Conservatives often criticize sanctuary cities for allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country. But in California, a district attorney has just declared his county a sanctuary county – for churches.
San Luis Obispo County Attorney Dan Dow told CBN News he will not prosecute churches that violate Governor Gavin Newsom’s orders limiting praise and worship.
“I strongly feel that it would be against the interest of justice for us to punish criminally citizens choosing to worship God or whatever religion they have at a time when we are going through a pandemic,” Dow said.
Full story at CBN News.
If you oppose sanctuary cities for illegals, you have to oppose this too. We’re not a country of laws anymore. Everything is unraveling. There’s no overriding cohesive American identity or pride anymore. Only loyalty to the tribe. People agree or disagree with a politician not based on rationally thought-out principles, but on whether they agree with or will benefit from what the politician does. America is now just a geographico-economic zone where people of different tribes coexist peacefully (mostly) for the time being. The flag doesn’t unite, the Constitution doesn’t unite, civic pride doesn’t unite, respect for law and order doesn’t unite, civil religion doesn’t unite, Judeo-Christian values don’t unite. Heck people are afraid of and antagonistic toward their fellow “citizens”. No country can survive long that way.
If you support sanctuary cites for illegals, you have to support this too.
Kevin, I largely agree with you on your comments. The issue seems to be: should cities or counties disregard state or federal laws or regulations?
That said, the DA may, in part, be responding to the question of the legal status of a governor’s health orders. He won’t charge violators criminally. Some violations of law are civil matters only, not punishable by jail or prison, like misdemeanors and felonies. The article states such a violation is a misdemeanor. Is there something general in the Health & Safety Code, for example, that makes it a crime to not follow governor’s health orders? Obviously, the legislature didn’t pass anything new in this regard. Any lawyers among readers who can provide some insight?
You can oppose or support sanctuary cities for “illegals” and support or not support, oppose or not oppose this. People can think what they want. And you cannot mind-read and know what they think by their behavior. There are many reasons why a person might agree or disagree with a politician. Self-interest could be one. We are not a collection of tribes.
This is a government of the people by the people for the people. As the people change, the government will change. The Internet has given a megaphone to everyone with a cause. The media amplifies it. But a lot of the population does not use the Internet to voice its opinions or try to change people. We are in a new era. Where will it end up? Only God knows.
Kevin T. is wrong logically. Though he correctly identifies the rule of law as necessary for a nation’s survival and well-being, he misses a vital step. You see, Kevin T., illegal immigration is not lawful, and therefore providing sanctuary to those who have illegally immigrated is a violation of the law. One can therefore oppose sanctuary cities validly and lawfully. However, worship of God is enshrined in the highest law of the land, the Constitution. Draconian measures that effectively prohibit the worship of God can be argued as a violation of the law. What the DA from SLO has done is preserve, in SLO at least, the rule of law and worship of God. Kevin T., no country can survive long without worship of the one true God.
You can worship. Just do it outside. Nobody’s rights are being taken away.
Not all Churches and parishes have the capacity to worship outside, Anonymous. And even those who worship outside are further restricted. Plus why should houses of worship be told by any entity or official how to worship God? More than rights are being taken away: these local officials are arrogating to themselves religious matters. No country can long survive that.
Does God require worship which presents a serious health risk to an individual or others? I think not.
Does God prohibit worship which presents health risks? I think the answer to both is “no.” Regarding the latter question, the Church would not exist if we ceased worship due to health risks.
Jesus and Saints have reached out and served, even touched, the sick throughout the ages. And, others have risked and endured martyrdom, simply by worshipping. Certain death is the most serious (physical) health risk possible. (Martyrs for God, pray for us.)
Quotation: “If a law is unjust, (you are) not only right to disobey it, (but) obligated to do so.” — Papers of Thomas Jefferson
I wonder if Jefferson and others learned something from Saint Thomas Aquinas?