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California Church Singing Ban Strikes Sour Note for Some; Catholic Church Says it Will Comply
Crux ^ | 7/11/20 | Don Thompson

Posted on 07/12/2020 6:08:29 PM PDT by marshmallow

SACRAMENTO, California — Crossroads Community Church Senior Pastor Jim Clark wants to keep his 1,500 parishioners safe during the coronavirus pandemic but he’s drawing the line at a new California ban on singing or chanting at religious services.

“I said enough’s enough,” Clark said. “We will be singing and praising the Lord. … We don’t chant, but if we did chant, we’d be chanting too.”

The California ban was one of a number of restrictions on indoor businesses and gatherings put in place last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom amid fast-rising virus cases and hospitalizations. It’s unclear if any similar prohibition on singing exists in the United States, though there is one in England.

The virus is more easily transmitted indoors and singing releases minuscule droplets that can carry the disease. The ban may well end up in court as there are differing opinions on its legality, with some groups arguing it infringes on religious freedom while others believe it’s constitutional, especially during a pandemic.

The American Center for Law and Justice, a religious freedom law firm, says it will sue.

“We can’t stand by and watch as California strips its believers of their God-given right to raise their voices in worship and praise,” executive director Jordan Sekulow said on the center’s website. The center, which was founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, did not say how quickly it would sue.

Sekulow was a member of Trump’s defense team, and his father, Jay Sekulow, the center’s chief legal counsel, was one of Trump’s lead attorneys during the impeachment trial.

Another conservative-leaning legal group, The Pacific Justice Institute, told faith leaders in a letter that Newsom’s guidance is advisory because it does not say it is an order, cites no legal authority, isn’t signed by any official and includes no reference to.....

(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Politics; Worship
KEYWORDS: california; gavinnewsom; jaysekulow; jordansekulow
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1 posted on 07/12/2020 6:08:29 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

As long as they know the risk involved, go ahead. I wonder if the church is having it’s members sign liability waivers or if it’s assuming full liability for any outbreak.


2 posted on 07/12/2020 6:19:50 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: LouieFisk

No one, and I mean no one, is going to tell me I cannot worship the Lord with praise and song. No one.


3 posted on 07/12/2020 6:23:12 PM PDT by freepertoo
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To: freepertoo

As i sez - as long as people know the risk, let them.


4 posted on 07/12/2020 6:26:21 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: freepertoo

Amen!!


5 posted on 07/12/2020 6:26:28 PM PDT by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: marshmallow

Question: If you sing with a mask on is that like playing trumpet with a mute? It might be an interesting effect with the right amplification.


6 posted on 07/12/2020 6:29:17 PM PDT by Dave Wright
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To: marshmallow

Catholics can’t sing anyway.


7 posted on 07/12/2020 6:37:20 PM PDT by HIDEK6 ( God bless Donald Trump.)
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To: LouieFisk
My wife and I are not going to Mass because we will not sign anything just to enter into the church. We believe that is a violation of our 1st Amendment rights. And, we told the priest so. He said that there was nothing he could do. Meaning that the bishop has capitulated to the state and governor.

Besides, the govt. has enough on us as individuals, no sense in giving them something else to harass us with.

8 posted on 07/12/2020 6:41:24 PM PDT by Parmy
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To: HIDEK6

Ive heard some beautiful voices in some of the parisshes I’ve attended.


9 posted on 07/12/2020 6:42:56 PM PDT by RebelTXRose (Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us! PRAY THE ROSARY!)
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To: HIDEK6

Ive heard some beautiful voices in some of the parisshes I’ve attended.


10 posted on 07/12/2020 6:42:58 PM PDT by RebelTXRose (Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us! PRAY THE ROSARY!)
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To: LouieFisk

In the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh churhes have signs posted on the doors to the effect of “by voluntarily entering I am acknowledging that I may become ill despite all precautions...”

Not a signed waiver but the 21st century version of “enter at your own risk”.


11 posted on 07/12/2020 6:44:54 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: lightman

“Not a signed waiver but the 21st century version of “enter at your own risk”.”

Dunno if that would hold up in court, but at least it’s a warning.


12 posted on 07/12/2020 6:47:14 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: Parmy

“My wife and I are not going to Mass because we will not sign anything just to enter into the church.”

You were asked to sign a waiver or the like?


13 posted on 07/12/2020 6:48:23 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: LouieFisk

At most it would slow down a lawsuit by a nonosecond.


14 posted on 07/12/2020 6:49:30 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: lightman

How about posting in churches:

II Cor. 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Christians have nothing to fear, and they don’t need disclaimers and waivers.


15 posted on 07/12/2020 6:49:53 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: Parmy

Are you in California? Our parish does not have people sign in when they attend mass. We are in the Los Angeles archdiocese.


16 posted on 07/12/2020 7:15:06 PM PDT by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: HIDEK6
Catholics can’t sing anyway.

We chant beautifully.

17 posted on 07/12/2020 7:53:34 PM PDT by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

18 posted on 07/13/2020 4:35:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: married21

Yakima diocese


19 posted on 07/13/2020 9:21:01 AM PDT by Parmy
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To: HIDEK6

We have a choir director of opera caliber in our church.

Why do you insist on putting ALL Catholics in one category? You know that isn’t true, don’t you?


20 posted on 07/13/2020 10:00:25 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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