AG Barr Issues Statement on Mississippi Church Case: Government May Not Impose Special Restrictions on Religious Activity
By Cristina Laila
Last week the Justice Department warned US Attorney General Bill Barr was monitoring government regulation of religious services.
Parishioners who attended a drive-in service at Temple Baptist Church in Mississippi were fined $500 each by police for violating ‘social distancing’ orders.
20 police cars swarmed King James Bible Baptist Church in Mississippi and pastor Charles Hamilton Jr., was told by a cop that his rights were suspended.
US Attorney General Bill Barr on Tuesday issued a statement on the Mississippi church case.
Barr said the government “may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar non-religious activity.”
“But even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers. Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity. For example, if a government allows movie theaters, restaurants, concert halls, and other comparable places of assembly to remain open and unrestricted, it may not order houses of worship to close, limit their congregation size, or otherwise impede religious gatherings. Religious institutions must not be singled out for special burdens,” Barr said.