Federal judge rules in-person church services may resume Sunday

May 9, 2020 | 12:10 am

Updated May 9, 2020 | 1:35 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

A federal judge ruled Friday that all churches in Kentucky may hold in-person services beginning Sunday.

According to court documents, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Nicholasville was awarded a temporary restraining order that blocks enforcement of Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order prohibiting in-person church services to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The executive order — issued by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and signed by Beshear — states that “mass gatherings include any event or convening that brings together groups of individuals.”

However, many churches across the state have said that houses of worship were unfairly singled out.

The ruling in favor of Tabernacle applies to all churches in Kentucky.

“Defendants are enjoined from enforcing the prohibition on mass gatherings with respect to any in-person religious service which adheres to applicable social distancing and hygiene guidelines,” U.S. District Judge Greg Van Tatenhove ruled Friday evening.

Attorneys for Tabernacle claimed Beshear’s order was unconstitutional because it violated the First Amendment right of freedom of religion. They said churches shouldn’t be prohibited from holding in-person services when people are allowed to shop or gather in places such as law offices.

Two other federal judges in Kentucky had previously ruled the ban on in-person church services was constitutional. According to the Courier-Journal, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to Judge David Hale, who on Friday issued an injunction against enforcement of the order, pending the state’s appeal.

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For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.

For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.

May 9, 2020 | 12:10 am

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