

1) Governor DeSantis not only excluded churches from his stay-at-home orders, he nullified local bans on church gatherings, so local communities can’t even protect themselves. As a datapoint, in Sacramento County California, 1/3 of all coronavirus cases come from church gatherings.

And

2) Federal Government financial support for small businesses is going to include churches.

So taxpayers can be obligated to help churches keep running (or stay profitable???), but churches can’t be obligated to help taxpayers stay ALIVE by stopping the spread of coronavirus??

Any support for their staff ought to come with an obligation to follow the rules of social distancing.

[jberryhill]

1. They should allow churches to meet, but only on cruise ships

[degage]

5. That's funny. I'm stealing.

[customerserviceguy]

7. That was good. n/t

[k8conant]

2. FWIW, small business assistance would also go to faith-based charities (non-profits)...

and many churches (Orthodox, Presbyterian, Episcopal, RC, and others) have discontinued public liturgies and other services and all church gatherings. It sounds to me that it's the Fundies and Evangelicals that acting stupidly.

[lostnfound]

8. It usually is. Nt

[kozar]

3. Gov Lee from TN included this in his order today!

from the Tennessean,, Nashville newspaper

Are you able go to church?
Yes, one of the essential activities listed is "visiting a place of worship or attending a wedding or funeral; provided, that the Health Guidelines are followed to the greatest extent practicable."


wth is "greatest extent practicable"?

Koz

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. A very steep price to pay for the evangelical vote....

in lives of their lemming flock.


KY.............

[Doreen]

6. Yeah, communion with the commen cup..

Make sure you start with all of the people who have the sniffles and let the others follow. Gawd shall protect ye.

[Skittles]

9. repukes need churches to keep preaching on their behalf

oh yes

[milestogo]

10. It should be very easy for churches and other religious institutions to go virtual.

Many churches have televised or online services already anyway. There's plenty of social media. And there's the telephone. People do not need to meet in person to have a religious service.

Churches are going to take a financial hit because their members are losing jobs. I don't think its the government's responsibility to help them financially.

[Alwaysna]

11. Churches don't want they're brainwashing to wear off.