Posted on 04/01/2020 3:18:38 AM PDT by abb
Central pastor holds service hours after arrest on violating governor's stay-at-home order
BY DAVID J. MITCHELL and YOUSSEF RDDAD | Staff writers Mar 31, 2020 - 9:18 pm
The pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Central went ahead with an evening religious service Tuesday night just hours after city police cited him over allegations he violated a state order to limit crowd sizes during an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Pastor Tony Spell is accused of violating provisions of Gov. John Bel Edwards' emergency declaration six times over the past two weeks. Spell has ignored requests from city, parish and state leaders to suspend services at Life Tabernacle Church amid a surge in fatal coronavirus cases in Louisiana and the region.
"He will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community," Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran said midday Tuesday shortly after Spell was fingerprinted and read his constitutional rights. "We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community's leaders to set a positive example and follow the law."
Spell was issued a summons, but Corcoran explained during a news conference that this action by his officers constituted an arrest, though Spell was not taken to jail.
Despite being accused of the misdemeanor offenses, which carry a maximum punishment of $500 and up to six months in parish jail, Spell announced before the Tuesday night service that he will continue to hold services.
"This is an attack on religion. This an attack on our constitutional rights. We have a constitutional right to assemble and to gather and there are no laws that I am breaking," he said earlier Tuesday, as his wife, Shaye, hugged him inside the church's main worship area.
When asked what he would do if Spell held another service, Corcoran said earlier Tuesday, "We're going to take it as we see it.”
Spell’s service did not appear to be halted Tuesday night by law enforcement, but this was no typical gathering off Hooper Road.
Close to a dozen media members observed as parishioners — children, their parents, the elderly and disabled, and young men and women — filed into the church in the fading evening light and got their temperature taken at the door.
Several congregants declined comment as they walked indoors, though one man suggested media members make an offering later on and perhaps listen in on Spell’s sermon.
Later, as music and singing could be heard inside, a top Baton Rouge-area NAACP official stood on the front lawn of the church and called on a bull horn for Spell to come outside and explain himself as onlookers sat in parked cars along the road in front of the church.
“Come on, Tony. Come on out and tell us why you’re being selfish, Tony,” shouted Eugene Collins, the Baton Rouge chapter president of the NAACP.
Three East Baton Parish Sheriff’s Office sport-utility vehicles could be seeing driving into the parking lot of the church. Officers got out and observed people entering the church for a time before leaving as night closed in and the 7:30 p.m. service had begun.
"Our assistance was requested to help with vehicles on the side of the road to help prevent traffic accidents," sheriff's office spokeswoman Casey Raborn Hicks said in a statement when asked what the deputies were doing in the parking lot.
Chief Corcoran didn’t respond to a request for comment through his dispatcher on Tuesday night.
The law enforcement officials had someone watching them.
Raymond Dennis, 50, of Bayou Goula, was in the parking lot video-recording the deputies with his cell phone.
Dennis said he wanted to see if the officers were going to stand behind officials’ promise to enforce the governor’s orders.
Even though Dennis said his own church has been conducting services online since the outbreak, Dennis, who is a health care worker and church organist, said he believes Spell had a constitutional right to speak and say what he believes.
“He should be able to worship if that’s what he chooses to do,” Dennis said. “He’s protected under the First Amendment.”
Several others watching the proceedings outside the church had different take.
Pamela Prescott, 50, of Zachary, had taken a granddaughter and a niece to watch was happening in protest of what Spell was leading his congregation to do. She said his members aren’t just from Central and were spreading out across the Baton Rouge area and wondered why the service was even happening at all.
“This is just ridiculous that they won’t stop it,” she said.
While Louisiana has seen more than 5,000 cases of coronavirus, and more than 200 deaths, Spell has ignored the potential danger to his congregation and the community by holding large public religious services. 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.
Among those also counseling Spell has been former state Rep. Tony Perkins, who has allowed Spell to join him on conference calls with the Trump administration and their response to the pandemic.
“If I thought this was an attack on religious freedom, I’d be right there with him,” said Perkins, who serves as president of the Family Research Council. “It’s a directive for the sake of public health not to meet.”
