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Barr has already weighed in on the freedom of religion
Posted on: April 22, 2020 at 13:31:31 CT
Reagan STL
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restrictions.
"Barr wrote in a letter introducing the statement that while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic is important, it is equally important to abide by the Constitution when issuing stay-at-home orders.
"Even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers," Barr wrote. "Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity."
Barr said that, according to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, "religious institutions must not be singled out for special burdens," especially if other institutions are allowed to operate unrestricted. In the case of the Mississippi churches, legal representatives noted that while the churches must close, the drive-in fast-food chain Sonic has been allowed to stay open.
In his statement, Barr singled out the discrepancy in treatment of Sonic and the churches as a reason for supporting the latter.
"Notably, the city appears to permit citizens to sit in a 'car at a drive-in restaurant with their windows rolled down,' but not 'at a drive-in church service with their windows rolled up,'" Barr wrote. "The church thus alleges that the city has 'failed to prohibit nonreligious conduct that endangers its interests in a similar or greater degree,' than drive-in services like the church’s here." From the Washington Examiner
"Barr wrote in a letter introducing the statement that while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic is important, it is equally important to abide by the Constitution when issuing stay-at-home orders.
"Even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers," Barr wrote. "Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity."
Barr said that, according to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, "religious institutions must not be singled out for special burdens," especially if other institutions are allowed to operate unrestricted. In the case of the Mississippi churches, legal representatives noted that while the churches must close, the drive-in fast-food chain Sonic has been allowed to stay open.
In his statement, Barr singled out the discrepancy in treatment of Sonic and the churches as a reason for supporting the latter.
"Notably, the city appears to permit citizens to sit in a 'car at a drive-in restaurant with their windows rolled down,' but not 'at a drive-in church service with their windows rolled up,'" Barr wrote. "The church thus alleges that the city has 'failed to prohibit nonreligious conduct that endangers its interests in a similar or greater degree,' than drive-in services like the church’s here." From the Washington Examiner
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Barr has already weighed in on the freedom of religion - Reagan STL - 4/22 13:31:31