A pastor has defied social distancing orders as he held Easter service that was allegedly attended by over 1,300 worshippers after declaring that “virus will not stop” them.
As TMZ reported, Reverend Tony Spell refused the let the pandemic get in the way of celebrating Easter as he held Easter service at his Baton Rouge, Louisiana, church.
Despite federal regulations and the fact that the U.S. alone has recorded over half a million confirmed COVID-19 cases, Spell refused to let the pandemic get in the way of worshipping.
“Satan and a virus will not stop us,” he said in an interview with REUTERS.
“God will shield us from all harm and sickness. We are not afraid. We are called by God to stand against the Antichrist creeping into America’s borders. We will spread the Gospel.”
While Spell claimed that more than 1,300 people attended his service, the live-stream showed just a few rows of people, meaning that it is hard to confirm whether Spell’s headcount was spot-on or not.
In his speech during the service, Reverend Spell reassured worshippers that safety measures would be taken by saying:
“I don’t want anybody to be nervous. If you don’t want to touch anyone, you don’t have to touch anyone. I promise that before I lay hands on you or touch you that I will disinfect my hands so that you don’t have to worry about me transmitting anything to you.”
Previously, on March 31, the reverend was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor after holding a mass gathering despite Governor John Bel Edwards’ orders that banned such events.
Speaking to TMZ about the possibility that one of his parishioners would contract the deadly virus while at his church, Spell said:
“Like any pure religious person, death looks to them like a welcome friend. True Christians do not mind dying, they fear living in fear. People that can prefer tyranny over freedom do not deserve freedom.”
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Replaced!