Federal Judge Says North Carolina Churches Can Hold Services Indoors
The Latest:
A federal judge has issued a temporary order blocking Governor Cooper’s executive order, which prohibited churches from holding worship services indoors.
Governor Cooper’s office released the following statement saying the governor will not appeal the decision:
βWe donβt want indoor meetings to become hotspots for the virus and our health experts continue to warn that large groups sitting together inside for long periods of time are much more likely to cause the spread of COVID-19. While our office disagrees with the decision, we will not appeal, but instead urge houses of worship and their leaders to voluntarily follow public health guidance to keep their members safe.”
The temporary restraining order will last for at least 14 days.
Original Story:
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β Conservative Christian leaders sued Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday, asking a court to throw out his restrictions on indoor religious services in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argued the limits, initiated by Cooper with health in mind, violate their rights to worship freely.
Two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed the federal lawsuit seeking to immediately block enforcement of rules covering religious services within the Democratic governorβs executive orders. The latest order still largely prevents most faith organizations from holding indoor services attended by more than 10 people.
Cooperβs office has said the newest order stating permitted services may βtake place outdoors unless impossibleβ carries only a narrow exception, such as when religious activities dictate they occur indoors with more people.
Those backing the lawsuit in Greenville federal court said the restrictions violate the First Amendment and treat churches differently from retailers and other secular activities. Under the first step of Cooperβs three-phase plan for reopening now underway, most businesses can open doors provided the number of people inside doesnβt exceed 50% of the buildingβs fire code capacity.
βFreedoms curbed eventually becomes no freedom at all,β the Rev. Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, said at a rally of roughly 500 people next to the Legislative Building. Baity, who is a plaintiff along with Berean Baptist and the Return America group he leads, said the use of church buildings have been an integral part of U.S. history for centuries: βIf thereβs ever been a time our communities need the church, it is now.β
Cooper, a routine churchgoer, said later Thursday that he hadnβt read the lawsuit. He said his orders βhave been drawn carefully to recognize First Amendment protectionsβ and will ultimately end.
The governor and health department Secretary Mandy Cohen have said that churches and retailers are different: while store patrons walk up and down aisles, churchgoers usually sit down for long periods of time, which make them more susceptible to spread or catch the new coronavirus. Some local sheriffs have said they wonβt cite churches for holding indoor services.
βLetβs look at the bottom line here: We donβt want our churches to become hot spots for this virus,β Cooper told reporters, adding he recognizes the importance of faith and fellowship during times of crisis. But βwe hope that congregations across North Carolina will talk with their leaders and will make good decisions about what is right to look after each other.β
North Carolina health officials reported more than 16,500 people have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday morning with 615 related deaths. Cohen said the nearly 700-case jump compared to Wednesday is the largest day-over-day increase.
Still, Cohen said Thursday that case and testing trends remain largely stable but that more data is needed in the coming days before deciding whether looser restrictions could begin as soon as May 22. The second phase could allow for more church gatherings and the limited opening of restaurants, barbershops and salons and neighborhood pools. Restaurants can currently offer drive-in food.
Many congregations have been holding online services or virtual Bible studies to comply with Cooperβs rules and believe itβs important to continue this way longer.
βRight now, we love our neighbors best by keeping our distance from them,β said Jennifer Copeland with the North Carolina Council of Churches, whose membership includes mainline Protestant denominations. βThe ability of people of faith to praise God and nurture their faith is not limited to sitting together in a sanctuary.β
Others say itβs time to gather indoors in person. Based on Cooperβs latest order, Baileyβs Grove Baptist Church in Asheboro held an outdoor service last Sunday with members sitting in chairs adequately separated in the parking lot, said the Rev. Jon Shook, the pastor. Shook, who attended the rally, said churches can certainly meet sanitation standards of businesses that are open.
βIf a 16-year-old gives out a hamburger at McDonaldβs and is qualified to give me a Happy Meal, then a pastor can certainly have the wisdom and discretion to give out the Lordβs Supper in a safe manner,β Shook said. Very few people at Thursdayβs rally wore face masks.
The lawsuit marks the latest dust-up among conservatives and Republican elected officials who are unhappy with the pace of Cooperβs reopening when compared to other Southeastern states. One of Cooperβs loudest critics is Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who is challenging him in the fall election.
