Posted on 05/05/2020 5:30:09 PM PDT by marshmallow
Catholic priest Father Kevin Robinson has sued NJ governor Phil Murphy alleging that executive order 107, invoked to fight the Coronavirus Pandemic, is infringing on his 1st and 14th amendment rights.
Fr. Robinson who serves St. Anthony of Padua church in North Caldwell, NJ alleges that he has been unable to carry out his priestly functions due to the COVID-19 lockdown, saying in an email to his parishioners ”my civil rights have been violated as a result of Gov. Murphy’s unconstitutional order to shut down religious services in the State.”
According to the suit Father Robinson:
“has been threatened by local law enforcement with arrest and criminal prosecution if he dares to offer a Mass or conduct any other public gathering in his church, which remains closed due to this threat.”
While churches have been placed under interdict as “non-essential” in New Jersey, The Red Elephants has confirmed that it is still possible to schedule appointments at the Montclair Center (A Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic) as early as Monday May 4th at 9:40 AM.
The lawsuit, filed by Christopher Ferrara of the St. Thomas More Society of Catholic Lawyers alleges that the governor’s executive order has violated Fr. Robinsons Free Exercise of Religion, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly among other things.
Fr. Robinson stated:
“It is our hope that this lawsuit will force the State to treat religious institutions as an “essential service,” with the same allowances that are already made for other essential services. If we prevail, we will once again begin holding Mass at St. Anthony’s, albeit under some limitations.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theredelephants.com ...
Pope defrocks priest in 5...4...3...2...
To heck with the bishops and priests obeying Caesar, rather than God. Why don’t they emmulate their comrades in the underground Catholic Church of Red China; those brave, Catholic men face far greater recriminations for refusing unjust commands from Caesar?
Thank God! Literally. The bishops, except for a few, have abandoned us and there are probably only a handful of priests in my diocese who have managed to keep on with secretly opening their churches and having public prayer, such as rosaries, and also confessions, etc.
I know some and I go to their churches, but I’d never mention their names, because I know the bishop would shoot them down. So it’s kind of like, “knock twice and say that St. Joseph sent you.”
Hooray for Father Kevin Robinson.
I worked in NYC at the time and this was the talk of the TLM community. It was a very sad situation.
It's also worth noting most of the FReepers on the old thread don't post anymore or have been banned...
Interesting. I vaguely recall something about that, although I’m only “on the fringes” of the TLM. Partially on the fringes because it can sometimes be a difficult community to be part of ... as we see.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.