We are being deprived of a basic human right
THE churches in Wales are now the only ones in Europe still prevented by government regulations from opening for collective worship.
In every other part of the UK, churches are meeting, and throughout Europe this has been the case for some time.
This failure of the Welsh Government to act in a timely manner reveals a lack of understanding of the churches, and a lack of interest in the spiritual wellbeing of the people.
We are being deprived of a fundamental human right which is guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 9 guarantees freedom to manifest one’s religion, with one exception – when a public health emergency makes it necessary not to do so.
It is no longer possible for the Welsh Government to rely on that exception. Currently the death rate is below the seasonal norm, and the number of cases is relatively small.
The opening of non-essential businesses renders their lack of consideration of the churches indefensible – “non-essential” being the key word.
And the practice of every other government in Europe stands against the Welsh Government. (Opening for private prayer does not enable Christians to manifest their religion with freedom, as required by law.)
It is high time for the Welsh Government to take the right action. When will they listen?
Rev Dr Peter J Naylor, Minister of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Caerau, Cardiff
Sauce for the goose, surely?
ONE has to marvel at the chutzpah of the British and American governments in being outraged over allegations that the Russians have been paying the Taliban to kill our soldiers. After all, wasn’t the reverse exactly the case in the 1980s? Our governments paid the mujahideen to kill Russians, and we all slept easy at nights. Dai Woosnam Scartho, Grimsby
Drink-driving with a difference!
PEOPLE here worry about drinkdriving so how about this? Back in the day whilst serving with the Royal Marines Reserve I would go on attachment to the Regular Corps at home and abroad.
One such was with 41 Commando RM in the Med as part of a large Nato exercise centred around the massive and awesome US Sixth Fleet.
As it ended we had set up a large tented camp in Sardinia where a “do” was arranged in the SNCOs’ mess (a big marquee).
Local wines were very cheap and five gallons each of red, white and rose wine was laid on free.
A can of beer was about five pence, a (very) large double about 10 pence and a box of 50 King Edward cigars two quid – this is what UK taxes do!
When coming home I would buy a box, stick a few in my pocket and hand them out in my local doing a WC Fields impression, “Have a cigar!”
An invite was extended to our US Marine comrades serving on ships offshore who travel by helicopter as a norm.
What surprised us was them arriving in a swarm of two-seated Cobra gunships with all guns loaded (a legacy of Pearl Harbour).
They were soon in the mess getting stuck in, as all US ships are dry. You can imagine the joy they showed and the effort they put in, no holds barred. We all had a good drink.
As the sun came up they jumped back into their choppers flying back to join their ships. You could not make it up!
Dave Prichard
Rumney, Cardiff
Steelworkers suffer double standards
BEING an ex-steelworker of 41 years, it is great news that the UK and Welsh Governments are loaning Celsa Steel £33m between them to secure the future of the company, and save 1,000 jobs and hundreds in the supply chain (Echo, Saturday, July 4).
Roll back the years to 2002. Bosses at ASW, now Celsa, asked the same of the then UK and Welsh Governments for a £850,000 loan to secure the company and again 1,000 jobs and hundreds in the supply chain.
ASW order books at the time were full, but this loan was point blank refused. And these workers were fed to the wolves as these Governments knew these men and women were also losing their promised pensions.
If those workers in 2002 were treated with the same fairness as today, ASW would still be in business today, and their workers’ pensions would have been safe and paid in full when they retired.
The double standards in Westminster and Cardiff Bay beggar belief. Let’s hope Tata steelworkers can be treated with fairness in their fight for survival. Former ASW steelworkers, though, will never give up the fight for fairness and the pensions they paid 100% for. End of. John Benson
Dinas Powis
Johnson allowed to criticise annexation
BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Israel it should not go ahead with a plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, cautioning that London would not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines.
“Annexation would represent a violation of international law,” Johnson said in an opinion piece for Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s top-selling daily. “It would also be a gift to those who want to perpetuate the old stories about Israel.”
“I profoundly hope that annexation does not go ahead,” he said. “If it does, the UK will not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines, except those agreed between both parties.”
If another leader made the same speech the right-wing media would call them anti-Semitic.
Andrew Nutt
Bargoed
The opening of nonessential businesses renders their lack of consideration of the churches indefensible Rev Dr Peter J Naylor
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