A federal judge in Kansas blocked Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order, which limited attendance to in-person church services.
U.S. District Court Judge John Broomes, a President Trump appointee, issued a temporary order on Saturday to permit in-person church services so long as they implement social distancing protocols.
The court ruled in favor of two Baptist churches that challenged the order, stating the plaintiffs are “likely to suffer irreparable harm in the form of denial of their constitutional right to the free exercise of religion,” and thus, the Democratic governor cannot enforce her order. The decision will remain in effect until May 2.
“This is not about religion. This is about a public health crisis,” Kelly said in response to the decision.
Conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which undertook the case, praised the decision for its protection of constitutional rights.
“Public safety is important, but so is following the Constitution,” said Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel for Alliance for Defending Freedom. “We can prioritize the health of safety of ourselves and our neighbors without harming churches and people of faith.”
According to the New York Times, there have been more than 1,890 confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas and approximately 94 deaths. Effective March 30, all residents are required to abide by a stay-at-home order until at least Sunday, May 3.
More than 2.4 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus globally. Of those, more than 166,000 have died from it, and more than 635,000 have recovered. The United States has seen at least 759,000 confirmed cases, with more than 40,600 deaths and nearly 70,900 reported recoveries. More than 3,882,000 people have been tested for the virus, according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
