Jim Bratten
When American society needs God the most, how can it be that churches and synagogues in America are ordered closed?
The easy, constitutional answer is that, in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, “prohibiting the free exercise thereof” refers to religion. Your right to worship is the very first and most important right given to you by God and government cannot abridge it or impede its practice.
Even in the case of a disease pandemic such as the current coronavirus threat, government can recommend safe measures or practices in a place of worship, but it doesn’t have the force of law to stop a citizen from practicing their faith, particularly at Easter for Christians or during Passover for Jews.
This past week Texas Governor Greg Abbot added to his list of “essential services.” His list now includes “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.” His announcement stressed that social distancing and crowd size limits set by the federal government would remain in effect.
That followed Governor Ron DeSantis’ declaration in his state of Florida, that “attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship” is considered an essential activity. DeSantis also emphasized the federal social distancing and crowd size rules.
Last Thursday at a press conference, the Florida governor told reporters that government holds no authority to close churches or other houses of worship, and stated the critical role they play “in times like this.” DeSantis knows that his authority has boundaries.
Not so lucky are believers in New York City, whose mayor, Bill de Blasio, warned churches against opening their doors and threatened permanent shut-down if they refused to comply. De Blasio said his city investigators will “inform church leaders that they need to stop the services and disperse.” Churches that defy the order will face “additional action up to the point of fines and closing the building permanently.”
What de Blasio did is unconstitutional. He will probably find that out in a court of law.
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