Calvary Chapel pastor Ken Graves leads a recent drive-in service in Orrington. (BDN) BANGOR (BDN) — A federal judge on Saturday ruled that Gov. Janet Mills’ prohibition on in-person worship services does not violate the First Amendment. Calvary Chapel in Orrington and its pastor, Ken Graves, sued the governor in U.S. District Court in Bangor. The lawsuit alleged that Mills’ order violated the freedom of religion and assembly clauses of the First Amendment and other laws designed to protect houses of worship. It sought a temporary restraining order that would allow Calvary Chapel in-person services beginning Sunday and a permanent injunction to allow all congregations to worship as they did before the shutdown orders were imposed. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen in her 23-page ruling found, as have the vast majority of federal judges who ruled in similar cases, that prohibiting in-person worship services was in the public interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Religious gatherings, on the other hand, are more akin to restaurants, entertainment venues, movie theaters, and schools, all of which face the same restrictions as [Calvary Chapel],” the judge said. Attorneys for the church argued that the religious activities were as essential as shopping but […]
