Posted on 04/10/2020 6:47:24 PM PDT by Morgana
Police fined members of a Mississippi church $500 each for attending a “drive-in” church service and supposedly violating social distancing orders. Meanwhile, the sole abortion clinic in the state continues to kill babies in abortion despite an order from the governor to stop all non-essential medical procedures.
As the Washington Times reports, Temple Baptist Church is suing Greenville, Mississippi’s city government and mayor for busting up its “drive-in” church service:
Police officers issued $500 fines this week to drive-in churchgoers whose service required churchgoers stay inside their cars with their windows rolled up while listening to an FM radio station broadcast a sermon and music.
The church contends its congregation was following the orders imposed by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons enforcing social-distancing restrictions to fight coronavirus.
Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian nonprofit law firm focused on religious and civil liberties, is filing a lawsuit requesting a federal court enact a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against Greenville from enforcing the church-closure order. ADF’s request for an urgent injunction is to allow the churchgoers to worship from their cars on the coming Easter Sunday holiday.
“If [government] allows waiting in the car at Sonic it should permit a drivethru Easter service,” tweeted Kristen Waggoner, ADF senior vice president and counsel for Trinity Baptist Church, about the city’s action. “Safety is critical. So is following the Constitution. First Amendment isn’t completely suspended nor does [government] have unlimited authority to target churches however they please. There are limits.”
This church is not the only one facing persecuting while abortion clinics continue killing babies.
Police served a summons to the pastor of Lighthouse Fellowship in Chincoteague Island, Virginia for holding a church service for 16 people spaced far apart in a sanctuary that seats 293.
The charge is violating Virginia Governor Northam’s COVID Order 55 with a penalty up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. Liberty Counsel is representing Pastor Kevin Wilson and Lighthouse Fellowship Church.
Last Sunday before the service, a local police officer entered the church. He gave no introduction and did not ask for the pastor. He abruptly said they could not have more than 10 people spaced six feet apart. Then after the service, two police officers entered the church in full mask and gloves and asked to speak with the pastor.
They issued Pastor Wilson a summons and informed him that if he had service on Easter, and if more than ten people attended, everyone would receive the same summons.
David Benham and the eight Christians who were arrested for praying outside a local abortion clinic and helping mothers in need are not taking the abrogation of their Constitutional rights lying down. Their attorneys drafted a letter to the city of Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday telling the city to stand down and let them pray and counsel outside the abortion center or face a potential lawsuit.
And Kansas lawmakers took action Wednesday to stop Gov. Laura Kelly from banning church services on Easter while allowing abortion facilities to continue killing unborn babies in elective abortions.
That is disgusting. Better PP was high fiving themselves.
I don’t see how fining people for exercising their freedom of religion can stand. “Social Distance” is a concept and not a law passed by any legislature. The whim of a governor does not trump the Constitution.
Is habeas corpus suspended??? I’m seriously asking at this point.
I hope people remember all of this at election time. If they did we would see the highest number of incumbents lose their seats in the history of American elections.
At $500 each the members are going to get together and hire an attorney.
Stupid city.
L8r
I imagine most Mississippi judges would find for plaintiffs.
Pro-lifers need to take pic of how many cars outside.
I hope that the police and anyone else involved with this enforcement get sued into oblivion. But instead of suing the police force then sue each officer individually. Make them pay out of there own pocket.
““Social Distance” is a concept and not a law passed by any legislature. “
But they’re not violating social distance, if they’re in their cars with rolled-up windows.
If I were a member of that parish I would refuse to pay the fine and initiate a civil rights lawsuit against the local law enforcement agency for violating my freedom to assemble and my Right to freedom of religion.
I would simply refuse to pay it...make them put me jail instead.
Pastor was on Tucker and made a point of saying the order came from the mayor, “a Joe Biden supporter.”
They would have to search my corpse’s pockets to collect this unconstitutional and satanic fine.
Seems to me investing man hours into making those ‘church people’ comply is a poor use of resources and would tend to alienate a group that tends to support you, you know, ‘church people’.
Police tend escalate any situation where they encounter anything less than 100% compliance, no matter how insignificant.
Anyone with common sense has a healthy fear of todays police, IMHO.
3 or 4 counties away, my MIL’s church holds parking lot services using one of those little FM radio thingies.
The ex mayor is an attendee.
No clue what ails the locals in Greenville.
I agree with others: don’t pay the fine. Let the city come after me and throw me in jail. I’m embarrassed by what is occurring in our country.
Worthless pieces of schiff cops and mayor. There is no sense of justice. There’s a special place in hell for people like that.
Definitely! They are personally culpable. It makes no sense for tax payers to foot the bill for their blatant civil rights violations. They deserve to go to jail.
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