Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
In March 2020, state and local governments across the country handed down restrictions on mass gatherings. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, states like Kentucky banned in-person church attendance.
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, for example, issued an executive order to that effect. Maryville Baptist Church filed a lawsuit in May 2020. The church had violated the governor’s order and held services on Easter Sunday. Congregants found that the police had left notices on their cars ordering them to quarantine for 14 days. Three individuals filed a lawsuit against the state.
Daniel Cameron, the state’s attorney general, filed a brief in support of the church. He said in a statement that other states “have narrowly tailored their orders to protect the First Amendment rights of citizens while also discouraging the spread of COVID-19. Governor Beshear’s unnecessarily broad orders fail to strike this important balance.”
A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted a temporary injunction in the case, stopping the state from enforcing the order against Maryville Baptist Church. The panel ruled that the order violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment.
A lower court ordered Gov. Beshear to pay attorney’s fees for the three individuals who filed a lawsuit. He appealed, and a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit last week ordered (PDF) him to pay $272,000.
I’m a Kentuckian by birth n a Twice-born Christ-follower by 2nd birth. Gov Beshear is a very unbiblical professing “Christian”. He is a Disciple of Christ denominational member I read and unfortunately that group has a number of Biblically ignorant identifiers and their lack of doctrinal clarity leads to error in both belief n practice unto issues attacking King Yeshuas church today. PTL for AG Cameron! Imho, to still be a Romans 1 warned demoncRAT in these days is paramount to serving Nero again.