A plea to pastors, priests and religious leaders - Covid19

To my colleagues - ministers, pastors, priests, religious leaders - you are particularly vulnerable to COVID19. 

Your work places you in close contact with people. In particular, since you are in a caring profession, you are in contact with sick people, you lead religious services (such as funerals), where the chances of being infected are exponentially increased.

Photographs by James OatwayLet’s be honest with one another - many clergy are not that healthy, we can’t afford the best health care, and we seldom have the necessary resources to keep ourselves, our families, and our congregations safe and healthy.

Please, please, please be wise and be extra cautious. It is heartbreaking to see more and more colleagues, their families, their members, desperately sick, and dying day after day.

To members of religious communities - please take care of the people who care for you. If you are sick please don’t expose them to infection. If you have had contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID19, or someone who has died, please don’t attend funerals, prayer meetings, or memorial services. Please take care of clergy and their families.

Colleagues, I want to remind you that you are particularly vulnerable - more vulnerable than most. Please take care of yourselves. Please be wise. You are precious and your work is important. We need you to stay safe and stay healthy.