EQUALITY FOR VICTORIA’S PEOPLE OF FAITH

We need much more than physical security for our welfare. We need access to our expressions of religious belief and practice.

The current effective criminalisation of religious observance under the health emergency is unwarranted given that most churches and places of worship are capacious and well able to administer a COVID-safe plan to ensure that worshippers are able to maintain distance.

OPEN THE CHURCHES, THIS HELPS OUR HEALTH AND KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

We are under so much pressure, and it makes us angry and resentful of the law when we are discriminated against. Your roadmap to recovery accommodates for business but discriminates against 60% of the community who identify as religious. This is completely unfair. You are making a judgement on our faith as unnecessary, which also increases our frustration and stress. Not being able to publicly worship in faith is bad enough, but it would really rub salt in the wound to allow cafes and restaurants to have 20 people in an enclosed space but not people of faith to have the same concession in their place of worship. It really affects mental health to see such lack of consideration and fairness on the part of the law and our political leaders.

Religious gatherings are just as essential for both mental and spiritual health as exercise which you allow. If other types of gatherings in restaurants are permitted, it makes no sense to have greater restrictions on religious gatherings.

More than ever we are in great need of our Church and spiritual direction. Let us exercise our right to practice our faith.

we have been patient for long enough!

Religious worshippers ought to be afforded the same freedoms at least as restaurant diners. Our rights cannot be trampled over.

It's disgraceful that God is considered non essential. Reopen immediately.

The current restrictions are ridiculous and have been all the way. Throughout the whole year I have been regularly to shop at the supermarket where I come into pretty close contact with may other customers in the aisles and at checkout. But at the same time, Churches have been either totally or largely shut to their parishioners. Completely ridiculous and irrational.

OPEN THE CHURCHES ALREADY

open church

I ask that you recognise that people of faith be given the same opportunities to gather in ways safer than what you permit in cafes and restaurants. We are not asking for special treatment- only parity with the rest of those industries you seem to favour over those who tirelessly work for the holistic wellbeing of our fellow Victorians by filling in the gaps that the State fails to in Mental Health, Education, social services, etc.

The practice of faith is an essential service which should rank higher than other esential services as spiritual life if superior to worldly existence.

Mr Andrews, God is saying, "Let my people go so that they may worship me." (Exodus 8:1)

Please give us equal treatment.

My friends and I are anxious to get back to attending our regular church services asap. We will obey all the rules re social distancing etc. Please Premier give this special consideration.

Please consider this important petition.

Dear Mr. Andrews, there are more people dying due to unnecessary pressure put on us than coronavirus.

The Christian community request you Mr. Daniel Andrews to listen to the people of Victoria.