The Catholic Union has called on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry not to overlook the impact of the pandemic on people of faith, especially around the closure of places of worship.
Writing to Inquiry Chair Baroness Hallett, the Catholic Union has called for church closures to be “properly considered”, including a dedicated evidence session with faith leaders.
The intervention comes on the fourth anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown when places of worship across the country were forced to close.
A 2023 Catholic Union survey found that 91 percent of responders believed places of worship should be classed as “essential services” in future pandemics and never again be forced to close. 61 percent said their physical or mental health had suffered due to church closures during Covid.
The Catholic Union has shared the results of the survey with Baroness Hallet in full and offered to brief the Inquiry team and give evidence in the public hearings.
Catholic Union President, Baroness Hollins, said: “It’s clear from these results that places of worship should never be forced to close again.”
In the letter, the Catholic Union wrote: “There was a deep sense that decision makers did not fully understand the importance of churches to people of faith and were too slow in allowing them to reopen.”
The Inquiry’s public hearings are expected to last into 2026, after which the Inquiry will make a report and recommendations to the Government.
Baroness Hollins said: “It is vital that the Covid Inquiry properly considers the decisions to close and reopen churches during the pandemic.”
Picture: CNS photo/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters