The Senate Judiciary Committee rejects a House-approved bill that would bar the state from penalizing churches and church-goers for gathering for in-person services against state orders during an emergency.
The hearing led to an animated exchange between Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver and the bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick.
TARVER: “If they want to invite 300 people and they decide to come they can all catch the virus and take it to other people,”
MCCORMICK: “I don’t know that that has happened but-“
TARVER: “But it has happened”
The legislation was inspired by the arrest of Central Pastor Tony Spell for holding services against the ban on in-person religious gatherings. The bill would have also retroactively cleared his charges and other religious leaders who were penalized. His case is currently pending.
Tarver argued the ban did not violate constitutional protections on religious liberty because it allowed for virtual services. McCormick says virtual services are not the same
MCCORMICK: “I can take my kids and I can facetime them but them running up and grabbing my legs that is a whole different relationship that our-“
TARVER: “But if you had the virus you wouldn’t want them to grab your leg would you?”
The legislation cleared the House on a 66-24 vote, but it’s now dead for the session after a three to vote against in committee.
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