Even though President Trump has declared religious services to be "essential," the Navy just declared off-installation church services to be non-essential.
A new order has been issued by naval command because of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, and it is designed to make the fleet as resistant to infection as possible.
Of course, that is a positive step, generally speaking.
But, as a LifeSiteNews Exclusive report reveals, indoor religious services unfortunately have been deemed to be "non-essential," and lumped together with tattoo and body piercing parlors, bars, night clubs and casinos, amongst other venues and activities.
Please SIGN this petition, asking President Trump to use his authority as Commander-in-Chief to rectify this new order, to reprioritize religious services as "essential" for Navy personnel.
In crafting the new order, one of the Navy's Rear Admirals, John Wade, lists two sets of venues and activities, one of which could be deemed "non-essential," and the other, "essential."
Servicemen and women are prohibited from visiting or participating in the "non-essential" venues and activities. But, at the same time, they are told to take reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of disease while visiting or participating in the "essential" venues and activities.
Here is a partial list of "non-essential" venues and activities, which are all off-installation:
- Indoor Religious Services
- Tattoo and Body Piercing Parlors
- Bars, Night Clubs and Casinos
- Cinemas/Theaters
- Team Sports
Now, here is a partial list of the "essential" venues and activities, also off-installation:
- Mass Transit
- Auto Repair
- Laundry Services
- Post Office
- In-Residence Social Gatherings with more than 10 guests who do not reside in-residence.
Note the first activity in the "essential" category is the use of mass transit, an indoor activity which often involves being in close contact with dozens or hundreds of unknown people.
Again, with the "essential" venues and activities, the Navy will permit sailors to use their best judgement and take the necessary precautions against COVID-19, including the maintenance of social distancing protocols and the use of cloth face masks.
But, where religious services are concerned, personnel are now banned outright from attending off-installation.
This likely means that some sailors may be prevented from fulfilling their Sunday obligation altogether, or be forced to worship without their family.
This is not right.
If the new order permits the use of mass transit, as well as visiting the bank, the post office and the dry cleaner as "essential," then, certainly, religious services should also fit into the same "essential" category, where the same advice on social distancing and the use of face coverings would still apply.
Sailors stand ready to give their lives for our country; therefore, our country must be willing to provide them the spiritual sustenance they need.
Please call on President Trump to give "essential" status to indoor, off-installation religious services, making them equal with the use of mass transit, and visiting the bank, post office and dry cleaner.
Thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
[Doug's Article]
Trump demands states let churches re-open: ‘If they don’t do it, I will override the governors’ - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/trump-deems-churches-essential-demands-governors-allow-them-to-reopen-immediately
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Mark Wilson
