Last week, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the Legislative Coordinating Council did not have the authority to override Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order limiting church and funeral gatherings to 10 people or less. A case against Kelly has now made its way into the federal court system.
The Wichita Eagle says two churches, Calvary Baptist Church of Junction City and First Baptist Church of Dodge City, and their pastors have filed suit against the governor, saying the executive order violates the US Constitution’s First and Fourteenth Amendments, specifically on free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, right to assemble and due process. They also say the order violated the Kansas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the lawsuit says the government does not have “a compelling reason” for halting church services when attendees can practice social distancing.
This comes as the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is tracking over 20 different coronavirus clusters, including five at religious institutions or gatherings. This also comes shortly after Governor Kelly extended the current stay-home order through May 3.
