On Wednesday, Kentucky’s Attorney General Daniel Cameron moved to join a lawsuit seeking to end Governor Andy Beshear’s ban on faith-based gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A release from Cameron’s office says the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky by Tabernacle Baptist Church of Nicholasville, seeks an injunction against Governor Beshear’s executive orders on March 19 and March 25, which he says target faith-based gatherings. In his lawsuit, Attorney General Cameron alleges the Governor’s orders violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Cameron called on Governor Beshear during a news conference last week to comply with state and federal law “protecting the practice of religion and to rescind his executive orders targeting faith-based groups.” Cameron says the orders remain in effect and continue “to allow secular activities and businesses to operate during the pandemic while banning faith-based gatherings.”
Cameron said Governor Beshear continued his “arbitrary and unlawful targeting of faith-based groups when he announced last week that some businesses, including dog groomers, horse races, manufacturers, and car dealerships, can reopen as early as May 11, nine days before houses of worship can reopen.” He added that the law requires religious services to be treated no differently than secular activity, as long as those participating follow appropriate CDC Recommendations.
According to Cameron, other states have restricted mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic but have provided reasonable accommodations and exemptions for the practice of religion. Cameron said Governor Beshear’s executive orders provide no such exemptions for faith-based groups.
Click here to view a copy of the complaint filed Wednesday by Attorney General Cameron. To view a copy of the complaint filed by Tabernacle Baptist Church click here.