EQUALITY FOR VICTORIA’S PEOPLE OF FAITH

Please allow us to meet indoors with the same numbers as cafes and pubs

What see today, Sunday 18 October, with these "new" announcements and so-called lifting of restrictions is even CLEARER DISCRIMINIATION against people of faith. We still cannot gather indoors in smaller numbers initially as we were allowed to do after the first wave (while observing social distancing, noting contact details, sanitising, etc.). Read: For metro Melbourne, from 11:59pm 1 November 2020: - "indoor religious ceremonies not allowed; 5 people can attend a place of worship to conduct a ceremony being broadcast." - "outdoor religious gatherings and ceremonies: up to 20 people, plus 1 faith leader." - And yet for HOSPITALITY - food and drink facilities - seated INDOOR and outdoor service is allowed: - For indoor space: "...maximum of 20 patrons per venue indoors, subject to density requirements..." For further reading: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/what-the-new-coronavirus-restrictions-mean-for-melburnians-20201018-p5665f.html This is obvious discrimination against people of faith. Why can't churches and other places of worship be allowed to have up to 20 people indoors, subject to density requirements also? It would be safer as no food and drink is consumed and people would be appropriately socially distanced? Catholic church leaders (and other leaders of other faiths) must put even more pressure on the Victorian government to allow indoor worship. There are churches which are bigger than their nearby outdoor space, and yet we STILL cannot go to worship safely inside. Hospitality wins again. So now people of faith must wait a FURTHER TWO WEEKS before we could even start to wonder whether we will be able to respectfully gather indoors in any number in comfort and peace away from the changeable weather. We are being treated like dogs - put outside while our places of worship remain empty. THIS IS A SHAME on Victoria!

I want to be able to practice my faith

Please open up religious places for worship.

Please consider opening our churches with covid safe practices. Thank you and God bless.

Please consider opening churches for mass. God bless you.

No cases In our region for weeks yet pubs are open and churches are closed. Discrimination at its worst

Open the church

Please open the churches

It is important that we are given greater hope in what conditions are placed on allowing us to participate as a faith community. Celebration and participation in the sacraments are fundamental to our spiritual needs.

It’s time to attend Mass in our church

We have not been able to attend mass in person for eight months.

There is a glaring discrepancy between restaurants and places of worship. This is patently unfair. considerable physical distancing is so EASILY arranged in a church with pews. Us church goers are capable of considerable self discipline! in this regard. MASKS ? Every one is wearing masks. Churches are NOT crowded places. AND Christians are more than capable of self discipline when it comes to obeying the rules. COME ON.

Please to reopen all the worship service

Please open mosque

I agree with this petition

We NEED our spiritual houses and places of worship for the health of our mind and our spirit. Please consider us when you make your decisions.

Premier Open up our churches. Marrin

I will help we need our freedom back

Community health and safety and compliance with law are forefront in our mind. We have demonstrated flexibility by moving to online services, but for how long? Mental health issues are on rise and our finances are hurting. Community is frustrated! Place of worship is a place of emotional safety. All we want a fair go!