California pastor issues rebuke over church restrictions amid coronavirus
Los Angeles Pastor John MacArthur blasts coronavirus lockdown of churches on 'Fox & Friends.'
Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court Wednesday, seeking relief from criminal charges brought against him for allegedly holding church services that violated state coronavirus restrictions.
The filing claimed that Gov. John Bel Edward's order banning large gatherings violated his First Amendment rights.
"The State has shown a shocking and unprecedented commitment to criminally prosecuting its strongest dissenter in violation of one of the First Amendment’s most precious guarantees: the right of a church, which by definition is an assembly, to decide whether to assemble or not," the filing reads.
CALIFORNIA JUDGE RULES LA CHURCH CAN HOLD INDOOR SERVICES
The filing is directed at Justice Samuel Alito, since he is the circuit justice for the Fifth Circuit, which includes Louisiana.
Last week, a federal judge in Baton Rouge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the restrictions filed by Spell.
Pastor Tony Spell speaks to media after holding an evening service at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, La., March 31. Spell is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services previously despite a ban on gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Spell received national attention in the spring when he continued holding church services at Life Tabernacle Church despite the state's ban on large gatherings.
Spell has been charged with nine crimes since the pandemic began, according to the filing. Several of the charges are misdemeanor counts for violating the governor's orders, but one is a felony charge for allegedly trying to assault a protester.
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Coronavirus cases just surged past 200,000 in Louisiana; 886 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized on Wednesday. Nearly 6,000 Louisiana residents have died from the disease.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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