One of the blessings of religious freedom is that, with very few exceptions, no one has the right to tell you how to worship — especially not anyone in government. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam seems to think otherwise.
During a press conference on Thursday, Northam announced new coronavirus restrictions and urged churchgoers to avoid attending in-person services, assuring them that they do not have to “sit in the church pew for God to hear your prayers.”
“This is a holy time for multiple faith traditions,” Northam said. “Christmas is two weeks away. The holidays are typically times of joy and community. We gather together, we celebrate our faith, and we celebrate with family.”
“But this year, we need to think about what is truly the most important thing. Is it the worship or the building? For me, God is wherever you are,” he continued. “Worship with a mask on is still worship. Worship outside or worship online is still worship.”
Northam then blamed Virginia’s recent spike in cases on churches that have not required face masks or social distancing.
“Quite frankly, we know that a lot of the spread is coming from this because these individuals that are in a place of worship and contract the virus then go out to their place of work or to the grocery store or the convenience store or wherever, and that’s how this is spread,” he said.
Fortunately, Northam is not imposing additional restrictions on churches or other houses of worship. It seems he and other Democratic officials have learned a thing or two since the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month against California’s unconstitutional religious restrictions.
But Northam’s arrogant lecture to people of faith was not much of an improvement. In-person worship and fellowship are essential to many churchgoers. For practicing Catholics, for example, the partaking of the Eucharist is arguably the most important part of their practice of the faith, and in nearly all cases, it can only be done in person at Mass. Who is Northam to tell Catholics which spiritual needs they are entitled to fulfill?
At this point, government officials’ attempt to define what is and is not essential has become infuriating. Why don’t liquor stores receive the same lecture Northam gave churches? Why should Virginians feel guilty for attending an in-person church service, but not for shopping in an open mall?
Northam, like so many other government officials, has defined what is essential by selectively applying his own values to everyone else. But just because he does not believe attending an in-person church service is necessary does not mean all Virginians agree. And no one has the right to tell them differently.
