Members of a Bullitt County church have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Andy Beshear.
The plaintiffs include people who attended an in-person Easter church service at Maryville Baptist Church, in Hillview, in northern Bullitt County, in defiance of Beshear’s executive order banning all mass gatherings in Kentucky. Beshear issued the order on March 19 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said gatherings of large groups of people propagates the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
After leaving the church service on Sunday, members found a “Quarantine and Prosecution Notice” on their vehicle windshields, placed there by Kentucky State Police Troopers. The order calls for those who attended the church to self-quarantine for 14-days.
The lawsuit claims Beshear’s order violates religious freedom.
The Bullitt County Health Department previously issued a Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services enforcement notice on Maryville Baptist Church to “immediately” stop holding in-person church services. The order was sent via the strength of Beshear’s aforementioned executive order.
The church’s preacher, Jack Roberts, 76, told WDRB last week, “It’s my life, and I feel like the Gospel is more important than anything else … but our stupid governor says you can’t get together with your family for Easter. What are they going to do stand at my front door and see how many people goes in?”
Last week, Beshear admitted not having in-person services on Easter was difficult, but urged the congregation to consider the health risk attending the service posed for attendees and those outside the congregation.
“While I know it will be hard to worship virtually or in other ways, it will save lives and it will mean the people you would normally see in person at church will still be in church months from now. It protects your congregations, it protects people around you, it’s our test of humanity and maybe it’s even a test of faith to be able to do things differently. But knowing that our faith is strong, that we are up for this and that we are protecting our fellow human beings.”
Of course, a Hopkins County church, Star of Bethlehem outside of Dawson Springs, held services on March 15 and March 16, spurning a COVID-19 outbreak in Hopkins County and beyond, according to the Hopkins County Health Department.
The services are epidemiologically connected to not only well over 50 COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, but also cases in Warren, Muhlenberg and Clark counties, according to health officials. Inside Hopkins County, COVID-19 cases at a nursing home, a healthcare facility and an ambulance service are tied to the services.
At least five COVID-19 deaths in Hopkins County are blamed on the services.
Hopkins County, with a population of about 45,000, currently has at least 100 onfirmed COVID-19 cases.
(Photo: Maryville Baptist Church preacher and founder Jack Roberts)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com