Posted on 03/31/2020 12:56:36 PM PDT by abb
CENTRAL — A Central pastor who has defied government orders to limit crowds to 50 people or fewer, was arrested on six counts of violating the governor's order, after authorities say he's continued to hold large services.
Pastor Tony Spell’s arrest on Tuesday follows weeks of city and state leaders urging that he suspend services at Life Tabernacle Church in Central amid a surge in fatal coronavirus cases in Louisiana and East Baton Rouge Parish.
"He will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community," said Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran. "We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community's leaders to set a positive example and follow the law."
But, despite the misdemeanor offenses carrying a maximum punishment of $500 and up to six months in parish jail, Spell said he plans to continue holding services.
"This is an attack on religion. This an attack our constitutional rights. We have a constitutional right to assemble and to gather and there no laws that I am breaking." he said, as his wife, Shaye, hugged him inside the church's main worship area.
Spell has held large public religious services with his flock despite multiple officials warning of danger to his congregation and the broader community. Medical experts have said that, to blunt the sharp increase in coronavirus cases and related COVID-19 illnesses that could strain the medical system, people should avoid large crowds as much as possible and reduce the spread of disease.
A man who was apparently a member of Spell's congregation appeared at the police station on Hooper Road and attempted to speak to officers, but couldn't get inside. He shouted that the police were "anti-god" and "weasels." The man refused to give his name.
Reached after city leaders held a midday news conference about Spell's arrest, the pastor said he understood the potential consequences of continuing to have public religious services but intended go forward with a planned Tuesday evening service at his church off Hooper Road.
Spell asserted that he is operating under his constitutional rights and under a mandate given to him by Jesus Christ, "who said do not forsake to assemble together."
Spell added that government authorities were throwing away the nation's Constitution under a "COVID hoax" that hasn't had the level of medical toll and death that, he says, experts had initially predicted would happen at this point. He called the fears about the virus that have been propagated were a "politically motivated scheme to shut the doors on America's churches and we refuse to shut our doors."
"Yes, we're gonna have service," he added, "and if I am arrested, the second man in charge will step in. If he is arrested, the third man in charge will step in. If he is arrested, the thousands of people who are members of this congregation are gonna step in, but you can't take us all."
Those comments prompting "Amens" and some applause from a small group of people who were gathered with him in the Life Tabernacle worship area.
At the end of the interview Tuesday, Spell and other members of his church prayed over an Advocate reporter to continue providing fair news coverage of the situation.
When asked what he would do if Spell held another service, the chief said "we're going to take it as we see it."
Churches in Arkansas and Illinois have reported outbreaks among their members after failing to limit the size of their gatherings. In the Tampa Bay area, authorities arrested a pastor who had held large services in violation of the county’s ban on large gatherings.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, after declaring a public emergency, has directed that no one gather in groups larger than 50; the president has suggested groups no larger than 10. The governor has also issued a stay-at-home order for people who do not have essential jobs in businesses such as home construction, groceries and health care.
Most churches have complied with the orders, in Louisiana and elsewhere, accommodating parishioners by moving services and Bible studies online.
Whatever your position on this, the left now knows that they can shut down churches for even a contrived reason. They will capitalize on this fact going forward.
Yep. A BIG test & evaluation on what the Sheep will put up with.
“contrived”..... Please speak plainly.
I hope a law firm takes the case pro bono and takes it all the way to the SCOTUS and wins.
Government is completely out of control with these orders.
You are interpreting my words incorrectly. I didn’t say banning gatherings wasn’t warranted, I said that the left will now have an established precedent to do so.
An honest question from me: Are the regular witches covens still meeting in defiance of shelter in place laws? Their anti-religious meetings.
Each month, thousands of witches cast a spell against Donald https://www.vox.com/2017/6/20/15830312/magicresistance-restance-witches-magic-spell-to-bind-donald-trump-mememagic
...
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/07/monsters-men-magic-trump-awoke-angry-feminist-witches
....Monsters, men and magic: why feminists turned to witchcraft to oppose Trump
Whether it’s hexing the president, chatting in WhatsApp covens.........
