The Archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged that he made a number of mistakes when it came to the closure of churches during the first lockdown. He admits to having been “too risk-averse” on matters such as keeping churches open for at least individual prayer. The Telegraph has the story.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted he “got quite a few things wrong” on the closure of churches during the first Covid lockdown, saying he was “too risk-averse”.
The Church of England came under fire as churches remained closed last Easter, with many parishioners frustrated that the Archbishop did not fight harder to keep them open and the Church’s rules going beyond those of the Government in barring clergy from their church buildings.
“I got quite a few things wrong at the beginning and I learnt quite quickly,” the Most Rev Justin Welby said in an interview with the Financial Times.
“I didn’t push hard enough to keep churches available for at least individual prayer in the first lockdown. We also said clergy couldn’t go in, and personally, I feel I made a mistake with that.
“I can make all kinds of excuses. I still think I was too risk-averse.” Asked when he had realised that, he said: “May, June. May.”
In April last year, the Most Rev Welby warned clergy not to go into their churches over Easter in a video message. The warning sparked revolt among some vicars, who defied the rules to hold services in their churches.
In July, he told members of the General Synod, the Church’s legislative body, that he stood by the decision.
Last month, the Court of Sessions ruled that the Scottish Government acted unlawfully in closing churches under coronavirus regulations. Unfortunately, the ruling came just two days before communal worship was already due to resume.
The Telegraph’s report is worth reading in full.
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Risk averse? The man is wearing 2 masks!
Yes: not for nothing is he known as Justin Case!
Sad to say… that photo of the Most Rev Justin Welby is the definition of clown world.
For Christs sake man, take the face diaper off!
To be fair I think it’s one mask with fancy patterned top and bottom flaps. Other than that he should take the friggin thing off.
I was once travelled by air from Rome to Tripoli (Libya). On the plane was a priest. When we landed I saw him make his preparations for what was normally an awful passport and document checking procedure. But there was no hesitation for this Christian soldier, he took out a large cross which he hung around his neck, strode straight to the head of the long queue and starting explaining to the policeman that he was on god’s mission and should be immediately let through; which he was. I remember thinking he was a very brave man.
Our present day Christian soldiers have failed miserably so far. They need to urgently wake up and take the lead (yes the lead) in the battle for our salvation.
‘Very brave’? Hmm, seems more like an extreme queue jumper.
Indeed… meanwhile over in Canada…at last a man of God I can believe in…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziWXH7T15zw
Or this man – James Coates of Edmonton. They put in a maximum security prison for keeping his church open without restriction. They have let him out but have fenced off his church and surrounded it with armed guards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At_DbhWAnQo
This is the next video of him speaking to Newsmax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QYb2-pVOMI
I’m struggling tonight to see what the fucking point is of all this bullshit. There’s no way out of this hellhole. Whoop-di-doo we can sit in a pub or restaurant garden next week. It’s still bullshit. There’s no fun or joy in life anymore
Sitting outside freezing your nethers off but still having to give your details for trap and trace! They can get effed. I really hope the hospitality industry sees how this is going to affect them because I for one, ain’t playing along with this B/S.
Time for all pubs to do what the Italian restaurants did a while back.
Who do they think is going to sit in a pub or restaurant garden given the weather we are currently having
Yes that global warming’s really working isn’t it?
Dear Welby, what do you think Jesus would do?
When one is jolted out of the matrix narrative of what’s going on Bartleby, it can be demoralising for sure. We non Covidian Cult members are in the minority, around 30% of any fallen nation under the clutches of the BUILD BACK BETTER agenda.
My work balance has been greatly affected by this destruction of our old normal routines, but this is deliberate of course, on the part of the Great Reset pushers.
What’s key is to quickly snap into a WWII French resistance mind-set. My 1980s craft tools were honed in top flight London ad agencies, so I do what I can on forums to prod the undecided into the awakened camp, with frequent multi-platform postings.
And yesterday when on my daily sea air, walk I ran into a very fit 70 year old Buddhist beliefs stranger (Ben), who once we got talking – sharing the disappointment with the ongoing mass hysteria – we walked along together for around 30mins, side-by-side.
When we parted in front of a panoramic viewpoint café stand in front of around twenty or so other socially-distanced folk I gave him a sincere hug, and shook his hand, added with a genuine vocal; …”a real pleasure meeting you stranger…”
The looks….? Well, you only can imagine!
These small acts of defiance may seem insignificant, but still can be greatly meaningful for both you and many others.
Every little helps.
