After coming under fire in recent weeks for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Brian Kemp today urged Georgians “to plan for online or call-in religious services, including Easter Sunday on April 12.”
“I greatly appreciate faith leaders across our state who have made the tough decision to stop the spread of COVID-19 by suspending in-person religious services. Their leadership is literally saving lives,” said Governor Kemp.
However, the request is non-binding — Kemp’s shelter-in-place executive order, passed a week ago, doesn’t restrict churches as a matter of law.
“To all Georgians celebrating Easter this Sunday, I am pleading with you to not attend any services in person. If you attend worship services in person, you risk exposure to coronavirus – potentially endangering your life, the lives of your neighbors, and your loved ones. I know this decision is difficult, but we will get through this together.”
For drive-in services, law enforcement have received reports that people are not staying in their vehicles. “For example, people will leave their cars to let their children play, go to nearby restrooms, or otherwise congregate,” a spokesperson for the Governor says.
This article appears in Apr 8-14, 2020.
Those who attend church during the virus epidemic are actually engaged in blasphemy because they think God will protect them. God, if he exists, is totally unknowable and if you think you know him you are guilty of blaspheming and even worse.