It isn’t about rights, it’s about responsibility

I am concerned that the decisions of a few churches (“Judge rules against church,” Page B1, Dec. 9) may give the impression that all faith communities are behaving irresponsibly.

I am grateful that congregations in the Presbytery of San Jose (PCUSA congregations in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties) have all been worshiping remotely. Not meeting in person does not mean our church is “closed.” Because we are called to “love our neighbor as ourselves” we care about the health and safety of our entire community, thus we choose to follow the directions of public health officials.

Our First Amendment rights are not in jeopardy. It isn’t about rights, it’s about responsibility.

— Rev. Joseph Lee, Executive Presbyter, The Presbytery

of San Jose, San Jose