“The advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge”
(Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Freedom of Assembly
What does it mean to peacefully assemble? Who wrote these ideas? When and where was it passed? In 1776 on a cold winter day, a group of men decided to write laws to be the standard guideline and safety for all human life moving forward. The American colonists wanted to band away from England. Hence, signed and wrote a basis of laws that protect the people of this country. “Continental Congress was faced with a vote on the issue. In mid-June 1776, a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies’ intentions. The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence written largely by Jefferson in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence” (History). The laws are written in a document called the Bill of Rights that ensures that the government cannot unlawfully hinge upon these “Amendments”. This Bill of Rights proclaims to make citizens legally be able to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and freely be able to express your religion. As we have evolved through the years, we have added more amendments and more laws to help adopt different policies and different solutions to problems we face today. The world we live in can only grow stronger as more and more ideologies are expressed. We see a change based on what is currently going on. We have been following these laws for almost three centuries. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that we can assume these laws can never be broken or harmed.
Precisely that is only half true. We have never experienced a global pandemic like we faced this year. With over one million deaths according to CNN Health, “Authorities in 217 countries and territories have reported about 64.2 million Covid‑19 cases and 1.5 million deaths since China reported its first cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) in December.” Our guidelines for safety and health have never exceeded this high. The shortage of food, cleaning supplies, toilet paper has never happened. Let alone being isolated in your house for an extended period has never been dealt with before. The human race could not have expected something many people dare to dream about. We lived in a year, a new decade that will go down in history and will be forever. You might be asking, “Where does the pandemic tie in with our laws”?
Should Churches be labeled as Entertainment Buildings? 1918 Influenza
For four long weeks in Washington D.C., churches and congregations were stopped at a halt. A deadly sickness took a toll on 23,000 Americans, infected and 1,500 dead. The outbreak came out of nowhere and led the people into a panic. Business, school, banks, you name it, were immediately closed. During this time in 1918, the churches were waiting for the Department of Health’s ban to be lifted. Health commissioners and officials were angry and disappointed with the governors that categorized churches in the same category as entertainment buildings. Quote from Health Comminoners Dr. Fowler spoke of no need for concern or alarm. In his opinion, opening churches would not cause the virus to spread, even if infected people attended the services. He gave two reasons: first, “People will take precautions to prevent contracting the disease”; and second, “the contagion is now of a mild form, as shown by the nature of the new cases being reported.”[7] The people of D.C. knew these cases were diminishing and fewer people were dying. What do you expect governors placed churches in the same realm as entrainment houses/businesses? Where would people go for hope, prayer, forgiveness?
Rev. Gove G. Johnson of Immanuel Baptist Church had similar concerns in D.C. He stated… “The Great Epidemic and Its Cure,” was a “sad mistake” to place churches on the same level as entertainment houses.[12]While not as vitriolic as Dr. Smith, he nonetheless puts his thumb on the same issue: “However sincerely meant for the good of the public health,” he stated, “it is a lamentable and disastrous thing to take the stand that the place of prayer is on a par with the place of entertainment when it comes to a crisis in our community.”[13] Without pray being given from the pastor, warmth and comfort singing and rejoicing with your peers, the presence of having faith that you and you will be okay and make it out alive. They took that away from the people. They would argue that the churches are entertainment houses because of the mass gathering and singing that makes them nonessential to the public. Many were furious and outraged with the idea they could do that. You can see how much people cared about this and felt this way. Although some folks that were part of the churches ended up dying from influenza. The government saw these outcomes and immediately wanted to close, but the pastors and the people working within the church didn’t want to. Because of such reasons, they believed in risking their lives for the common good of the people, granting them their prayers, and visited families that sought help. Despite what people thought of them, they believed and in their duty.
They sought to care for their flocks of the community to the best of their abilities. In Brookland Baptist Church, they “visited the church families, keeping track of cases of sickness and following up [with] church finances.”[26] These men were reported for their heroic efforts. Where do people go to wish their loved ones goodbye? Where do people beg for safety and security? Where do people gain power and ambition? That quick five minutes from the pastor can change a person’s life. The people of D.C. and every other church in the United States have seen how much they impacted their communities.
As you have seen, the people that lived through this, heard from the past time don’t want to repeat history. Under the first amendments of the Bill of Rights, it says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (History Editors). It is said in the Constitution that the government cannot block people from freely going to church. Wouldn’t it seem hard to justify if it is said under the first amendment? The Founding Fathers didn’t write these laws because they wanted to. The brave men believed prayer is the most important thing a human can have. With all hell breaks lose, where do you go when you have nothing? The people today or even one hundred years ago believed prayer was a necessity and it needed to stay open. In the present time today, we are living in a pandemic the world may never see again. Covid-19 created a global treacherous pandemic that affected almost every country in the world.
Present Day Covid-19 Restrictions
Our government legislatures have made their own rules of the number of people being able to attend a restaurant, school, business, typically anywhere even outside that involved a mass gathering of people. The fact is that our churches and religious groups are the ones affected the most. Governors have been harsher with restrictions towards religious places than any places.
