COVID-19 Vs Faith - Donald Trump Wants Places Of Worship To Open, Religious Leaders Are Divided

Donald Trump wants states in the US to open up the places of worship. When he made the declaration on May 22, he said he wanted it 'this weekend'.

Robert Jeffress, an evangelical pastor from Texas, spoke to Trump and told him he did not plan to open his church before June 7.

¡°He wasn¡¯t ordering every church to open,¡± said Jeffress as per a Bloomberg report.

AFP

¡°There¡¯s no one-size-fits all," he added.

¡°There is an insatiable hunger among Christians right now to get back to worship,¡± he went on to say.

"Yet they want to do it in a safe way," he emphasised.

This does lead to tension with local officials as many religious leaders are divided on the issue.

AFP

¡°The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now,¡± said Trump.

¡°If they don¡¯t do it I will override the governors," he added.

Congregation Etz Chaim, an Orthodox congregation in Los Angeles, heeded Trump's call.

AFP

Many leaders feel it is pushing too soon. They called it ¡°both irresponsible and potentially destructive.¡±

There have been outbreaks in churches in South Korea, Georgia, Texas and Arkansas. A recent case was also reported in Frankfurt.

Meanwhile around the world, most religious gatherings have been banned. Even in the Middle East, despite Eid being celebrated, people have been told to stay indoors. In India large crowds are banned and right now the nation is under lockdown.