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Louisiana Supreme Court Drops Charges Against Pastor Who Held Church During COVID Lockdown
Shreveport Times via Yahoo ^ | 5/13/22 | Misty Castile

Posted on 05/21/2022 7:14:39 PM PDT by marshmallow

On Friday, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tony Spell, the Central pastor who continued to hold church services in defiance of restrictions Gov. John Bel Edwards imposed to stop the spread of COVID.

The justices overruled lower courts, deciding that the restrictions on gatherings at churches and the stay-home mandate imposed were unconstitutional.

The court ordered the charges against Spell be dropped.

In the opinion, the court wrote, “In this criminal proceeding, we find certain provisions of two executive orders, as applied to defendant, violate his fundamental right to exercise religion, do not survive strict scrutiny, and are thus unconstitutional.”

Attorney General Landry praised the majority for upholding the constitutionally-protected right to worship.

“Once again, this governor’s overreach has been defeated in court. While it is unfortunate that it took almost two years, I am appreciative that John Bel’s unconstitutional actions have been halted by the court. This is a victory for the separation of powers and our free exercise clause. What’s more: it is a great highlight of John Bel’s hypocrisy — punishing prayer service but not food service at a mall.”

(Excerpt) Read more at currently.att.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 05/21/2022 7:14:39 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Excellent. Thanks to God.


2 posted on 05/21/2022 7:25:27 PM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: marshmallow

Punishing Church services
But Not Food services at a Mall!-—
The Next ‘Go Around’ should be a Big Change!!!


3 posted on 05/21/2022 7:27:43 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (We Are JONAH)
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To: marshmallow

Hopefully next time

The church as a whole will not be so easily stomped.

Most churches are still recovering at least in the harsher states. Mine is 1/3 of what it once was.

Now I know of no one who left the Faith. But they moved out of state or switched churches due to the fear and disobedience, imo, of the church locking its doors.

A great sifting. Our leaders repented thankfully. Not until after a lot of damage was done.


4 posted on 05/21/2022 7:32:40 PM PDT by Persevero (You cannot comply your way out of tyranny. )
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To: Big Red Badger

Freedom of religion? What’ll they think of next?


5 posted on 05/21/2022 7:32:42 PM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: marshmallow

My church had attendance reduced by 1/3, now it is back to what it was pre Covid19.


6 posted on 05/21/2022 8:11:16 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marshmallow

Only one church stayed open the whole time where I live. The authorities left them alone. In the surrounding towns in my area, the local police didn’t enforce none of it. The Governor had to use the state police


7 posted on 05/21/2022 8:30:20 PM PDT by roving
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To: marshmallow
There is a large congregation in my hood (Texas y’all) that never closed during the China Virus scare….World Mission Society Assembly Of God.

No one bothered them.

Not even Judge Clay Jenkins could touch them.

8 posted on 05/21/2022 8:47:34 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: ViLaLuz

yes. Praise God!


9 posted on 05/21/2022 11:26:16 PM PDT by dadfly
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To: Deaf Smith; marshmallow

A number of IDF Baptists as well...

Governor Johnathan BAAL Edwards, it should read, methinks.


10 posted on 05/22/2022 12:09:02 AM PDT by Norski (Revelation 22:20)
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To: marshmallow
So, what happens to the Governor now for these tyrannical acts?

No need to answer.

11 posted on 05/22/2022 4:38:55 AM PDT by disclaimer
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