“Free religious exercise is one of our most treasured and jealously guarded constitutional rights,” she wrote. “States may not discriminate against religious institutions, even when faced with a crisis as deadly as this one. But those principles are not at stake today.”
Justice Sotomayor
“The Constitution does not forbid states from responding to public health crises through regulations that treat religious institutions equally or more favorably than comparable secular institutions, particularly when those regulations save lives,”
Justice Sotomayor
Our government legislatures have made their own rules of the number of people being able to attend a restaurant, school, business, typically anywhere even outside that involved a mass gathering of people. The fact is that our churches and religious groups are the ones affected the most. Governors have been harsher with restrictions towards religious places than any places.
[May 29, 2020]
A statement written by the Supreme Courts of the United States stated,
“South Bay United Pentecostal Church has applied for temporary injunctive relief from California’s 25% occupancy cap on religious worship services. Importantly, the Church is willing to abide by the State’s rules that apply to comparable secular businesses, including the rules regarding social distancing and hygiene. But the Church objects to a 25% occupancy cap that is imposed on religious worship services but not imposed on those comparable secular businesses.” Brett Kavanaugh’s dissenting statement, “In my view, California’s discrimination against religious worship services contravenes the Constitution. As a general matter, the “government may not use religion as a basis of classification for the imposition of duties, penalties, privileges or benefits.” The challenges these pastors and the citizens are facing are unlawful. It’s beginning to happen in a lot of other states. State governors have declared that the churches are not a necessity to society therefore should be closed or have harsher restrictions. They believed churches shouldn’t be open because of their ability to bring in mass gatherings since some churches can hold up to one thousand people.
Written from the New York Times, Adam Liptak wrote, “The court’s order addressed two applications: one filed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, the other by two synagogues, an Orthodox Jewish organization, and two individuals. The applications both said Mr. Cuomo’s restrictions violated constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion, and the one from the synagogues added that Mr. Cuomo had “singled out a particular religion for blame and retribution for an uptick in a society-wide pandemic” (New York Times Adam Liptak). Depression, drugs, alcohol, have been rising since the lockdowns. More and more people are going to start feeling no hope for themselves. Joe Biden, a presidential candidate, has stated he would require another lockdown on January 2oth when he enters the office. According to ABC News, journalist Anne Flaherty and Molly Nagle wrote, “On Monday I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisors to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will start on January the 20, 2021.” Joe Biden wants another lockdown and one that will block anyone from going anywhere, but only the big corporations. It can be a matter of time before the world ends, we don’t know. But what we do know, is that faith and gods are always there for you. We would hope the government and higher officials believe we the people can be safe while going to church. Moreso, that everyone should go to church, read a psalm, sing, rejoice with strangers. Humans from within our blood are natural to communicate and socialize with one another.
Becoming sick is a dreadful thing to have. It makes your whole mood worsen. What can we expect one thing a person would say when they hear that you or a loved one is sick? Stay strong, smile, live your life to the fullest. The place of prayer is a necessity. It allows the mood of people to turn their frowns upside down. It allows the mind to open up and forget what is outside. It’s a distraction for what’s worse to come. May, they take away that right to freely assemble and the right to praise your religion will be the day the American people will lose faith.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, does the government have the authority to restrain people from religious access? Do you believe in not letting people into churches? Unfortunately, it’s tough to say and think about it. There’s a part of us that wants everyone to be safe and not get ill, but we must live our lives sometime soon. Can we as people create a more balance between prayer and public health concerns. If these safe places for people can abide by the rules and guidelines, why can’t they be open?
Works Cited
Hernandez, Sergio. “Tracking Coronavirus’ Global Spread.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Dec. 2020, www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-maps-and-cases/.
Boorstein, Michelle. “The Church That Won’t Close Its Doors over the Coronavirus.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 20 Mar. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/03/20/church-tony-spell-coronavirus-life-tabernacle/.
Flaherty, Anne. “Biden Charts Ambitious New Plan to Turn around Pandemic.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 8 Nov. 2020, abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-charts-ambitious-plan-turn-pandemic/story?id=74091451.
History.com Editors, History. “Bill of Rights.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/united-states-constitution/bill-of-rights.
Liptak, Adam. “Splitting 5 to 4, Supreme Court Backs Religious Challenge to Cuomo’s Virus Shutdown Order.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Nov. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/11/26/us/supreme-court-coronavirus-religion-new-york.html?searchResultPosition=2.
Morell, Caleb. “What Did DC Churches Do When the Spanish Flu Struck Again?” 9Marks, 11 May 2020, www.9marks.org/article/what-did-dc-churches-do-when-the-spanish-flu-struck-again/. Museum, FDR Presidential Library &. “64-165.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 6 June 2018, www.flickr.com/photos/fdrlibrary/27758131387/.
Amazing article !! Very well written and expressed.