On Tuesday police in suburban Baton Rouge, Louisiana, issued Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church a misdemeanor summons for six counts of violating the governor’s executive order barring large gatherings.
“Mr. Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community,” Corcoran added.
“We have not broken any law. We will not break any law,” Spell said.
“We will continue to have church,” he continued. “This is a government overreach. They are asking us as a government to stop practicing our freedom of religion. And we have a mandate from God to assemble and to gather together and to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Since President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, most churches, mosques, synagogues and temples have temporarily shut down.
But there have been a few outliers.
Howard-Browne’s attorney says the church abided by social distancing guidelines and accused local lawmakers with infringing upon his religious liberty.
Spell said his Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, drew about 1,000 people to its services on March 22, in part by busing people in from across five parishes. He also has been holding services at the church on Tuesdays.
Spell has told CNN he believes the pandemic is “politically motivated.”
He also told CNN several members of his congregation have been suspended from their jobs after their employers saw videos of them worshiping at Spell’s church and were concerned about the spread of the coronavirus.
Corcoran said numerous officials, including the sheriff, state police, fire marshal and an evangelical adviser to the White House have all tried to persuade Spell to close his doors over the past two weeks.
But “Spell made his intentions to continue to violate the law clear,” Corcoran said.
“This is not an issue over religious liberty, and it’s not about politics,” the police chief added. “We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community’s leaders to set a positive example and follow the law.”
Source : CNN