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.
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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.
