LOUISVILLE, Ky.
(AP) — Some Kentucky churches held Palm Sunday services in defiance of
Gov. Andy Beshear’s warning against in-person worship.

Dozens
of people were at Maryville Baptist Church in Louisville on Sunday,
news outlets reported. A video showed a pianist playing and choir
members singing during the late morning service.

Beshear
warned during his daily briefing on Sunday that if facilities are still
allowing mass gatherings, then “perhaps those facilities shouldn’t be
allowed to be open anymore.”

Maryville Baptist Preacher Jack Roberts had told The Courier Journal that he would rather go to jail and court than pay a fine for violating the March 19 order of Kentucky’s health department.

He
said the prohibition violates First Amendment and state constitutional
rights. Roberts said he has encouraged social distancing at his church
and asked people at high risk of infection to stay home and watch
livestreamed services.

Beshear
said in direct reference to Roberts that “at Christmas he’s going to
have fewer people in his congregation. My faith would never let me put
someone’s health in that position.”

Louisville’s
Our Savior Lutheran Church streamed its in-person service live on
YouTube. The church had required online registration beforehand and
restricted seating to every other pew. The video stream did not show the
audience although one person’s head could be seen.

Pastor
Joshua Cook asked churchgoers to pray for medical and emergency
services workers and National Guard members “who are serving in this
time of crisis.”

Some
states, including Florida, have made exemptions to allow religious
gatherings to proceed during the coronavirus. Kentucky does not have
that exemption.

Before it became an order, Beshear first issued guidance that churches cancel in-person services on March 11.

Beshear said Kentucky has at least 955 positive virus cases and 45 deaths.

Most
people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can
include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes
requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults
and people with other health problems.

Source: Mountain Top