Representative Danny McCormick (R) Oil City
A House committee will take up a bill Thursday by an Oil City Republican that aims to block the state from charging people who gather for religious activities against state orders with criminal offenses during a declared emergency.
Representative Danny McCormick says the state’s restrictions on religious gatherings during the pandemic are unconstitutional, which is why he brought the bill.
“It has to do with our 1st Amendment rights right there in the Constitution,” said McCormick.
The legislation also provides civil immunity related to religious gatherings during emergency orders.
Earlier in the pandemic, all public gatherings, including religious gatherings, were banned. Currently, churches are limited in how many people they can have at a service, and how they have to be spaced out.
McCormick says the bill was in part inspired by the story of Central Pastor Tony Spell who was arrested and charged after holding services against state orders.
“It applies to every other pastor in Louisiana who had church during that period of time. There were several of them that did the same thing and we are just trying to protect their religious liberties,” said McCormick.
Governor Edwards has stated that the restrictions on large gatherings were, and still are a vital part of the state’s pandemic mitigation plan, but McCormick is confident most legislators will take his side.
“I can’t imagine here in the bible belt who is going to oppose this,” said McCormick.
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