Trump's Push To Open Churches Contradicts Jesus' Teaching To Love Neighbours, Clergy Say
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...ing-to-love-neighbours-clergy-say/ar-BB14yiC3
Several faith leaders are speaking out against President Donald Trump’s demand that governors allow churches to reopen while the country still battles the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the activist Reverend William Barber, Trump’s push contradicts a fundamental tenet of the president’s Christian faith ― to love your neighbour as yourself.
“It’s a violation of loving your neighbour as yourself to do something that you know could put your neighbour in harm’s way,” Barber told HuffPost on Friday. “That’s a fundamental violation.”
Barber pointed to scriptureverses that lash out at people who cling to religious customs while mistreating the poor, immigrants and other marginalised people.
“Those who will worship and go through religious ceremony, but don’t care for justice and lifting up the poor and fighting for what is right, the Bible calls it hypocrisy, the very thing that God does not like,” Barber said.
Houses of worship are not essential, but true worship is: “When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was thirsty, did you give me a drink? When I was a stranger, did you invite me in? When I was naked, did you clothe me? When I was sick and in prison, did you visit me?”
— Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (@RevDrBarber) May 22, 2020