• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Good Friday Service Stopped, Congregation Threatened as Police Declare the Worship 'Unlawful'

Good Friday Service Stopped, Congregation Threatened as Police Declare the Worship 'Unlawful'

April 3, 2021
Political Violence Surging Under Trump Isn’t Exactly ‘Far-Right’ After All

Political Violence Surging Under Trump Isn’t Exactly ‘Far-Right’ After All

July 27, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: Zeldin, Trump, Prepare Assault On EPA Endangerment Finding

DAVID BLACKMON: Zeldin, Trump, Prepare Assault On EPA Endangerment Finding

July 27, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Rep Touts How Alaska Is Key To Unleashing American Energy Dominance

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Rep Touts How Alaska Is Key To Unleashing American Energy Dominance

July 27, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: Big Beautiful Bill Already Paying Big Beautiful Benefits

STEVE MILLOY: Big Beautiful Bill Already Paying Big Beautiful Benefits

July 27, 2025
George Santos Reports to New Jersey Prison

George Santos Reports to New Jersey Prison

July 27, 2025
MICHELE STEEB: A New Chapter For America’s Homeless: Structure, Recovery, And Hope

MICHELE STEEB: A New Chapter For America’s Homeless: Structure, Recovery, And Hope

July 26, 2025
JAMES CARTER: America’s Capex Comeback

JAMES CARTER: America’s Capex Comeback

July 26, 2025
NEWT GINGRICH: Trump Boom Or Democrat Gloom

NEWT GINGRICH: Trump Boom Or Democrat Gloom

July 26, 2025
JOSH HAMMER: Grading The Second Trump Presidency, Six Months In

JOSH HAMMER: Grading The Second Trump Presidency, Six Months In

July 26, 2025
Leftist Outrage Erupts At California Plan To Stop Paying Criminal Illegals’ Legal Bills

Leftist Outrage Erupts At California Plan To Stop Paying Criminal Illegals’ Legal Bills

July 26, 2025
Mexican Border State Asks Tourists to Travel Highways Only in Daylight Hours

Mexican Border State Asks Tourists to Travel Highways Only in Daylight Hours

July 26, 2025
LARRY ELDER: Dems Rail Against Colbert’s Cancellation — Here’s Why

LARRY ELDER: Dems Rail Against Colbert’s Cancellation — Here’s Why

July 26, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Sunday, July 27, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home Wire

Good Friday Service Stopped, Congregation Threatened as Police Declare the Worship 'Unlawful'

by Western Journal
April 3, 2021 at 3:04 pm
in Wire
242 10
9
Good Friday Service Stopped, Congregation Threatened as Police Declare the Worship 'Unlawful'
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Police in the U.K. stormed into a church on Good Friday and canceled a liturgy while threatening worshippers for violating public health orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While portions of the U.S. are now wide open, especially on sacred days such as Good Friday, millions of British citizens are still living under lockdown rules which are being enforced. That applies even during one of the most sacred days and weeks for Christians.

In a video which has gone viral online, an officer told churchgoers, “Ladies and gentlemen, this gathering is unfortunately unlawful under the coronavirus regulations we have currently.”

[firefly_embed]
https://youtu.be/aqOKm4k2Wcc
[/firefly_embed]

“You are not allowed to meet inside with this many people under law. At this moment in time, you need to go home,” the officer added.

“Failure to comply with this direction to leave and go to your home address ultimately could lead you to be fined £200 or, if you fail to give your details, to being arrested,” he further threatened.

“I suggest, ladies and gentlemen, though it is Good Friday, and I appreciate you would like to worship, that this gathering is unlawful, so please may you leave the building now. Thank you.”

Sky News reported the incident occurred at the Christ the King Polish church in Balham, London on Friday evening.

The Catholic News Agency reported the parish, which is part of the Polish Catholic Mission in England and Wales, responded to the incident online.

“On Good Friday, April 2, during the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, at the moment of the Adoration of the Cross, at about 6 p.m., the police came to the door of our church. We were not allowed to finish the celebration,” the parish said, according to a translation from the CNA.

“The police officers, stating that our liturgical assembly was unlawful, ordered everyone to leave our church immediately under the threat of a fine for each of the parishioners present of £200 [around $277] or even arrest,” the parish added. “The faithful obeyed this order without objection.”

The parish then accused police of interfering with their rights to worship during the Holy Week.

“We believe, however, that the police grossly exceeded their powers by issuing their order without adequate reason, as all government requirements were met,” the parish said.

Police, in a statement defining the actions of officers, cited the fear of coronavirus transmissions as the reason for disrupting such an important service.

“Officers attended and found a large number of people inside the church. Some people were not wearing masks and those present were clearly not socially distanced,” Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

“We are particularly concerned about the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus as a result of large indoor gatherings at which people are not socially distanced and some are not wearing masks. As such, officers made the decision that it was not safe for that particular service to continue,” police added.

The parish noted that all “scheduled services for the blessing of Easter food, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday will take place as indicated.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

Share196Tweet123
Western Journal

Western Journal

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th