Posted on 03/30/2020 11:31:01 AM PDT by C19fan
The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a "safer at home" order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff of Hillsborough County says one of two Sunday services had up to 500 people in attendance. Sheriff Chad Chronister and State Attorney Andrew Warren on Monday announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne. He faces charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency order.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox5ny.com ...
This pastor is in the wrong. He is not watching out for the flock. He is being a bad Steward over his people. The President also has emergency powers. I’m sorry but the right thing for people to do is social distancing and at this moment I don’t give a flying ship what the Constitution says. Sometimes the right thing to do is the right thing to do and not go pointing at the Constitution and say I can do whatever I want no matter how it harms others.
It's not like congregants at a religious service or kids on spring break go back home and forcibly invade the nursing home next door, is it?
They just don’t spread it among themselves fool. They go out into society and make everybody else sick. They don’t have the right. I hope he’s arrested
Did he make a special appeal to Support the Ministry?
Works better in person vs streaming
Yeah and none have family. Or go back to school or to supermarkets.
You’re too smart to send such a weak answer.
I replied only because it’s you.
“If THEY spread any pathogens among themselves, it’s their own damn business.”
What about all the people those diots spread it to? Is it any of their business? Is it the business of the elderly lady one of them infects sometime in the next 2 weeks?
I hope they lock this moron up along with all of his moron followers.
Idiot.
L
This is how I know that even most people here on FreeRepublic would give up their guns in a heartbeat when the government officers come to the front door.
...He ought to be arrested
Nobody made the congregants go to church at gun point or under forced coercion, if they are there, they are on their own nickle. Snake handling and drinking poison comes to mind however. Quarantining afterward, however, might be a consideration
I think about that too. And how no one even weighs that when thinking about a story like this. I agree that anyone attending such a service is a fool at this point. And there is no doubt that church services are very likely to spread this virus. Even indirectly to innocent people who did not attend the service.
On the other hand if you do not have the right to assemble then you are completely helpless and under the power of those who just as well at some point might wish you harm rather than good. You will not be able to defend yourself.
People need to at least think about why we were given the right to assemble. What were the most important reasons.
Smart man. Independent kid. I think they'll come out fine on the other end of this.
There's no reason why anyone else -- including school officials or supermarket owners -- can't do the same thing.
The best approach for "social distancing" is to assume you're healthy, and that everyone you see is carrying a lethal disease. The WORST approach is to assume everyone else is healthy.
When did FR get invaded by idiots such as you? The cool thing is that those of us who believing in upholding the Constitution are actually protecting idiots such as yourself. Have you ever read it?
How do they go out into society and make everybody else sick when "everybody else" is engaging responsibly in their own social distancing?
A democrat...not excusing the pastor for being stupid, but Warren's involvement probably explains a lot
I have, it’s very short actually. My point is I don’t care what the Constitution says in that this pastor is wrong. He is one of the prideful flu Bros that won’t let his Petty rights be stepped on even though his actions are certainly going to harm others who are innocent in this whole thing. He is wrong, he is not acting in a way proper of a pastor, he should be arrested for defying the local authorities as Jesus said to a bay authorities in government
So since it’s so short, then you can quickly educate me on what article, section or amendment overrides the first amendment?
Bishop Athanasius Schneider on Church’s handling of Coronavirus
Some interesting points here:
"As long as supermarkets are open and accessible, and as long as people have access to public transportation, one cannot see a plausible reason for banning people from assisting at Holy Mass in a church."
...
"My general impression is that the prevailing majority of bishops reacted precipitously and out of panic in prohibiting all public Masses and -- what is even more incomprehensible -- in closing churches. Such bishops reacted more like civil bureaucrats than shepherds. In focusing too exclusively on all the hygienic protective measures, they have lost a supernatural vision and have abandoned the primacy of the eternal good of souls."
Are you actually an American citizen? I ask because you are essentially advocating for ignoring our constitution. We already did such with regard to abortion and millions of deaths have resulted. Yes, the pastors is wrong. But he’ll pay in other ways.
This is the opportunity they have been waiting for! invading churches and dispersing the churchgoers for doing things that are not permitted in the New World Atheist Order.
I’ll bet my best prayer rug that they aren’t doing this for the beard and burka crowd.
Have you ever noticed that nobody seems to care — or even know — how the Amish cope with a “crisis” like this?
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