Pastor defies governor's orders on coronavirus

The Rev. Tony Spell says police showed up at Life Tabernacle Church after the service telling him the National Guard would break up any future services with more than 50 people gathered. Spell says 305 people attended the service.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has issued a proclamation limiting meetings of more than 50 people at any one time, including in houses of worship. President Donald Trump has recommended no groups larger than 10.

Spell says he does not believe his congregation is at risk of getting COVID-19.

“We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”



It's absolutely ignorant, potentially fueling the spread of coronavirus. Claiming religious freedom is just irresponsible; is this also criminally negligent behavior?

Louisiana has twice as many coronavirus cases identified (196) as neighboring Texas (101), with almost all of them in NOLA/Baton Rouge. People in NOLA have been refusing to shut down the party.

No.

IMHO

the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

(03-18-2020 10:54 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

True, no one forced anyone to attend. And of course I'm not an attorney or law enforcement and don't know whether it's actually criminal. Just frustrating to see the massive efforts to combat the spread coronavirus thwarted by folks that want to show they're "rebels".

Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea...

No, absolutely not.

Doesn't mean its a good idea.

(03-18-2020 11:43 AM)TheOrigamiJimmyChin Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 10:54 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

True, no one forced anyone to attend. And of course I'm not an attorney or law enforcement and don't know whether it's actually criminal. Just frustrating to see the massive efforts to combat the spread coronavirus thwarted by folks that want to show they're "rebels".

Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea...

So tell me, how many times have you or your wife/husband/partner, been in a store in the last week? You dont think 300 people walked through that same door in a hour or so? Why is your need to wipe your ass greater than those peoples need? I'm not that religious, but some people are, its the most important thing in their life. Why do you get to choose for those people. While you walk into a Walmart to get TP to wipe your ass? So to me the 'rebel' is not the ones showing up in that church. Those people have beliefs in their God, that is a greater need to them. Than you wiping your ass or drinking that case of beer that you breathed in air from 100s while walking through the door, to get it.

I bought TP today..

BEARS SHITE IN THE WOODS

The Governor of KY has shut down just about all small businesses but the Corvette plant is still up and running....900 showing up each day. At some point all 900 is going to be breathing the same air and touching the same thing...twice a day.

Why are those 900 people who's building a car that only a few can afford to buy....get to keep working, gathering, breathing on each other? Is the need to build the car greater than the need of those who want to gather and worship their God?

(03-18-2020 11:58 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 11:43 AM)TheOrigamiJimmyChin Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 10:54 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

True, no one forced anyone to attend. And of course I'm not an attorney or law enforcement and don't know whether it's actually criminal. Just frustrating to see the massive efforts to combat the spread coronavirus thwarted by folks that want to show they're "rebels".

Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea...

So tell me, how many times have you or your wife/husband/partner, been in a store in the last week? You dont think 300 people walked through that same door in a hour or so? Why is your need to wipe your ass greater than those peoples need? I'm not that religious, but some people are, its the most important thing in their life. Why do you get to choose for those people. While you walk into a Walmart to get TP to wipe your ass? So to me the 'rebel' is not the ones showing up in that church. Those people have beliefs in their God, that is a greater need to them. Than you wiping your ass or drinking that case of beer that you breathed in air from 100s while walking through the door, to get it.

I've been to the store twice in the last week to get food, which is a necessity to survive. (Not for TP either, BTW ).

Beyond the trips to the store, in the last 10 days I also went to get gas, picked up prescriptions from drive thru (trying to minimize contact), picked up checks from the mailbox (I did touch a door handle), and went to bank drive thru to deposit checks to keep my business running and pay staff. Trying to isolate at home as much as possible, but there are obviously a few necessary departures to survive. The less I go into public, the less exposure I have to picking up the virus, and if I'm somehow unknowingly carrying the virus, the less chance I will transmit it.

On the other hand, it's not a necessity to go to church to survive. I'm not diminishing religion or the need for religion, just saying that you can connect with your God without being in a specific building. Many churches are broadcasting services online, but even if yours doesn't you can pray, you can read the Bible without packing into a church with hundreds of others.

I understand there are risks involved in living, but for the time being I'm minimizing exposure. Medical experts and the President after also recommending the same. Out of love for my wife, and love for my fellow American citizens, I'm following those recommendations to slow the spread of the virus. It's my patriotic duty.

Where in the constitution does the government have this power. Doesn't the 1st amendment guarantee free assembly? Wake up America!

So apparently it is criminal. Police chief says Spell was arrested Tuesday (he actually was charged and fingerprinted but not jailed).

But the preacher still held services Tuesday night. With sheriff's deputies observing, for "traffic management".

The best/worst part of the story are the numbers of observers and protestors that showed up. So protestors gathered to protest the church's continued gatherings?

