Posted on 04/09/2020 6:10:36 PM PDT by Morgana
Police served a summons to the pastor of Lighthouse Fellowship in Chincoteague Island for holding a church service for 16 people spaced far apart in a sanctuary that seats 293.
The charge is violating Virginia Governor Northam’s COVID Order 55 with a penalty up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. Liberty Counsel is representing Pastor Kevin Wilson and Lighthouse Fellowship Church.
Last Sunday before the service, a local police officer entered the church. He gave no introduction and did not ask for the pastor. He abruptly said they could not have more than 10 people spaced six feet apart. Then after the service, two police officers entered the church in full mask and gloves and asked to speak with the pastor.
They issued Pastor Wilson a summons and informed him that if he had service on Easter, and if more than ten people attended, everyone would receive the same summons.
Lighthouse Fellowship helps keep people free of drug addiction, brokenness, mental illness, poverty, and prostitution. Many of the members do not have driver’s licenses and are dependent on the church family for rides to get food, supplies, and go to medical appointments and personal care services like haircuts. Many attendees are on limited income obtained from government assistance — whether disability or social security, Medicare or Medicaid.
The church has helped various members with electric or gas bills, rent, groceries, physical labor and transportation for moving, donating time, expertise and resources for repairing and renovating houses and travel trailers, cooking meals, helping people to apply for disability benefits, providing rides to medical appointments, clothes, and wood for stoves, fuel for cars, and cutting grass. The church also offers a blanket ministry, prayer ministry, discipleship programs, and counseling services.
Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver said, “Lighthouse Fellowship Church protected the health and safety of the 16 people by requiring them to be spread far apart in the 293-seat sanctuary. The church does not have internet. Some people do not have cars and they depend on the ministry of the church for their physical and spiritual needs.
“But because the church had six more people than the 10 allowed by Gov. Ralph Northam, the pastor is being criminally charged. There is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ template that works for every church. We need to balance the First Amendment with protecting the health and welfare of people. Using an arbitrary number of 10 people for every church is not the answer.”
Governor Blackface in action...a total POS.
Amazing!
Virginia has become a full fascist state with its governor and his thugs.
Our country’s founders, born and raised in Virginia must be spinning in their graves.
Police officers should refuse but I see they are not.
Free citizens should refuse. The 2A will eventually take care of this.
The police who followed this Unconstitutional order are also jackboots. This is typical for police. They always use the ‘just following orders’ excuse.
JoMa
If the Dems regain the WH and both Houses of Congress we will be subjected to a Federal Police State. Just as Va and Kn now are.
This police-State action is clearly unconstitutional. People of Virginia, please do not reelect this gun grabbing, racist baby killer!
Our forefathers are rolling over in their graves.
there you go fearpers.....great conservatives you are not.....
If I were on the police force and I was ordered to enforce this I’d probably quit. You either believe in freedom or you don’t deserve any.
Call up the militas.
All the police officers I encounter have a hidden SS/Gestapo trait yearning to escape. Once their superiors open the gates, they love going full Himmler. They’re all wannsbe thugs, just waiting for the “go”.
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