Do you think people will begin to shake themselves and start realizing they’ve been had?
...and when 100 of his flock get the virus and who knows how many die, he’ll claim “I didn’t know”, or “I was doing the Lord’s will”...just like the choir practice example.
Wait for it
No. We’re way past the lobotomized stage. People are being willingly lead to slaughter like sheep. And they will say “thank you” while it’s happening.
https://www.facebook.com/centralcitynews.us/posts/10158047250987789
Central City News 3 hrs ·
Many have come to this page and demanded that Rev. Tony Spell be arrested and that Life Tabernacle must be shut down for operating as a church and holding worship services. They have demanded that he “obey the law” but do they even know what the law is?
First, the U.S. and Louisiana Constitutions cannot be suspended under any circumstances and certainly not by a piece of paper issued by a governor. There are ways to amend the Constitution but not to ignore its provisions. That would be a novel concept. The First Amendment including Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Assembly are alive and well. They cannot be suspended.
Second, although it is not necessary to say it, the provisions of Louisiana law on emergency powers which the governor has activated clearly recognize the supremacy of the Declaration of Rights of the Louisiana Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution. This would include Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Assembly. Please refer to R.S. 29:736(D):
“D. Nothing in this Chapter shall be interpreted to diminish the rights guaranteed to all persons under the Declaration of Rights of the Louisiana Constitution or the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. This Chapter shall not violate Article II (Distribution of Powers), Article III (Legislative Branch), or Article V (Judicial Branch) of the Louisiana Constitution. The courts shall be open, and every person shall have an adequate remedy by due process of law and justice, administered without denial, partiality, or unreasonable delay, for injury to him in his person, property, reputation, or other rights. The orders of all courts shall have their full force and effect. The legislature may call itself into session at any time and shall exercise its powers and duties. Its ability to enact law, appropriate funds, and confirm appointees shall be in full force. The privileges and immunities of legislators shall be respected.” Acts 1993, No. 800, §1, eff. June 22, 1993.
The Constitutions protect the right to have church and so does LOUISIANA law on emergency powers.
This was likely written by Woody Jenkins, who publishes Central City News. Jenkins is an attorney and a former Louisiana Legislator. He was a member of the 1973 Constitutional Convention.
We used to know that there were things in life worse than death. Patrick Henry knew this, and echoed it as the belief of a New Nation. He said that taking away liberty was worse than death.
We are now a spoiled, snowflake, neutered people. Look at what we’ve bent over for for over a decade?
Why didn’t you use that logic as it applies to hockey,
basketball, baseball, concerts, symphonies, theaters,
amphitheaters, parks, sidewalks, the workplace, amusement
parks, and all other places impacted by these orders?
Not a single one of us is going to stand still for them
closing churches for a non-valid reason.
This is an unusual situation, and churches are not being
singled out alone.
The preacher arrested in Florida yesterday, Rodney Howard-Browne will be taking it all the way to the USSC. He has the $$$ to do so. Howard-Browne is a friend of Trumps.
There will be a lot of lawsuits against various government agencies and the people that head them. Takings lawsuits, due process lawsuits, civil rights violations lawsuits, Constitutional rights violations, etc.
The issue is that some business entities are being green lined while others are red lined. They all have the right of due process. This is a big damn mess on multiple levels.
If you notice, governors and courts are taking it upon themselves to dictate what “essential” services and gatherings are. Thus, abortion clinics have been ORDERED to be allowed to stay open. Notice that Mosques are never mentioned in the shut-down orders.
None of the gay hook-up apps are being suspended to my knowledge.
The selectivity of it all should tell you something.
“...and when 100 of his flock get the virus and who knows how many die, he’ll claim “I didn’t know””
Not only that, but they will expect the taxpayers to pay for their medical care.
That precedent ought to be the health and safety of the worshipers. If that is “left” intention, I agree with them.
.............
It ought to be the intention of the left, right, anyone.
...........
And Laban said: “The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.” Genesis 31:49
...........
The internet was not mentioned in Genesis, but it is God’s way of allowing worship and fellowship when we need to be absent from each other.
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