The Holy Synod of the Greek Church said on Monday that churches cannot ensure compliance of the faithful with the government measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. The new restrictions in force since Monday morning, November 22, oblige the unvaccinated to show a negative Rapid test before entering churches.
Consequently the measure requires from church staff to check all churchgoers on whether they have a vaccination or recovery certificate.
In a statement, the Holy Synod expressed its full support for the government efforts to curb the pandemic, thus noting that that church staff and volunteers do not have the ability nor the authority to monitor adherence to the safety measures.
Since the measures were announce last week, several bishops and priests told media that some churches do not have enough staff to make the certificates controls.
thumbnail picture: archive, before the pandemic
Businesses small and large are having to manage so why can’t the church?
‘cos they ain’t going to get a huge fine and be shut down.
“…noting that that church staff and volunteers do not have the ability nor the authority to monitor adherence to the safety measures.”
Funny that some priests have the authority to kick out members of their congregation for wearing a mask, i.e. obeying the law, just because they personally are against mask wearing but they don’t have the authority to kick out people who don’t obey the law?
I think the second part of the statement “nor the authority to monitor”. This is the most important part.