The simple fact is that you are a dressed-up creep Welby.
So he came to the realisation he had made a mistake in May/June, then doubled down on it in July. No wonder the protestant church is struggling in this country, amd please will somebody tell him what a prat he looks in that get up and a double muzzle. Where’s his faith?
He has none.If he believed a particle of the Christian message, churches would never have been closed at all, to anybody.
Did Christ die so that we might inherit eternal life and not fear death? I believe he did.
Maybe you don’t. That’s your decision.
Nor does the Archbishop of Canterbury. That’s a very strange decision on his part.
Totally agree. Our independent fellowship has remained open throughout this nonsense
You tell him Annie !
I just sent this to him by e-mail….
Dear Most Rev Welby,
I have a myriad of health problems, but I believe in God. Death is nothing to fear, but I fear this oppression we are under. It is the work of Satan. You should be standing up against it.
Do you believe in anything that is in the Bible or our Lord Jesus Christ said or did? He didn’t fear the Lepers, he touched them and healed them. He died so that all who believe in him will have internal life and not fear death. We take our instructions from God not men.
Churches should never ever have been closed and should never ever be closed again. Face masks should be banned in churches and we should sing hymns and praise the Lord loudly, proudly and without fear, for there is nothing to fear.
Be a leader and show courage and do what the Lord Jesus Christ and God tell us to do. Stop being political and so wet.
A totally disillusioned Christian.
Excellent.
I don’t think he is a man of God at all, then again I don’t think the Pope is either.
If he gets Covid and Karks it then he’s off to a better place anyway so what’s he worrying about.
A better place? With his record? Sub-deputy arselicker to the Borgia pope in hell is more in his line.
‘To see the right and not do it is cowardice’ – Confucius
It’s a start. Let’s see if he has any other Damascene moments.
Certainly though, he should ditch the mask and any ideas he might be entertaining about Covid certification before allowing in the unclean to hear a quick service and then hurrying them away.
Damascene moments? Don’t hold your breath.
It’s real Christians that are finding it hard to kick against the Pricks.
Isn’t this just another example of members of the establishment failing to take responsibility for their actions?
He accepts that he made a mistake – a very serious one that has had serious consequences for thousands of members of the church he leads over a period of many months.
If he had any honour or decency he would have resigned in shame.
That’s because you abandoned God and worship Satan, Welby.
LOL! Even without the masks he would still look ridiculous!
So Welby has recognised that he ‘got quite a few things wrong’. Really?
Well if he is REALLY repentant, and I beg leave to doubt that, this is what he COULD do NOW:
If he did these things he could actually save the CofE.
Will he do it?
I’m not holding my breath! In any case Welby is not the man – he should resign and allow someone to take over who actually believes in life after death.
Thanks. My final question was, of course, rhetorical. I cannot he imagine that he will but I would like to see a VERY public challenge to the man. But who am I?
Would you like to join our prayer group? Next meeting is on Tuesday 13 April at 7:00pm via zoom. I will send a private message to you.
Good stuff. I agree with all you say. The church could still make a stand – it’s not too late, but there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity. No doubt this person was chosen for exactly the ‘qualities’ he possesses. A useful idiot.
The worst Archbishop of Canterbury in my lifetime and almost certainly ever. And the bar was very low.
I’m struggling to recollect what happened in the 1980s wrt Aids; there was similar panic about the common cup (but obvs no question of bolting the churches).
Many letters were published in the Church Times about whether you could catch Aids through sharing the chalice; now we are persuaded that sharing a hymn book may be fatal.
I wonder if Welby will ease the restrictions in church or whether that will be another decision surrendered to SAGE.
Piers Corbyn challenged Welby to a debate on the Anglican church’s role in the new normal. I am still waiting for this to happen. No doubt Welby will go along with vaccine passports, masking and the like. He’s not showing any repentance, he’s just bending with the wind.
Flaccid does not bend but just droops!
Is it possible to have a Balls re-installation op?
Welby is a disgrace, a Man of God? I don’t think so! He should resign!
”…barring clergy from their church buildings”…. Well, they certainly took THAT edict to heart, didn’t they? There was nothing to stop them visiting church precincts – perhaps using the church porch or even the old preaching cross as a place to sit with a garden chair and speak to people passing by. That’s what I’D have done as a committed priest or pastor. Ours hasn’t been seen. He even cancelled the outdoor remembrance service at the last minute. What effete people they are, most of these ”clergy”.
(Unlike the pastor in Calgary, who certainly puts his views forcefully! Good for him. Oh, for a leader like that.)