On Fire Christian Church has moved services outdoors, offering a drive-in fellowship, so the congregation may worship while social distancing. Louisville Courier Journal Case law as well as state statutes leave religious liberty well protected. Public officials should take note before regulating church services. U.S. District Judge Justin Walker of the Eastern District of Kentucky granted a Louisville church’s request for a temporary restraining order the day before Easter when the church filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Mayor Greg Fischer’s shelter-in-place order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Fischer’s order, like its equivalents across the country, distinguished between essential and nonessential services and closed nonessential businesses throughout the city. The plaintiff church wanted to conduct “drive-up” Easter services in vacant parking lots where parishioners would remain in their cars. Its lawsuit argued that enforcement of Louisville’s order would burden its members’ First Amendment rights to freely exercise their religion. Walker considered a number of factors that guided him to his decision to grant the temporary restraining order. The church was treated unfairly, judge says The Brown Memorial CME Church has a sign out front announcing that building is closed to worship due to the coronavirus pandemic in […]
