Judge blocks Kansas gov’s attempt to limit religious gatherings during coronavirus pandemic
A FEDERAL judge has blocked Kansas from limiting attendance on religious gatherings, amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge John Broomes was announced on Saturday.
Broomes wrote in his order: “Churches and religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment”.
The ruling prevents the enforcement of an order issued by Governor Laura Kelly.
Kelly’s order limited in-person religious services or activities to 10 congregation members but didn’t limit the number of pastors, choir members and others who could put on the service, so long as they practiced social distancing.
But Broomes’ order does not let the churches have services without any restrictions.
Instead, he ordered them to abide by recommendations for social distancing that people stay six feet apart and continue following other practices the lawsuit said they had imposed, such as not using collection plates.
Many Kansas churches have moved services online, but the pastors and churches suing Kelly said they believe God calls them to engage in “corporate” prayer.
Judge Broomes has a hearing scheduled Wednesday in a lawsuit filed against Kelly by two churches and their pastors.
The pastors and churches argued Kelly could have imposed less restrictive measures on churches to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. They also said that Kelly’s stay-at-home order had exceptions for numerous “essential” businesses, so her policies unfairly targeted and showed “hostility” toward churches.
Broomes noted the exceptions for some businesses, calling the different treatment of churches “arbitrary,” and adding, “The disparity has been imposed without any apparent explanation for the differing treatment of religious gatherings.”
Kelly has continued to defend her order.
“That executive order had absolutely nothing to do with religious freedom. It had everything to do with protecting the health and safety of Kansans,” the governor said at a Friday news conference.
The judge’s decision will remain in effect until May 2.
Kansas currently has a coronavirus death toll of 84.
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The current coronavirus death toll in the US is 37,135.
The total number of confirmed cases is currently 709,201.
However, at least 59,997 people have recovered from the deadly disease.
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