No pandemic exception to our Bill of Rights’: Matthew Whitaker calls for Justice Department to defend religious liberty
by Anthony Leonardi |
Former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker says the pandemic doesn’t allow governors to infringe upon religious liberty.
During an interview with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer, Whitaker emphasized the importance of allowing citizens to attend worship services in mosques, synagogues, and churches as states begin reopening.
“There’s no pandemic exception to our Bill of Rights, and our religious freedoms are very important. And for a lot of people with deeply held religious beliefs, going to the grocery store or going to other of these essential services where people can safely distance is as important to them as going to church,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker criticized methods of enforcing aggressive stay-at-home orders issued by governors, saying citations can lead to civil disobedience and federal judges protecting the religious rights of citizens.Recommended For YouDemocrats demand their own slice of anti-media action
“All of the ways … these businesses are opening up, the churches can also open up. And you cannot discriminate against the churches, and the synagogues, and the mosques in any different than … the restrictions you’re putting on these businesses,” Whitaker said.
On Wednesday, the Catholic Church in Minnesota defied Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to limit religious gatherings in a letter signed by seven bishops, pointing to the fact he has lifted Minnesota’s stay-at-home order.
The letter lists several examples when the church has complied with state orders and advice from health officials but argues that the “human cost” to the coronavirus pandemic includes job loss, depression, crime, and substance abuse.
“We are blessed to live in a nation that guarantees the free exercise of religion. This right can only be abridged for a compelling governmental interest, and only in a way that is narrowly tailored to be the least restrictive means of achieving the desired end. That is why a large majority of states now allow in-person religious services, including many states that had previously suspended in-person religious services,” the letter read.
