Catholic Bishop Slams “Fake Shepherds” Who Close Church Because of COVID-19
By Val Wilde, May 24, 2020

Plenty of digital space has been devoted to right-wing criticisms of the COVID-19 response, ranging from pedestrian concerns about proportionality to wild conspiracy theories invoking the Book of Revelation.

But when it comes to claims of anti-Christian persecution, it’s hard to beat Bishop Athanasius Schneider for sheer imagination.

(snip)

Like many other religious leaders, he doesn’t think quarantine orders should apply to him and his sect:

The bishops and the bishops’ conferences — and even the Holy See — should insist on the governments to give to the churches at least the same rights… as they give to the stores where people can buy food. If the government denies the church the same rights as they give to a store, then this is discrimination of the religion.

It’s not clear whether Schneider is being disingenuous on purpose, or if he genuinely believes that a religious gathering is as necessary for human survival as food.