A federal judge ruled Friday that the First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs Mississippi may stay open for drive-in services, after police issued the pastor a citation, for holding Easter services amid the coronavirus outbreak.
U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills issued the order after the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm, filed a federalThe Thomas More Society claimed police had also disrupted a Bible study group 10 days after issuing the citation to Pastor Jerry Waldrop.
“These were outrageous violations of these parishioners’ rights,” Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Stephen Crampton said in a statement. “On both occasions, Holly Springs law enforcement personnel ignored the fact that all church members present were practicing social distancing and complying with all applicable health requirements. Bible study attendees were threatened with criminal citations for violation of Holly Springs’ Stay Home Order.
He added: “Due to the threats and the citation of Pastor Waldrop, the church members were fearful of holding services on Sunday and exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”The complaint cited several secular gatherings that exceeded 10 people at the local Walmart and Cash Saver stores, claiming there was a double standard being applied to houses of worship that was stifling religious liberty.
The court said it “acknowledges that the First Amendment guarantee of the Free Exercise of religion is one of the most important ones set forth in the Bill of Rights, and, without question, it grants the Church, in this case, the right to assert certain rights which, say, a barbershop would have no right to assert.”This news comes less than two weeks after the Department of Justice In the statement of interest obtained exclusively by Fox News last Tuesday, the Justice Department said the U.S.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pastor Spell On House Arrest After Playing Coy About Holding ServiceIf Tony breaks his house arrest by holding church service, he'll almost certainly be taken back to jail.
Read more »
Facebook’s $5 Billion Privacy Settlement Wins Court ApprovalA judge approved Facebook Inc.’s $5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over privacy violations, the agency says—overruling objections that the deal didn’t adequately punish the company.
Read more »
I Conducted a Funeral Service All Alone“Oh, one member died this week. One. But [burying him] was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever done. I was a filmmaker while I was burying him. I kept asking them, ‘Can you see? Is this what you want to be seeing?’”
Read more »
Judge blocks California law requiring background checks to buy ammo'California’s new ammunition background check law misfires,' wrote U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez.
Read more »
Federal judge blocks California's ammunition purchase lawU.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego ruled in favor of the California Rifle & Pistol Assn., which asked him to stop the checks and related restrictions on ammo sales.
Read more »