CNA Staff, Jun 10, 2020 / 11:10 am
The U.S. ambassador for religious freedom warned on Wednesday that some governments might close houses of worship for good after the coronavirus pandemic subsides.
Addressing the closure of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship around the world in order to prevent the spread of the virus through religious gatherings, Sam Brownback-the U.S. Ambassador at-Large for International Religious Freedom-acknowledged that governments in some regions would try to keep them closed beyond the current public health emergency, in order to crack down on religious minorities.
"That's a deep concern that I've raised to our [International Religious Freedom] Alliance allies and others," he told reporters on Wednesday. "We don't want to see the leftover of this impact the closing of these religious institutions."
Brownback also expressed his appreciation for religious leaders working with health officials and suspending large religious gatherings, especially during the holy times of Easter, Passover, and Ramadan.