Pastor Jerel Hagerman conducts a drive-in “car church” Easter service in the parking lot of Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 12, 2020 in Yucca Valley, California. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial . A federal judge on Saturday issued a temporary order blocking a Kansas measure that limited church gatherings to 10 or fewer people as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus . U.S. District Judge John Broomes in Wichita said that he believes the order violates religious freedom and the right to free speech. That means religious congregations will be able to hold services in the state as long as everyone observes social distancing at least until May 2 . Broomes issued the ruling after hearing arguments for around 75 minutes on Friday. A key to Broomes’ ruling is that he believes religious services “have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment” and that can’t be justified. “Plaintiffs have made a sufficient showing that a live controversy exists as to whether the Governor’s current restrictions on religious activity … violate Plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to […]
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