Though legal experts say law enforcement officials have authority to enforce limits on crowd size, sheriff's deputies and Central city police officers hadn't acted to halt Spell's services until Tuesday. But, in the day and a half leading up to Spell's citation, the rhetoric from Gov. Edwards, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and District Attorney Hillar Moore had notched up noticeably.
“The order is to protect everyone and not infringe on anyone's rights,” Moore said. “This is a serious, deadly emergency.”
Reached after city leaders held the midday news conference about Spell's arrest, the Pentecostal preacher said he understood the potential consequences of continuing to have public religious services but intended to go forward with additional gatherings.
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 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."
At the end of the mid-day interview Tuesday, Spell and other members of his church prayed over an Advocate reporter to continue providing fair news coverage of the situation.
In the Tampa Bay area, authorities arrested a pastor who had held large services in violation of the county’s ban on large gatherings.
At least one religious service in Illinois has been linked to an outbreak of coronavirus that infected more than three dozen people, according to The Chicago Tribune. State leaders in Arkansas also reported a similar outbreak that saw dozens sickened at a rural church 70 miles north of Little Rock.
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.
Edwards said Tuesday he was disturbed by the church continuing to hold large services.
“It’s unfortunate that a leader … would choose and make the conscious decision to violate what is a legal order which is imperative to public health,” Edwards said.
Romans 13:1-7
Submission to Governing Authorities
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Pennsylvania pastor slams coronavirus precautions, plans ‘Woodstock’-like Easter gathering
But no sheriff shut down Mardi Gras, the cause of the explosion of infection in New Orleans. Follow the money.
Just a sleazy pastor using this mess to make a mega church .
We don't need another slick Elmer Gauntry wanna be.
If the guy felt he had a ‘message’....he merely needed to video-tape it and put it up on You-Tube, or use some local radio service.
Once he challenged the system, and wanted to bring people into a hall or church....he was tempting fate to get dozens infected. Bad leadership values, and something you’d expect out of a Elmer Gantry-type.
Actually, the preacher has the law on his side, if that matters any more.
Here is Gov Edwards emergency declaration of 3/16/20
He cites LA RS 29:721 as his authority.
http://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=85667
However, that statute has an exclusion thus:
“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.”
http://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=85685
Egomaniac.
Risking the lives of his flock for his own need for attention.
Should be an opportunity to remind them that their relationship with God is personal. Pray at home. I’m available by phone.
Also- a-hole
+1
I expect crap like this from Muslims. I fully expect Muslims to be dabbing lavender oil on each others anuses like that Mullah prescribed believing it is a cure and kissing the rock in Qum because Muslims are immune. I did not expect this level of hubris and stupidity from Christians. Can they do it? Yes, 1st amendment. Are they proving Darwin right about survival of the fittest? Damn skippy. Morons with a moron preacher thinning the gene pool by eliminating some too stupid to survive a pandemic. Does this moron start his sermon with “Hold my beer, Hey Ya’all, watch this.”
The decision wasn’t the sheriff’s to make. That was up to the mayor.
Maybe he thinks this is the Hill to Die On?
“Jim Jones” redo
At least “Jim Jones” had the decency to kill folks far away—this clown will be clogging up the local health care system for weeks and maybe months.
If I were Mayor I would put a lien on the church, sell its assets, and use the proceeds to buy PPEs for the local health care staff.
Exactly
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together,
Man says you will NOT assemble together. The Word says not to forsake our own assembling together.
When Man’s law violates God’s law we MUST OBEY God and NOT man>
The Jones cult were idiots same as this guys followers.
If they had 1/2 a brain cell they would stay away,they dont
That’s as un-american as it gets!
‘Still more pushback.’
theoretically, I agree that church services should be held if that’s what the congregants want, just as I theoretically believe all people should be able to do in whatever assembly...however, that is not the case now, and I, a non-religious person with no belief in any organized faith, am being denied my right to peaceably assemble and to travel where I wish; why should people of faith be treated any differently...?
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