Places of worship feel ‘singled out’ in B.C. COVID-19 orders: faith leader

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — B.C.’s faith communities continue to wonder why places of worship are being forced to shut down for two weeks under the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions.

In-person faith services have been put on hold until Dec. 7 as part of orders aimed at curbing transmission of the virus.

But Imam Yahya Momla, with the BC Muslim Association, says while many faith communities understand the severity of the pandemic, some feel like the order is concerning, especially when people can spend time together in places like restaurants and bars.

“There is a sentiment that places of worship have been singled out, to say, when other large venues are allowed to continue operating and in-person worship services have been asked to be suspended,” he says.

“In the Muslim community, the typical prayer lasts between five to 10 minutes and the largest – the Friday congregational prayer – lasts just about 20 to 30 minutes,”  he says. “A typical meal at a restaurant lasts far more than that.”

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Momla argues prayer services at mosques are the only support system for many Muslims, and so far, they’ve proven those events can happen safely.

“Most of our buildings are quite large, very well-ventilated and restrictions have been in place inside of buildings for a while now. Masks have been mandatory,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Vancouver expressed a similar feeling, saying churches haven’t been a key transmitter of COVID-19.

“We are surprised by these closures because we’ve heard of almost no outbreaks related to worship services,” Melissa Godbout told NEWS 1130 earlier this week. “We haven’t been given any numbers to explain these closures. So we’re just as surprised as everybody else.”

At-home prayer has been encouraged for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, Momla says, and many services are online.

But he says looking at mosques like other large gathering places isn’t accurate.

“Simply being able to gather in person and perform your prayer behind an Imam — for some people, that’s the only support system they have,” he says.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said the intent of the public health orders is to reduce the opportunities for social interaction, which is driving the spread of COVID-19.

She said restaurants need to have strict safety plans in place to stay open, and added, at the end of the day, they feed people.