Faith and charity

Among the other disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic has been the closing of houses of worship and the cancellation of religious gatherings. The arrival of what could be called spiritual distancing was powerfully symbolized last week by images of Pope Francis offering a blessing to an empty St. Peter’s Square. Christians around the world in the coming weeks will be “attending” Easter services via YouTube and Jews will be participating in Passover Seders on Zoom.

The alacrity with which mainstream religious groups have responded to the pandemic is admirable, but the idea of suspending public worship also has provoked dissent. We’re referring not only to a handful of religious leaders who have behaved recklessly in holding services in defiance of social distancing norms or government decrees, but also to those clergy members and commentators who, without advocating violation of the law, have questioned the idea.

The idea that religious services are vital isn’t confined to members of the clergy and commentators. When Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday belatedly issued a stay-at-home order, he included attending religious services as one of the “essential activities” exempt from the order.

Many who worry about closing churches or suspending services aren’t cheerleaders for capitalism; they want to defend religious values. Those values include fellowship with other believers—it was an Anglican priest who wrote that “no man is an island”—and, of course, contact with God. As Burke put it: “In considering what is needed to live, we must not forget that our first consideration is our relationship with God.”

Of course a religious leader would say that. But the bishops and pastors who have decided to close churches for the time being in the interest of public health are also acting on a religious impulse, a reverence for human life.

In time, churches, synagogues, mosques and private homes will again be filled with worshipers. But it would be tragic—and fundamentally irreligious—to rush that return to normalcy and risk human lives.