[imagesource: YouTube / The Guardian]

A church is a safe space, but by no means is it safe from COVID-19 or the laws that police officers must enforce.

Worshipers in London were vexed after being interrupted by a few officers who asked them to leave the church or pay a fine of £200 (around R3 400) for breaking COVID-19 restrictions.

It was a Good Friday evening at Christ the King Polish church until, during the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, police dispersed this “unlawful” gathering.

As per The Telegraph, officers made the following statement at the church:

“You are not allowed to meet inside with this many people under law. At this moment in time you need to go home. Failure to comply with this direction to leave and go to your home address, ultimately could lead you to be fined £200 or, if you fail to give your details, to you being arrested.”

Churchgoers were not at all happy:

Christ the King church condemned the Metropolitan Police operation, accusing officers of having “brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason” because “all government requirements were met”.

The church said they also informed the Polish Catholic Mission in London saying that their “worship has been profaned.”

UK government guidance states that gatherings may take place as long as there is safe social distancing and mask-wearing.

Let’s see some footage. Spot how many children aren’t wearing masks or sitting with space between each other:

The Metropolitan Police said in their statement that officers decided it wasn’t a safe gathering as people were reportedly queueing down the street outside the church, and many inside were not wearing masks or socially distancing.

Shame, there’s no rest for the wicked.

[source:telegraph]