LA Mayor Threatens to Cut Power & Water to Churches That Defy Lockdown
Eric Garcetti blasts 'irresponsible and selfish' public gatherings in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles' Democrat Mayor Eric Garcetti has threatened to cut power and water from private entities that defy the city's lockdown measures, including churches.
Mayor Garcetti blasted those who hold gatherings, where social distancing is not possible, as "irresponsible and selfish."
Garcetti threatened to cut off power to any private entity that defied shutdown orders in March.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in California, there is currently a ban on indoor religious services in 29 counties representing 80 percent of the state’s population.
Several churches in the state have defied the order, however, including Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, Cornerstone Church of Fresno, Destiny Christian Church of Rocklin, and Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena.
Garcetti announced last Wednesday that, effective the following Friday evening, “if LAPD responds and verifies that a large gathering is occurring at a property, and we see these properties offending time and time again, they will provide notice and initiate the process to request that DWP shut off service within the next 48 hours.”
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“By turning off that power, shutting down that water, we feel we can close these places down, which usually are not one-time offenders, but multiple offenders,” the LA mayor continued.
His announcement focused on secular gatherings such as large house parties, but the threat applies to churches, as well.
“California Christians now have a choice – serve the Lord or have their basic utilities cut off,” Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver responded.
“Liberty Counsel is working to bring these cases to the Supreme Court of the United States so that we can set the precedent once and for all – that no governor will be able to ignore the fact that religious freedom is free in the United States of America.”
Across the world, many secular authorities have heavily restricted the right to religious assembly in the name of containing COVID-19, from in-person gathering to singing to the distribution of Holy Communion, even in some cases banning people from gathering in parking lots and worshiping from within their individual cars.
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But of arguably greater concern for the faithful are Catholic leaders voluntarily imposing such restrictions on their congregations.
Bishops in parts of the United States, France, Malta, Jerusalem, Singapore, the Philippines, England, and Wales have all forbidden receiving Communion on the tongue.
In the U.S. territory of Guam, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Parish has posted warnings not to kneel during prayer.
“When officials restrict church attendance to a certain number, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible for the saints to gather as the church,” declared Pastor John MacArthur and the elders of California’s Grace Community Church.
“When officials mandate distancing, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible to experience the close communion between believers that is commanded in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26. In all those spheres, we must submit to our Lord.”
