Kansas Senate Vice President Jeff Longbine is weighing in on the recent debate over Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order on limiting church and funeral gatherings.
In a statement Thursday, Longbine said the governor’s decision to cap the gatherings at 10 people would typically be a clear violation of the Constitution, but “we are not in ordinary times.”
Longbine thanked church leaders for setting up alternate means of worship. He also said people need to realize Kelly’s intent with her executive order.
Longbine says the “right to congregate” must be weighed against health and safety concerns.
The governor issued her executive order Tuesday, only to have that overturned by the Legislative Coordinating Council on Wednesday. The Coordinating Council took action after Attorney General Derek Schmidt called the executive order unconstitutional and told law enforcement not to impose any penalties related to it.
Statement from Kansas Senate Vice President and 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine
Our great nation was built on guiding principles that were incorporated into our constitution. The most important of these is the right to religious freedom. Yesterday the Legislative Coordinating Council and the Attorney General disagreed with the Governor on Executive Order-18. The order would prevent worship services and funerals from allowing more than 10 people in attendance.
In ordinary times this would be a clear violation of our religious freedoms. We are not in ordinary times and the Governor issued this order as a matter of public safety. We have evidence that there is a minimum of 3 Covid-19 clusters throughout the State that originated at Church functions. The right to congregate must be weighed against the danger to your and your family’s health as we fight the pandemic.
I applaud our community’s faith leaders in their innovative approach to delivering religious services. Many have moved services to on-line, Radio, Cable or other electronic means. This allows our community members to worship in a safe environment. I encourage each of us to worship this weekend in the safest manner possible.
I wish everyone a Happy and Safe Easter Holiday.
Together We Will Overcome
