Guest Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, PhD in Colorado Springs/ Mountain Time
Intro: A federal court just ruled that governors do not have the right to close churches.
Churches are standing up for religious liberty across America, in wake of forced government closings due to the Coronavirus.
Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, PhD (aka “Dr. Chaps”) joins us in the discussion.
Q&A:
Q. With the suicide rate rising as people are going crazy at home during COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s been argued that churches are like spiritual hospitals, so does this mean that governors should declare them “essential” services?
A. Yes, and a federal judge just ruled in Kansas churches cannot be closed by the government, because that violates the Constitution.
Q. What is happening in court cases around America right now, for religious liberty?
Answer:
Kansas
A federal judge on Saturday blocked Kansas from limiting attendance at in-person religious worship services or activities to 10 people or fewer to check the spread of the coronavirus, signaling that he believes that it’s likely that the policy violates religious freedom and free speech rights. (AP)
Kentucky:
Maryville Baptist Church in Louisville and its pastor Jack Roberts filed a lawsuit against Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) Friday for allegedly targeting churchgoers with the enforcement of the stay-at-home order on Easter Sunday….nearby Kroger, Walmart, liquor stores and other parking lots were “packed with cars” and “jammed with people,” Mat Staver with Liberty Counsel observed. (The Hill)
Mississippi:
After drawing national attention, including lawsuits brought by two local churches, the mayor of Greenville, Mississippi has reversed his decision to ban drive-in church services. After receiving “clarification” from Gov. Tate Reeves, Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons says he’s reversing an April 7 order saying all churches would be closed, including drive-in services, as part of Mississippi’s shelter in place mandate. At Temple Baptist, they handed out $500 citations while parishioners listened to the church’s pastor preach on a local radio station. (WREG)
Texas:
Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis both declared churches “essential services” and may remain open just like liquor stores are open across America.
Florida:
Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne says he is closing the doors to his church to protect his congregation from a tyrannical government. “I actually have no choice at this juncture but to shut the church down this Sunday…not from the virus but from a tyrannical government,” he added. The pastor was arrested, jailed, and released on $500 bond. (The Hill)
California:
Spurred by a lawsuit and threats of more litigation, Riverside and San Bernardino counties reversed course Friday, April 17, deciding to allow outdoor, drive-up-style religious services in which the faithful park and listen to sermons from their cars. (Press Enterprise).
Tennessee:
Calls at suicide hotlines have increased by 800 percent as resources shift to COVID-19 relief. (WZTV)
Colorado:
Two Air Force Academy Cadets committed suicide while on lockdown in their dorms, causing the Secretary of the Air Force to move up graduation six weeks early. But even the openly gay governor Jared Polis modified his executive order to allow churches to open.
Q. If Churches are spiritual hospitals, and people need God, why are governments shutting their doors, and what can people do?
A. Call your governor today and ask them to follow Texas and Florida Governors’ examples by declaring Churches as “essential services” and open to the public so long as they follow social distancing advice of the CDC.
Q. Don’t you have a history of standing up for religious freedom?
A. Yes, read bio below.
Q. Where can people watch your TV show, subscribe to your free emails, sign a petition or buy your book “How to Liberate The World?”
A. PrayInJesusName.org
About Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, PhD (aka “Dr. Chaps”)
Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt is a former State Representative (R-CO) who earned his PhD in Theology, taught college for 3 years at Colorado Christian University, a 20-year veteran who graduated the Air Force Academy (Political Science) and is the former Navy Chaplain who dared to pray “in Jesus Name.” In 2006 he defied a Navy policy requiring non-sectarian prayers, demanded his own misdemeanor court-martial for praying in Jesus’ name in uniform outside the White House, and was later vindicated by Congress. “Dr. Chaps” hosts a daily national TV show PIJN NEWS on 4 networks and 10 online platforms, and is the author of “How To Liberate The World, a Step-by-Step Guide to Take Back Your Country.”
