News

Published: 01 June 2020

A legal group has filed a lawsuit against the Governor of Washington over his COVID-19 order which penalises meetings of churches but allows marijuana and alcohol shops to operate.

Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing Washington-based Christ’s Church of Mt Spokane, says the church does not have the staff or money to live-stream services.

The ADF is seeking an immediate halt to enforcement of the order which labels churches as “COVID-19 ‘superspreader’ events” and restricts church gatherings to fifty persons or a quarter of church capacity, whichever is less. Under the Governor’s plan restaurants can open at 50% capacity but churches are restricted to 25% or fifty persons, whichever is less.

“While responding to crises can be difficult, this case doesn’t need to be,” said ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner.

“The same Washingtonians who can be trusted to comply with social-distancing and other health guidelines in secular settings can also be trusted in religious settings.

“The Constitution simply doesn’t permit Gov. Inslee to assume the worst when people meet to worship but assume the best when those same people go to work, do some shopping, eat at a restaurant, or go about the rest of their daily lives.”

The church plans to adopt strict health and safety protocols, including encouraging the wearing of masks, spacing, and the use of hand sanitizer.

“Singling out churches for special punishment while allowing others to have greater freedom isn’t just illogical, it’s clearly unconstitutional,” said ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker.

“Gov. Inslee has called cannabis retailers and breweries essential but prohibits pastors from ministering in-person to their congregations—a strategy that poses obvious constitutional problems. We support government leaders’ efforts to prioritize the public’s health and safety, but people of faith should be free to assemble if other groups are free to assemble.”

Published: 28 May 2020

Pressure is building on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to end her discriminatory COVID-19 church crackdown.

Over six thousand people have signed a petition launched by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney on May 27.

Presently in NSW fifty people can meet at hospitality venues. But as few as eleven people are prohibited from meeting at a church.

“Churches have cooperated at every stage with the Government’s public health directives during this pandemic,” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP said.

“We understand that the shutdown was necessary to flatten the curve, but it came at a cost – not only to the economy, but also to the spiritual and mental health of our people.

“They miss gathering for worship and praying in a sacred space. I am at a loss to explain to Catholics in Sydney why our reasonable requests to the government are not being granted. 

“Contrary to what has been said throughout this pandemic, we do not consider church attendance to be non-essential; indeed, nothing is more essential than the practice of our faith,” reads the petition.

“Catholics are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for equal treatment.

“This unequal treatment of religious worship leads us to ask whether the Government is listening to the concerns of Catholics and other people of faith or indifferent to the effect the closure of our churches is having on people during these difficult times.

“The freedom to practice faith is necessary for human flourishing and a great contributor to the common good.” 

FamilyVoice Australia National Director Peter Downie said, “Governments have been heavy-handed and unjust in their treatment of churches during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Published: 28 May 2020

A legal group has filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon over a COVID-19 order which prohibits meetings at churches with 26 attendees.

The Alliance Defending Freedom says that it is also looking at putting a motion to temporarily restrain enforcement of the order pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

Under the order, pastors can be penalised with a fine of over $1,000 and jailed for up to a month.

The ADF says this is a double standard as the same number of people and more can eat in a restaurant without penalty.

“While responding to crises can be difficult, this case is not,” said ADF spokesman Caleb Dalton.

“There is no legitimate justification for banning church services of 26 or more—with responsible social distancing and health and safety protocols—while allowing malls, gyms, restaurants, and retail establishments to fill to social-distancing capacity.”

The church plans to adopt a number of health and safety measures when it re-opens to mitigate risk of the spread of the coronavirus.

“Singling out churches for special punishment while allowing others to have greater freedom not only makes no logical sense, it’s clearly unconstitutional, just as others have warned the governor,” said ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker.

“Gov. Brown has had plenty of opportunity to correct the obvious constitutional problem with issuing a church-specific ban and has chosen not to.

“We support authorities’ efforts to prioritize the public’s health and safety, but people of faith should be free to assemble if other groups are free to assemble.”

Published: 27 May 2020

Last week the world lost one of its greatest Christian apologists, Ravi Zacharias. 

Born in India, he died in the US aged 74 after a short battle with cancer – knowing that he would be going to join his Lord.

Ravi grew up in an Anglican family, but rebelled as a teenager. He became very depressed – to the point of attempting suicide. 

But afterwards his life turned upside down. When he was recovering in hospital, a young Christian man explained the gospel to him. He decided to follow Jesus.

Ravi moved to Canada and later the US. He felt God calling him to share his faith with others – in all parts of society, but especially in academic and intellectual circles that tend to embrace atheism and mock Christianity.

Like the Apostle Paul, who argued for the Christian faith with philosophers and religious leaders in Athens and elsewhere, Ravi debated with university dons and students about the fundamental questions of life. They had no answers, but God did.

Ravi Zacharias is widely known for his lectures and more than 30 books. But one part of his resumé particularly interested me. He was one of the Christian leaders from across the world – Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox – who came together in New York in November 2009 to sign what was called the Manhattan Declaration.

This important document affirms key principles that FamilyVoice stands for. It says (in part):

In this declaration we affirm: 

1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 

2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 

3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.

We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right – and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation – to speak and act in defense of these truths.

We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.

And I say, “Amen!”

Peter Downie - National Director, FamilyVoice Australia