Court halts ban on mass gatherings at Kentucky churches

[babylonsister]

I can't even...


Court halts ban on mass gatherings at Kentucky churches
Two other federal judges had previously ruled the Kentucky governor’s temporary ban on mass gatherings constitutional.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
05/09/2020 01:18 PM EDT


FRANKFORT, Ky. — A federal court halted the Kentucky governor’s temporary ban on mass gatherings from applying to in-person religious services, clearing the way for Sunday church services.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove on Friday issued a temporary restraining order enjoining Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration from enforcing the ban on mass gatherings at “any in-person religious service which adheres to applicable social distancing and hygiene guidelines.”

The ruling from the Eastern District of Kentucky sided with the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Nicholasville, but applies to all places of worship around the commonwealth. Two other federal judges, including U.S. District Judge David Hale, had previously ruled the ban was constitutional. But also on Friday, Hale, of Kentucky’s western district, granted Maryville Baptist Church an injunction allowing in-person services at that specific church, provided it abide by public health requirements.

Exceptions to the Democratic governor’s shutdown order include trips to the grocery store, bank, pharmacy and hardware store. Beshear had previously announced that places of worship in Kentucky will be able to once again hold in-person services starting May 20, as part of a broader plan to gradually reopen the state’s economy. Earlier Friday, he outlined requirements for places of worship to reopen, including limiting attendance at in-person services to 33% of building occupancy capacity and maintaining 6 feet of distance between household units.

The federal judge’s order in the Tabernacle Baptist Church case said Beshear had “an honest motive” in wanting to safeguard Kentuckians’ health and lives, but didn’t provide “a compelling reason for using his authority to limit a citizen’s right to freely exercise something we value greatly — the right of every American to follow their conscience on matters related to religion.”

more...

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/09/kentucky-court-halts-ban-on-church-gatherings-245960

[paleotn]

1. "didn't provide a compelling reason"

Not having god botherers kill themselves, and more importantly, spread a deadly virus to innocent people. Hows that for a compelling reason?

Tabernacle Baptist Church really is a death cult.

[AirmensMom]

2. JFC!

Haven't the religious nuts caused enough harm to our country? It's not like they'll ONLY go to church. They'll still be in the community, infecting everyone who actually needs to go somewhere. SMDH

[babylonsister]

3. I'm appalled, too. nt

[sanatanadharma]

4. River bank funneral fires. Dusk, burn the dead, stir the ashes, pass the hashish, wrapped in dust

When I die, I am taking my case to the Supreme Court if needed.

I demand my unfettered right to my religious rite to be cremated on an open pyre at the bank of the town's river in a proper Hindu send-off of the empty shell.
No one will have standing to complain about my lying on my pyre, ashes and smoke blowing in the wind.
"But health concerns..." will no longer carry weight, not providing "a compelling reason ... to limit a citizen’s right to freely exercise ... the right of every American to follow their conscience on matters related to religion."

BTW, my ashes are to scattered upon the rivers' water. (Not a typo, an intellectual truth)

"The federal judge’s order in the Tabernacle Baptist Church case said Beshear had “an honest motive” in wanting to safeguard Kentuckians’ health and lives, but didn’t provide “a compelling reason for using his authority to limit a citizen’s right to freely exercise something we value greatly — the right of every American to follow their conscience on matters related to religion.”
My emphasis added

[Corgigal]

5. I also value greatly

not having rna viruses enter my respiratory track.

Church, not so much. I’ll state home, they will start falling out in a few days.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. Allowed mass church gatherings will include funerals.

KY.......

[babylonsister]

7. That is how everyone in Albany, GA, got sick/died.

Church and funerals.

[Celerity]

8. religion is death

[Goodheart]

9. A pandemic is not a compelling reason?

What a fucking idiot.

How is it that CURFEWS are constitutional but this is not, according to this asshole? Is the freedom of assembly less a freedom than that of religion?

These Jesus fucks will be the death of us.

[PJMcK]

10. Here we go!

These Red States will reopen without proper protections and they will be hammered by the virus. Since those States' healthcare programs and facilities are not adequate to the demands they will face, these people are going to face a very dire future.

Elections have consequences.