Justice Department Slams Nevada Governor for ‘Unequal’ Treatment of Churches in Reopening Guidelines
(Worthy News) – The Justice Department criticized Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for treating churches “unequally” in his guidelines for reopening states.
The letter, dated Monday and written by Nevada U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich and U.S. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, both of whom monitor civil rights disputes, echoes a letter Dreiband addressed last week to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on the same issue. In both letters, the Justice Department warns that by treating businesses and churches unequally, governments are violating the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.
“We understand these directives were issued in the midst of an uncertain situation, which may have required quick decisions based on changing information,” the letter said. “We are concerned, however, that the flat prohibition against 10 or more persons gathering for in-person worship services — regardless of whether they maintain social distancing guidelines — impermissibly treats religious and nonreligious organizations unequally.” [ Source: Washington Examiner (Read More…) ]