"This has caused many to ask: where do you draw the line between health regulations and religious freedom?"- Prophet Ogbebor, 10th grade
For millions all over the world, life changed dramatically when Coronavirus hit. With the closing of shops, schools, and jobs, due to a global mandate telling everyone to quarantine. Leaving many with nothing to turn to besides their faith. But what happens when even that becomes prohibited? This March, along with other gathering restrictions, churches were banned from physically gathering. Some agreed that this decision was the best way to slow the spread of the virus.
This was not an easy law to enforce, as many pastors refused to close their church to followers determined to attend. Many felt the closing of church was unfair and could be disobeyed, because it was attacking their civil liberty, and that they would rather listen to their God, rather than scientists that may or may not have the answer. But where safety comes in with a ominous disease in the air, the government is supposed to protect the wellbeing of the people at all costs—even if that means imposing on someone's religious freedom. This has caused many to ask: where do you draw the line between health regulations and religious freedom?
2020 has been a hard year for everyone, with hardly anyone being allowed to even leave their homes.. It comes as no surprise that a church would be one of the first places to be ordered to close down, as it is a big gathering space where people tend to be close and interact with each other. That the government sees it as a breeding ground for covid 19 also isn’t surprising, since every place with massive social interactions could be considered the same. It is well in the US government's right to close down a church if they feel it is unsafe for the people. As churches tend to serve as a place of community and togetherness which is what the US government is trying not to infringe on yet wanting it to be in a safe way such as non physical.
However, Michael Moreland, Director of the Ellen H. Mcullen Center for Law, Religion, and Public Policy at Villanova University, says “as long as regulations are reasonable and applied equally across all religious groups and other types of organizations, policies don’t violate religious freedom laws if they’re created in order to save people’s lives.” But the government has to recognize the specialties in certain establishments, meaning not every establishment is the same being they hold different meanings and light. For example supermarkets which are often used in debates on whether a shopping market which is considered an essential establishment because people need to get food, is allowed to stay open over a church which is also an essential established because it someone's right to practice religious freedom in the US. Why are churches made to close when some might view their faith as being fed certain essential establishments more likely to be open then others.
Although they are both sides to the debate, it is in the US law that no type of government will interfere in the practices of any religion. To which many are saying, that the government has overstepped their boundary and interfered with their religious practice. Pastor Jack Moline of Interfaith Church said that “it’s still wise for government officials to recognize the unique nature of religious institutions work and try to be sensitive to their concerns.” These laws are very specific, as it does not provoke the attack of any religion, it is well in their rights to mandate the rules of a specific area or governing of these people in a public space.” When asked about this Moreland said, “ States have… the power to enact regulations that are necessary for public safety.” So to clarify the government is standing on which is the law, they are without power of enacting any form of religious force but they have the right to enact regulations against public settings. So even though supermarkets are essential establishments, supermarkets are left open because people can not go a substantial amount of time without a supermarket. But for a church, a worship home is not deemed as an emergency space by law and so the government feels that the amount of time this establishment is closed won’t affect the certainty of survival.
But this is from the standpoint of the law, many Christian believe strongly in their faith to see them through these hard times. Reverend Jamal of Seven Street church said “Coronavirus is the death of us, if we don’t heed God's warning.” Many Christians see it as a sign from God that humans were being punished for their sins and that their last days are upon them. Leading many christian to heed their pastors and stay in church so that they may remain together and figure this all out.
“This pandemic was promised in the Bible as the coming day, this is our worship home, we need to be united and strong against the enemy and that starts with keeping the doors of our church home open,” said Rv Jamal, who like so many other pastors, rebutted the claim to close churching saying it was well into their right to keep them open. Even if it meant facing fines. Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Texas, was one of the first public religious leaders to not only speak on the Coronavirus but shut down his megachurch and go virtual. Which have proved to be very joyous events, with many tuning in to Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church.
With many views on this everyone has they’re own perspectives should be respected, because at the end we're all just trying to figure this pandemic out and come together during these challenging times.
This was not an easy law to enforce, as many pastors refused to close their church to followers determined to attend. Many felt the closing of church was unfair and could be disobeyed, because it was attacking their civil liberty, and that they would rather listen to their God, rather than scientists that may or may not have the answer. But where safety comes in with a ominous disease in the air, the government is supposed to protect the wellbeing of the people at all costs—even if that means imposing on someone's religious freedom. This has caused many to ask: where do you draw the line between health regulations and religious freedom?
2020 has been a hard year for everyone, with hardly anyone being allowed to even leave their homes.. It comes as no surprise that a church would be one of the first places to be ordered to close down, as it is a big gathering space where people tend to be close and interact with each other. That the government sees it as a breeding ground for covid 19 also isn’t surprising, since every place with massive social interactions could be considered the same. It is well in the US government's right to close down a church if they feel it is unsafe for the people. As churches tend to serve as a place of community and togetherness which is what the US government is trying not to infringe on yet wanting it to be in a safe way such as non physical.
However, Michael Moreland, Director of the Ellen H. Mcullen Center for Law, Religion, and Public Policy at Villanova University, says “as long as regulations are reasonable and applied equally across all religious groups and other types of organizations, policies don’t violate religious freedom laws if they’re created in order to save people’s lives.” But the government has to recognize the specialties in certain establishments, meaning not every establishment is the same being they hold different meanings and light. For example supermarkets which are often used in debates on whether a shopping market which is considered an essential establishment because people need to get food, is allowed to stay open over a church which is also an essential established because it someone's right to practice religious freedom in the US. Why are churches made to close when some might view their faith as being fed certain essential establishments more likely to be open then others.
Although they are both sides to the debate, it is in the US law that no type of government will interfere in the practices of any religion. To which many are saying, that the government has overstepped their boundary and interfered with their religious practice. Pastor Jack Moline of Interfaith Church said that “it’s still wise for government officials to recognize the unique nature of religious institutions work and try to be sensitive to their concerns.” These laws are very specific, as it does not provoke the attack of any religion, it is well in their rights to mandate the rules of a specific area or governing of these people in a public space.” When asked about this Moreland said, “ States have… the power to enact regulations that are necessary for public safety.” So to clarify the government is standing on which is the law, they are without power of enacting any form of religious force but they have the right to enact regulations against public settings. So even though supermarkets are essential establishments, supermarkets are left open because people can not go a substantial amount of time without a supermarket. But for a church, a worship home is not deemed as an emergency space by law and so the government feels that the amount of time this establishment is closed won’t affect the certainty of survival.
But this is from the standpoint of the law, many Christian believe strongly in their faith to see them through these hard times. Reverend Jamal of Seven Street church said “Coronavirus is the death of us, if we don’t heed God's warning.” Many Christians see it as a sign from God that humans were being punished for their sins and that their last days are upon them. Leading many christian to heed their pastors and stay in church so that they may remain together and figure this all out.
“This pandemic was promised in the Bible as the coming day, this is our worship home, we need to be united and strong against the enemy and that starts with keeping the doors of our church home open,” said Rv Jamal, who like so many other pastors, rebutted the claim to close churching saying it was well into their right to keep them open. Even if it meant facing fines. Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Texas, was one of the first public religious leaders to not only speak on the Coronavirus but shut down his megachurch and go virtual. Which have proved to be very joyous events, with many tuning in to Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church.
With many views on this everyone has they’re own perspectives should be respected, because at the end we're all just trying to figure this pandemic out and come together during these challenging times.
