Yet another Democrat bans religious gatherings in face of coronavirus fears
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham amended her mass gathering ban to fight the spread of the coronavirus to include houses of worship, the Las Cruces Sun News reported.
The change was made Saturday — the day before Easter, the paper said, adding that the ban on gatherings of five or more people previously exempted religious gatherings.
"I am so grateful for the support and cooperation from the vast majority of religious leaders of all faiths who have already made the difficult decision to cancel services in the interest of the health and safety of their members," Lujan Grisham said, according to the Sun News. "I understand the tremendous social and spiritual burden this places on New Mexicans, but ultimately, we must do everything we can to limit the spread of COVID-19, including being absolutely clear that mass gatherings of any type are not permitted in houses of worship."
Of 39 states that have implemented stay-at-home orders, only 11 have exceptions for religious gatherings — and most of those require social distancing at services, the paper said.
A growing left-wing chorus
On Good Friday, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear warned that anyone caught attending a "mass gathering" in the state over Easter weekend would have their license plates recorded by state police and then would be forced into a two-week self-quarantine.
Still, dozens of cars were in the parking lot of the Maryville Baptist Church in Hillview on Easter morning despite Beshear's threat — and despite nails spread at the parking lot's entrances.
After the Democratic mayor of Louisville banned drive-in services for Easter, U.S. District Judge Justin Walker on Saturday granted a Louisville church a temporary restraining order against Greg Fischer's mandate, thoroughly rebuking him: "The Mayor's decision is stunning. And it is, 'beyond all reason,' unconstitutional."
In addition:
- Far-left New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened last month to permanently shut down churches and synagogues that did not comply with his order to not gather.
- Police in Greenville, Mississippi, were caught on video last week handing out $500 tickets to Temple Baptist Church members who'd gathered in their cars with their windows rolled up in the church parking lot to hear a service on the radio. Their actions were deemed a defiance of Democratic Mayor Errick Simmons' executive order that all church buildings are to be closed for both in-person and drive-in services.
- Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last month criminalized gatherings of larger than 10 people — including churches.
