Right in the State Capital, Life Tabernacle Church is defying the Governor's order against large assemblies and has been holding services for over 1000 attendees. These are not just walk-ups as tthe church has used 26 buses to bring in worshippers.
"'Tony Spell, a pastor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says he will defy government orders intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Oneness Pentecostal congregation met on Tuesday March 17, despite the declaration of a state-wide public health emergency banning gatherings of 50 or more people. Life Tabernacle Church plans to meet again on Sunday, setting up a possible legal clash between religious liberty protections and the state's authority to respond to a pandemic. (Since this statement the church has continued to host gatheirngs of up to 1800 attendees)
"The virus, we believe, is politically motivated," pastor Tony Spell told CNN affiliate WAFB. "We hold our religious rights dear, and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says."
Over 4,000 concerned citizens have petitioned the Governor to shut down the services.
But this is a deep red state that hosts Enthusiastic Trump rallies, so it is not a surprise that church-goers believe this a faux epidemic due to a politically motivated virus. Not even the Grump has suggested that Covid-19 is a politically motivated virus, although if he is not re-elected, I'm sure it will be declared by him that it was the world's
first politically motivated virus.
Evangelical/Pentecostal churches are big business in Louisiana; this is more than religious liberty, big dollars are involved in this confrontation. If the Church is shown to have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 by hosting these 'illegal' gatherings, should they have a liability for the resultant costs and deaths if any?
"'Tony Spell, a pastor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says he will defy government orders intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Oneness Pentecostal congregation met on Tuesday March 17, despite the declaration of a state-wide public health emergency banning gatherings of 50 or more people. Life Tabernacle Church plans to meet again on Sunday, setting up a possible legal clash between religious liberty protections and the state's authority to respond to a pandemic. (Since this statement the church has continued to host gatheirngs of up to 1800 attendees)
"The virus, we believe, is politically motivated," pastor Tony Spell told CNN affiliate WAFB. "We hold our religious rights dear, and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says."
Over 4,000 concerned citizens have petitioned the Governor to shut down the services.
But this is a deep red state that hosts Enthusiastic Trump rallies, so it is not a surprise that church-goers believe this a faux epidemic due to a politically motivated virus. Not even the Grump has suggested that Covid-19 is a politically motivated virus, although if he is not re-elected, I'm sure it will be declared by him that it was the world's
first politically motivated virus.
Evangelical/Pentecostal churches are big business in Louisiana; this is more than religious liberty, big dollars are involved in this confrontation. If the Church is shown to have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 by hosting these 'illegal' gatherings, should they have a liability for the resultant costs and deaths if any?
