Justice Department sides with Virginia church in dispute over lockdown orders
Source: CBS
Washington The Justice Department is siding with a Virginia church challenging Governor Ralph Northam's executive orders limiting in-person gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, which the church says unfairly applies to houses of worship and other religious institutions.
Federal prosecutors submitted the statement of interest in support of Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Chincoteague Island, Virginia, on Sunday. The church filed a lawsuit in federal district court challenging Northam's orders in federal court after its pastor received a citation and summons for holding a 16-person service in early April.
Lighthouse Fellowship Church maintains that its congregants followed social distancing guidelines in the 225-seat church and personal-hygiene protocols. The church argues the orders issued by Northam violate the First Amendment by improperly restricting religious gatherings at houses of worship while allowing comparable secular gatherings to continue unimpeded.
"The United States believes that the church has set forth a strong case that the orders, by exempting other activities permitting similar opportunities for in-person gatherings of more than 10 individuals, while at the same time prohibiting churches from gathering in groups of more than 10 even with social distancing measures and other precautions has impermissibly interfered with the church's free exercise of religion," the Justice Department said in its filing.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/justice-department-sides-with-virginia-church-in-dispute-over-lockdown-orders/ar-BB13zwQn?li=BBnb7Kz
Old Billy Barr
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)FUCK THEM ALL!!! BARR FIRST!!
iluvtennis
(19,871 posts)at home during these times.
You don't have to be in a church building to honor and worship your God/Jehovah/Allah/etc
This is all about the Benjamins
I'm not a religious person, but my neighbor is. I can hear her singing and praising the lord every Sunday. She's ok with it, I'm ok with it. The building (church or otherwise) is just a place to collect money.
iluvtennis
(19,871 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)Christian pastor who thought COVID-19 is just 'mass hysteria' is among the first in Virginia to die
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213179274
NotHardly
(1,062 posts)Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)Federal doj has no say in state decisions
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,036 posts)groundloop
(11,523 posts)At this time ANY gathering is a bad idea, but ALL organizations should be treated the same in regards to the rules.
On the other hand the our church (in Alabama) is still closed with the exception that they're taking donations in order to provide meals and other essentials for people who are out of work or otherwise struggling to survive. Everyone volunteering for these activities are wearing masks and following all social distancing guidelines.
reACTIONary
(5,771 posts)... the excerpt doesn't specify what the alleged exceptions are.