There
is a very ancient tradition in the English common law known as a writ of habeas
corpus:
Governor
Edwards’s latest proclamation requiring everyone but what his administration
defines as essential personnel to stay at home and practice the ridiculously
named social distancing until April 12th completely upends that tradition of
freedom from arbitrary confinement:
For
this reason (and for others we will get to below), we encourage everyone to
peacefully disobey this order.
We
are not supporters of the idea that every man may willy nilly decide which laws
to obey and which not. However, when the
government acts in ways that are clearly irrational and destructive of human
well-being, it becomes our duty to withstand those acts as best we can.
In
the case of this illness, we now know better what we are dealing with:
1
It affects mainly those with major underlying health issues, especially the
elderly.
2
It is affecting fewer people than the regular flu virus.
3
There are quite simple and effective remedies to deal with the ‘coronavirus’.
4
The prescriptions of Gov Edwards and others are counterproductive of the health
of the citizenry (isolating people, keeping people inside and away from the sun
and fresh air, and filling them with fear over a mild illness all contribute to
stress and anxiety, which weakens the immune system and makes people more
susceptible to sickness).
But
what are Gov Edwards and many other State, federal, and local government
officials doing? They are using the
proverbial axe in place of a scalpel. We
can and should protect those who are most vulnerable to this disease (which has
not reached the proportions of a global pandemic, contrary to the claims) - the
elderly, for instance - but we can do that without destroying the livelihoods
of millions of people and without wrecking the communal structures men and
women need to live normal, healthy lives.
Chief
among those communities is the Church.
It says volumes that Gov Edwards does not list bishops, priests, deacons,
etc., as ‘essential workers’. But it is
clear throughout history that without spiritual health, there will be no
physical health either. Some priests are
pushing back against these bans on church services by the authorities:
But
we need many more like them to speak up and act for the good of their
parishioners.
Considering
all this, and considering the cowardice of all other elected officials in
Louisiana and across the South, and in other States outside the South, who
refuse to protect us from the destructive acts of our various governments, we
say plainly: Ignore the stay at home
orders. Ignore the orders to act like
helpless, ignorant children. Ignore the
orders that are destroying our souls and bodies. Pastors, open your churches. Restaurant owners, ready your tables. Schoolmasters, call back your students. Live bravely, like men and women who trust in
the Providence of God. That will be our
honor in this time, not craven cowering before a new idol: the virus.
--
Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England,
South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð,
unworthy though we are!
Anathema to the Union!
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