More than 100 facing charges after raid on German church over virus restrictions

Authorities broke up a weekend church service in the German town of Herford, where around 150 worshippers had gathered despite the nation’s strict coronavirus restrictions.

As Deutsche Welle reports, police officers said that more than 100 attendees are facing charges of violating coronavirus restrictions on congregating, social distancing and communal singing. Some of those in attendance may face heavy fines, particularly the ones who organized the service.

According to police, the congregation, which included children, was not wearing masks or practicing social distance while inside the church.

The German news outlet notes that communal singing is currently forbidden due to evidence that suggests it increases the spread of the virus. Church services are capped at 20 people, though that number is still dependent on whether the church is social distancing and practicing good hygiene.

Deutsche Welle notes that a similar incident occurred shortly before Christmas in the western city of Essen where a service at a Pentecostal church had to be broken up and 60 notices for lockdown violations were issued.

Many popular Christmas festivities were canceled in Germany due to the restrictions, Deutsche Welle notes, such as Christmas markets, Advent rituals and nativity scenes.

German states are able to decide their own restrictions, notes Deutsche Welle, and so far no local governments have issued a ban on religious gatherings, though Christmas services were largely canceled or televised.

Deutsche Welle points out that the German constitution contains language that protects the “unhindered practice of religion.”