State says ban on in-person church services is constitutional [View all]
Attorneys for Gov. Janet Mills on Friday said that her prohibition on in-person worship services do not violate the Constitution in light of the current health crisis as an Orrington church has claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.
“The order does not target religion or houses of worship,” the response to a motion for a temporary restraining order said. “Rather, it applies to all manner of gatherings, including sporting events, concerts, conventions, fundraisers, parades, fairs and festivals. While the plaintiff claims it should be treated like retail stores, public health officials have determined that, for many reasons, religious services pose a greater risk of infection than the activities that are currently allowed.”
Calvary Chapel and its pastor, Ken Graves, sued the governor in U.S. District Court in Bangor. The lawsuit alleges that Mills’ order violates the freedom of religion and assembly clauses of the First Amendment and other laws designed to protect houses of worship. It seeks 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.
Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub said that in other states churches have linked to significant outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus.
Read more: https://bangordailynews.com/2020/05/08/news/bangor/state-says-ban-on-in-person-church-services-is-constitutional/
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