1/Pastors in Sonoma County were told by county leaders yesterday on a call that their churches would not be permitted to open until September, at the earliest. That's more than six months of the government telling churches and people of faith in California how they may worship: /
2/Many parts of Sonoma County and indeed, much of the interior of the state, is rural with limited or no broadband readily available. Religious organizations are based on regular meetings, in whatever manner, of the faithful. That is how the connect and renew their faith, & draw/
3/ Solace and comfort during difficult times, inspiration, hope, guidance, meaning at all times. To tell tens of millions of people of faith in California that they are not permitted to worship together, even using the same social distancing protocols "essential businesses"/
4/May use, is both hugely burdensome on people of faith and faith organizations, and also unconstitutional as the government is dictating a second-class manner of worship to God-believing Californians, while permitting less restrictive means to certain favored businesses.../
5/ Reporters, for example, were literally given a pass on day 1 of the shutdown (including passes to buy gasoline in the event of rationing), presumably in part because the government knew they would be sued and lose if the press were burdened. Take out restaurants, gas stations/
6/ grocery stores, alcohol shops, in some counties marijuana shops (medical and recreational, no distinction in any law), Terminix, in some rural counties yard/tree maintenance, possibly other government-defined "essential functions" are allowed to operate with precautions/
7/ but people of faith are limited to small screened services, IF they have broadband, IF they have a computer, IF they have the technical skill to operate it, IF they have the desire to put data-stealing apps on their devices, IF their church/temple/gurdwara/mosque provides it/
8/ But to many people of faith, even IF the tiny screen occasional version is available, it is not enough -- it does not satisfy their religious requirements; you cannot baptise remotely; or provide confidential confessional or spiritual counseling; & many other issues/
9/ I've been inundated with the most vicious hate mail and threats since suing the state and San Bernardino/Riverside Counties. Hundreds of people telling me the Pope said X, that church does Y, why can't you people? These personal, unhinged & bigoted attacks miss the point:/
10/ This country was founded on the principles of religious liberty because the King of England dictated to his subjects how they were permitted to worship. They believed their rights were derived from God under natural law, and not from an imperfect man, king or not./
11/And our founders provided the First Amendment to secure the principle that the government may not discriminate against religion. State laws that tell tens of millions of Californians how & when they may worship, when less restrictive means are available, are unconstitutional./
12/ As a result of the increased crackdown on religion in the past 2 weeks in CA (same time as the CDC's projections for COVID have been shown to have been grossly inflated), not only worship services, but also free to-go food kitchens for needy run by a Sikh gurdwara .../
13/ & drug/alcohol counseling/support groups run by religious institutions all over California, & other faith-based charitable support services, have been halted by the ham-fisted, broad, crudely interpreted and selectively enforced arm of the state. The repression is worsening/
14/ And the timeline is lengthening. People have died for their right to worship freely, around the world. Many Californians find faith to be a comfort and even a necessity in this difficult time, certainly more important than many "essential services" permitted by the state./
15/ If California feels we must labor under restrictions for an indefinite period of time (as the Governor said yesterday -"maybe" small groups permitted in the fall??), then the government must permit worshippers to practice faith through the least restrictive means possible./
16/ it is time for people of faith to stand up and be counted. Do not sit back and let the government treat your First Amendment-guaranteed rights as less important than the rights of the recreational marijuana user next door, or the neighbor who "needs" his take-out pizza fix./
17/ Socially distanced religious worship CAN and MUST be permitted. People of faith may make decisions for themselves as to whether it matters to them to attend a service in person. The government cannot impose this decision on us. @Liberty_Ctr will be fighting for these rights!/
18/ If you are interested in helping with legal work or supporting this effort financially, please visit libertycenter.org to sign up/contribute!
