Despite coronavirus concerns, worshippers gather at Orlando church under statewide exemption

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Standing on stage in front of a green “welcome” screen, Pastor Rich Vera preached to a crowd gathered on Palm Sunday at The Center Arena in Orlando.

Many worship centers in Central Florida have been live-streaming or pre-recording religious services during the last few weeks in response to social distancing guidelines meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

But Vera has kept the church on south Hiawassee Road open since before Gov. Ron DeSantis and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings each issued a stay at home order that exempted religious services.

“This is not a time to hide, this is not a time to chicken out and this is not a time to listen to online sermons only,” Vera told a crowd Sunday morning. “This is a time to gather together in his presence.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/despite-coronavirus-concerns-worshippers-gather-at-orlando-church-under-statewide-exemption/ar-BB12czmp?li=BBnb7Kz

Louisiana church holds services, defying coronavirus stay-at-home order

CENTRAL, La. (Reuters) - The pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge held services on Sunday in defiance of a stay-at-home order issued by Louisiana because of the coronavirus pandemic, telling worshippers they had "nothing to fear but fear itself."

Pastor Tony Spell, who was arrested last week for holding services, summoned his faithful again, three weeks after the state's governor, John Bel Edwards, banned gatherings of 10 people or more.

Hundreds of worshippers, about half of them black and half white, converged on the church, many arriving in 26 buses sent to pick them up. Everyone but immediate family members kept a social distance of at least six feet, a lawyer for the pastor said.

"They would rather come to church and worship like free people than live like prisoners in their homes," Spell told reporters.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-church-holds-services-defying-coronavirus-stay-at-home-order/ar-BB12c12s?li=BBnb7Kz

[Jamastiene]

1. Those selfish assholes will be the death of us all in the end. n/t

[Phoenix61]

2. Just read a DU post about empathy. This shit

is why I don’t have any for some folks.

[genxlib]

3. It begs the question...

If a person were tested positive and hacking up a lung, would they be welcome at your service? How about if they wanted to request a special laying on of hands for healing specifically from these pastors?

If the answer is "NO" then you are a fucking hypocrite AND ignorant of the fact that any of those healthy looking people could be just as deadly to you and your flock.

If the answer is "YES" then you are a fucking idiot.

[CaptainTruth]

4. Ok, quarantine them all in the church for a 14-day worship service.

[uponit7771]

9. +1, that would be fair too. Can you imagine what FL will look like after a month? It took 30 days ..

... for the massive effects of Mardi Gras to show up in NOLA and they're being face mashed with patients now.

There were a lot of patients that carried what they have back to home towns.

TRUMP / PENCE 2020 ".. there will be a lot of death"

[shanti]

5. Happened with a church here too

in Sacramento. They closed it down, but the mainly immigrant Slavic congregants just got together in small groups in their homes. And spread the virus.

[dawg]

6. Being a Christian these days is like loving a totally awesome rock band ...

that has a huge fanbase that is largely toxic and impossible to be around.

I'd love to go see 'em play live, but ... yeah ... I think I'll just stick to listening to my albums at home.

(Great band, though. Not their fault so many of their fans are assholes.)

[DBoon]

7. Lemmings

(yes I know lemmings don't really commit mass suicide, but it is a good metaphor)

[Takket]

8. I assume by "gather in his presence"

He means the afterlife? If so several of them will be there pretty soon

[Squinch]

11. I think it has more to do with the collection basket than everlasting life.

In "his presence" the "his" refers to the guy who passes the plate.

[TheBlackAdder]

10. Any Fish, Jesus or Christ in Christmas stickers should be treated equally to a biohazard☣️ warning!

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