New Mexico Government Fines Two Churches $10K Each For Holding Christmas Eve Services
Michael Cantrell
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One thing that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed for us all is the fact that Democratic leaders are not only power hungry, they are also totally set against religious liberty.
Of course, most of us conservatives already knew that by the way the left constantly attacks Christianity and ignores every other world religion, especially Islam.
A great example of this hatred for the First Amendment is the government of New Mexico, which just fined two churches $10,000 each for holding Christmas Eve services, in violation of the lockdown orders.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham then implied that the pastors of these churches are “pro-virus.”
Pretty vile thing to say.
Legacy Church and Calvary Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, posted video and photos on social media of their services that went viral, according to local ABC affiliate KOAT. The images depicted hundreds of congregants gathered, mostly without masks.
Grisham instituted restrictions on Dec. 15 that limit church gatherings in “red counties” to 25% capacity and require masks.
The state’s Public Health Department responded by levying a $10,000 fine against both churches — $5,000 for violating the capacity limit and $5,000 for violating the mask mandate. The churches are permitted to request a hearing to contest the fines.
Grisham then went on to slam the churches and their pastors on NBC News saying, “In violating both the state public health order and common sense, these two churches and their leaders endangered the lives, livelihoods and health of not only their parishioners but their entire communities — and, given how quickly this virus can spread, potentially our state as a whole.”
“We all wish this pandemic were over, but it’s not, and no pro-virus pastor may deem it so. So many New Mexicans have sacrificed — and lost — so much in this pandemic,” Grisham said. “These illegal and selfish gatherings will directly contribute to more suffering and illness in our state. These church leaders should reflect on the danger they’ve unleashed in their communities.”
Legacy Church filed a lawsuit against the state, but it was dismissed back in July. The church then released a response to the state via KOAT, saying, “We have taken the pandemic seriously from the start, and have prudent measures in place. But when governments exceed their constitutional authority and contradict what we are called on by God to do, we answer first to His authority.”
The state is clearly overstepping their constitutional authority. The First Amendment doesn’t get suspended due to pandemics. It stands for all time. You know why? Because it is a God-given right. This means no one has the authority to take it away or trample on it.
This just goes to show you that Democrats are not just at war with freedom, they’re at war with God.
Good luck with that.
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