Griffith Calls on Northam to Reopen Churches
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest siding with a Virginia church seeking reopening:
“I have been troubled by the closure of Virginia churches under Governor Northam’s stay at home order and on Thursday specifically asked the Governor when he would be reopening the churches.
“Learning that a pastor has actually been criminally charged for conducting worship services despite congregants practicing social distancing and that the Department of Justice has sided with the church against the Commonwealth makes it still clearer to me that these closures are wrong.
“Governor Northam must drop the unfair treatment of churches and permit them to resume worship services under the guidelines that allow other functions deemed essential to stay open.
“In Virginia of all places, the birthplace of religious liberty, churches should be making the call as to whether they conduct services, not the government.
“Under the current rules, Virginia’s ABC stores, hardware, and craft shops, among others, are allowed to stay open with social distancing.
“When troubles befall us, such as those we face today, where I come from, God is more important than alcohol, hardware, or crafts.
“Common sense and the Constitution mandate that the Commonwealth should treat churches accordingly.”
May 3, 2020 @ 9:12 pm
i believe churches should be opened back up
May 3, 2020 @ 9:48 pm
I think now that it’s getting warmer outside they could have church out side people stay 6 feet apart no hand shaking or hugging bring a chair and fellowship in God word and have in the church just not so close together this state needs God more than ever with all the laws his passed
May 3, 2020 @ 10:41 pm
THANK YOU. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR GOD AND HIS PEOPLE.
May 3, 2020 @ 11:00 pm
None of these places should be open. Cases are going up and up! We don’t need a temple to worship! God is everywhere! Now, He sees who His followers really are. There’s no specific day or time or place to worship God! He is everywhere so pray and praise everywhere! Should everywhere else be open? No! But money is more important than lives to Virginia, obviously! People want their freedom and I understand that but I chose life! And, f.y.i., virtual church is available!
May 4, 2020 @ 11:04 am
Thank you Mr. Griffith for standing up for the Christian citizens of Virginia!! May the Lord bless and keep you and your family!
May 4, 2020 @ 6:18 pm
Republicans seem to not care about the rising death caused by the Coronavirus.They just seem to just want to got against all medical advice and let people all cram back together and let this stuff spread like a wildfire.Even the president shows no empathy for the thousands of dead all he cares about is all of the money being lost while things are shut down.Hes just wanting to reopen for his wall street friends and big corporations.They might loose a dollar but let us not worry about how many American citiziens are dying each day.As soon as everything is open in the next 2 weeks the infection rates and the death rates will start to double because people will not take the covid-19 seriously and think its over and go back to the way it was before it all came to the United States and will have a HUGE Second Wave.”YOU JUST WAIT AND SEE JUST HEED THE WARNINGS”