Giving Compass' Take:

• Paul Marshall offers his take on the debate about restrictions around gatherings, including religious gatherings, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

• Have certain governments' restrictions imposed unjust sanctions on citizens? How can religious practices continue without damaging the health and safety of the community?

• Learn why the time is now to increase your giving.

There are several religious freedom issues in our responses to the coronavirus pandemic. One is restricting access for chaplains, among others, to health care facilities and homes for the elderly. But the most contentious issue has been some outright government bans on most religious gatherings, as in the UK, or restrictions to groups of less than ten people.

Some have argued that such restrictions are a violation of religious freedom, while others have argued that they are responsible and legitimate government action. I believe that both positions are, or can be, correct.

Church and state have legitimate authority over each other in their respective spheres as long as they do not seek to usurp the proper role of the other. A church cannot try to take over governmental power or use physical coercion. A government cannot dictate a church’s doctrine or mission.

Governments internationally, and federally within the US, have imposed widely varying restrictions, and there can certainly be arguments about the range and prudence in each particular case. But, as a matter of principle, I believe that in Western democracies most of the disputed government actions around the coronavirus are necessary, somewhat like the fire marshal writ large. Such restrictions are for a limited time, even if we do not now know what that time limit is. They also do not single out the church—these are rules to be applied to almost any gathering. And they do not seek to usurp church teachings or mission.

Each individual case needs prudential judgment but, in principle, I believe that restrictions on religious gatherings are legitimate government actions, and that churches and others should as a matter of conscience follow them.

Read the full article about restricting religious gatherings during COVID-19 by Paul Marshall at Hudson Institute.