Collectively, they put up little-to-no resistance to the State-ordered closure of their sanctuaries.
Technically, their congregations or denominations own the space, not them. They are merely the shepherds of those who sit in pews, entrusted with leadership over the lambs, in religious matters.
The urban dictionary defines “folded like a cheap suit” to mean: “To give in on something you felt so strongly about only a moment ago”.