Kentucky Church Wins Case Against Louisville Mayor
Apr 17, 2020
On Fire Christian Center in Louisville, Ky., quickly took action against Mayor Greg Fischer after Fischer prohibited drive-in church services and urged residents not to attend Easter services in person.
First Liberty, a religious liberty law firm, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the church on Good Friday asking for a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from enforcing the shutdown of drive-in services. The church claims it followed the CDC health guidelines and was exercising its First Amendment freedom to worship, while the mayor claimed the shutdown was necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The temporary restraining order was granted on Saturday, April 11, so that On Fire Christian Center could continue its drive-in service for Easter and future services.
On Facebook, On Fire Christian Church noted on April 10, “We will continue to follow the CDC guidelines, and plan to have a great drive-in service on Sunday. As we have from the beginning, we will continue to work with the mayor and the city to keep everyone safe and well. God bless.” And then on Easter Sunday the church posted a video of its drive-in service.
In the memorandum opinion written by U.S. District Court Judge Justin R. Walker, the court noted, “On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter . . . The Mayor’s decision is stunning. And it is, ‘beyond all reason,’ unconstitutional.”
The opinion cites both the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was enacted in 2013 by the state legislature as key reasons for granting the restraining order. The Order provides a valuable history lesson and is worth reading.
The Tennessee equivalent was enacted at the instigation of FACT in 2009.
On Fire Christian Center v. Fischer Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order
First Liberty
District Judge grants restraining order against enforcement stopping drive-in church services
WAVE 3 News
Judge allows drive-in Louisville church services, says mayor ‘criminalized the communal celebration of Easter’
Washington Post
On Fire Christian Church’s Facebook page
Facebook
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
First Liberty, a religious liberty law firm, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the church on Good Friday asking for a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from enforcing the shutdown of drive-in services. The church claims it followed the CDC health guidelines and was exercising its First Amendment freedom to worship, while the mayor claimed the shutdown was necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The temporary restraining order was granted on Saturday, April 11, so that On Fire Christian Center could continue its drive-in service for Easter and future services.
On Facebook, On Fire Christian Church noted on April 10, “We will continue to follow the CDC guidelines, and plan to have a great drive-in service on Sunday. As we have from the beginning, we will continue to work with the mayor and the city to keep everyone safe and well. God bless.” And then on Easter Sunday the church posted a video of its drive-in service.
In the memorandum opinion written by U.S. District Court Judge Justin R. Walker, the court noted, “On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter . . . The Mayor’s decision is stunning. And it is, ‘beyond all reason,’ unconstitutional.”
The opinion cites both the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was enacted in 2013 by the state legislature as key reasons for granting the restraining order. The Order provides a valuable history lesson and is worth reading.
The Tennessee equivalent was enacted at the instigation of FACT in 2009.
News Sources
On Fire Christian Center v. Fischer Order Granting Temporary Restraining OrderFirst Liberty
District Judge grants restraining order against enforcement stopping drive-in church services
WAVE 3 News
Judge allows drive-in Louisville church services, says mayor ‘criminalized the communal celebration of Easter’
Washington Post
On Fire Christian Church’s Facebook page
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
