Governors all over the United States, whether in Michigan, Kentucky, Virginia or New Mexico, are putting themselves over both commerce, the Constitution and even God, banning people from assembling. They are getting an increasing amount of pushback.
New Mexico’s Legacy Church has filed a federal lawsuit after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended her ban on gatherings to include places of worship, reports KOB 4.
Churches across New Mexico have moved their services online, including Legacy Church, but Legacy had considered going back to a live service.
The governor added to the ban on April 11, making some state lawmakers object that the move did not give churches enough time to prepare.
“The late Saturday afternoon shot at the churches across New Mexico was horribly timed and poorly delivered,” said Minority Leader Rep. James Townsend (R-District 54).
The order limits gatherings of five or more people. Legacy Church said the ban is a violation of its First Amendment rights. According to court documents, Legacy Church had “approximately thirty people inside its building on Easter Sunday,” including clergy and a band.
Church officials said they plan to keep operating in the same way.
The governor’s office released a statement that pointed out other churches are being obedient toward the governor’s order.
“There are countless congregations already live streaming services for their congregations, doing so within the public health and safety boundaries of the expanded public health order, which the governor applauds and encourages,” the statement reads.
An injunction hearing is set for April 16. Court records suggest that a compromise could be made.