Like they say, Louisiana's a whole different country...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theadvo...b.amp.html

This is a free country.

I personally wouldn't attend a service in person during this craziness... but everybody in this country is free to make their own choices.

(03-18-2020 03:32 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Where in the constitution does the government have this power. Doesn't the 1st amendment guarantee free assembly? Wake up America!

Your constitutional rights have temporarily been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. It may sounds like I'm kidding, but it's actually reality.

In Florida and most states, trials have been suspended (including your right to a speedy trial), almost all types of court hearings are suspended. Your rights to freely assemble have been suspended as well.

(03-18-2020 12:24 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  The Governor of KY has shut down just about all small businesses but the Corvette plant is still up and running....900 showing up each day. At some point all 900 is going to be breathing the same air and touching the same thing...twice a day.

Why are those 900 people who's building a car that only a few can afford to buy....get to keep working, gathering, breathing on each other? Is the need to build the car greater than the need of those who want to gather and worship their God?

If it’s a Vette?


Uhhhh, maybe?!?

Many congregations tend to trend older. So while I wouldn't call this criminal activity, it is absolutely irresponsible and church leaders shouldn't be dismissing the risks. Taking these kinds of chances could very well end up in the death of 1 or more members of your congregation. That's not right.

I get that not all churches can go online like mine can. But scripture does talk about obeying the laws of the land too. There has to be a creative way that even technologically limited congregations can distance themselves while not isolating themselves from each other.

(04-01-2020 09:07 AM)Jugnaut Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 03:32 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Where in the constitution does the government have this power. Doesn't the 1st amendment guarantee free assembly? Wake up America!

Your constitutional rights have temporarily been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. It may sounds like I'm kidding, but it's actually reality.

In Florida and most states, trials have been suspended (including your right to a speedy trial), almost all types of court hearings are suspended. Your rights to freely assemble have been suspended as well.

(03-18-2020 11:58 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 11:43 AM)TheOrigamiJimmyChin Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 10:54 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

True, no one forced anyone to attend. And of course I'm not an attorney or law enforcement and don't know whether it's actually criminal. Just frustrating to see the massive efforts to combat the spread coronavirus thwarted by folks that want to show they're "rebels".

Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea...

So tell me, how many times have you or your wife/husband/partner, been in a store in the last week? You dont think 300 people walked through that same door in a hour or so? Why is your need to wipe your ass greater than those peoples need? I'm not that religious, but some people are, its the most important thing in their life. Why do you get to choose for those people. While you walk into a Walmart to get TP to wipe your ass? So to me the 'rebel' is not the ones showing up in that church. Those people have beliefs in their God, that is a greater need to them. Than you wiping your ass or drinking that case of beer that you breathed in air from 100s while walking through the door, to get it.

But it's not about 3,000 people over a 24 hour period... It's about large numbers of people in close proximity.

In a living room, even 10 people can be 'too much', whereas in a football stadium, no problem.

If these churches normally hold 3,000 and 300 show up and sit apart (or in family clusters) then no issue. If they normally hold 50 and 50 show up it's a problem.

Stupidity does not equal negligence.

(04-01-2020 09:28 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 11:58 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 11:43 AM)TheOrigamiJimmyChin Wrote:  

(03-18-2020 10:54 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  the specific risk I've been talking about

criminal though? no. everypne there has chosen to be there

True, no one forced anyone to attend. And of course I'm not an attorney or law enforcement and don't know whether it's actually criminal. Just frustrating to see the massive efforts to combat the spread coronavirus thwarted by folks that want to show they're "rebels".

Just because you can doesn't mean it's a good idea...

So tell me, how many times have you or your wife/husband/partner, been in a store in the last week? You dont think 300 people walked through that same door in a hour or so? Why is your need to wipe your ass greater than those peoples need? I'm not that religious, but some people are, its the most important thing in their life. Why do you get to choose for those people. While you walk into a Walmart to get TP to wipe your ass? So to me the 'rebel' is not the ones showing up in that church. Those people have beliefs in their God, that is a greater need to them. Than you wiping your ass or drinking that case of beer that you breathed in air from 100s while walking through the door, to get it.

But it's not about 3,000 people over a 24 hour period... It's about large numbers of people in close proximity.

In a living room, even 10 people can be 'too much', whereas in a football stadium, no problem.

If these churches normally hold 3,000 and 300 show up and sit apart (or in family clusters) then no issue. If they normally hold 50 and 50 show up it's a problem.

Well it is a Pentacostal church, so even if an infected person attends, they can just get miraculously healed! (<---those are coffee mugs, not beers)

Once your rights are taken, they are rarely given back, and makes it easier to remove other rights in the future.