Attorney General Responds to the Alliance of Ministers and Leaders of Belize

The Alliance of Ministers and Leaders of Belize is petitioning the government to reconsider the position of the church as it relates to the State of Emergency. The clergy is not listed as an essential service and many churches across the country have found new ways to conduct praise and worship sessions. But the Alliance of Ministers and Leaders of Belize under the leadership of Patrick Menzies is asking the government to declare members of the Clergy “essential workers” on the basis that the ministering to the spiritual needs of the Nation is an “essential service. Menzies says that normal religious services can be conducted safely if measures are put in place and adhered to. But Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte isn’t convinced.

Michael Peyrefitte

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General

“I think God blessed us with good sense and know that we can worship God and praise God without necessarily endangering ourselves with a disease. I think we have to find creative ways to do things. The simple fact of the matter is that we cannot be too close together with this disease at this time right now in the country. It is simply too dangerous. I don’t know about you God but my God is very understanding and if I die from COVID-19 because I am stupid he will be very disappointed that I didn’t use the sense he give me.”

Around the world and in Belize, the churches have been using the internet to continue to connect with their flock and in so doing, they have been adhering to social distancing guidelines.