At no time in memory have we seen more glaring examples of double standards, blatant hypocrisy, and attacks on religious freedoms than we have during the last two years with the COVID outbreak. It started last year during the lockdowns when liquor stores and abortion clinics were allowed to operate, seeing that they provided “essential services,” while church gatherings were banned and shut down.
Then, when crowds of thousands flooded our streets during major race protests and riots, over 1,200 medical professionals signed an open letter supporting the protests. Their argument was that racism was more deadly than COVID. Consequently, protesting racism, even at the risk of getting and spreading COVID, was a healthy thing to do. So, go ahead and protest — as long as it’s against racism — and risk spreading death and disease to many. After all, it’s for a good cause! As for everyone else, stay home and stay locked down.
The most recent example of mind-blowing hypocrisy goes one step further, as the very same week that the Biden administration announced a massive vaccine mandate, press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that immigrants pouring through our borders did not need to be vaccinated. Can anyone possibly explain the rationale behind this? Anyone?
What an insult to all other Americans being put under forced vaccine pressure, and what a display of the political bias behind some of these decisions.
In July 2020, the Supreme Court, quite inexplicably (in fact, without explanation), declined to hear the case of a Las Vegas church protesting the state’s unfair and uneven COVID regulations. These regulations allowed casinos to operate at 50 percent capacity but churches, regardless of their building capacity, were limited to 50 people.
What a ridiculous, indefensible example of anti-religious double standards. (I guess the casinos brought in a lot more taxable revenue than the churches.) Yet Justice John Roberts joined the four liberal justices in deciding not to hear the case.
To add insult to injury, when one congregation decided to get around these restrictions by holding a pro-Trump prayer gathering in a casino, the casino was fined as a result, even though the attendees followed all safety protocols. You can gamble here to your heart’s content. You cannot worship God or pray here.
Last month, the ACLJ filed a lawsuit in federal court in Virginia on behalf Alive Church of the Nazarene. (If you thought these previous examples were crazy, this one might just take the cake.)
Because of COVID restrictions, the congregation could no longer meet in the public school it had been using, so it sought permission to meet on property located in Prince William County. The county said it would grant them permission, as long as they obtained a liquor license. (Seriously.)
But based on their denominational convictions (they don’t even serve wine at communion), they said they could not do so. As a result, the county banned them from meeting on their property. So, unless the church operates like a bar, it cannot meet on certain properties owned by the country.
As explained by Jordan Sekulow, “Wineries and breweries can host weddings. They can host live music. They can host community-engaging events and gatherings. They can even rent their facilities to churches to use. All while enjoying the beneficial treatment of the county’s favor and avoiding cumbersome and expensive zoning and permit requirements. But not churches.”
So, there you have it. Casinos can meet at 50 percent capacity but churches, even with buildings that seat thousands, can only accommodate 50 people. If you kill babies in the womb and sell liquor to the public, you provide essential services. If you open your building to minister to struggling families, suicidal teens, drug addicts and others, providing Christian care and support, your services are not essential. And if a church wants to operate on some properties in Prince William County, it must get a liquor license.
What’s more, if you gather to worship God and pray on the city streets, you are self-centered, reckless, superspreaders. But if you gather to protest racism, you are contributing to public health. As for companies with at least 100 employees, vaccines are a must. As for tens of thousands of immigrants, legal or otherwise, who cares about vaccines?
Enough said.