Community Chat

[Zhills]

TAMPA, Fla. - The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a "safer at home" order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff of Hillsborough County says one of two Sunday services had up to 500 people in attendance.

Sheriff Chad Chronister and State Attorney Andrew Warren on Monday announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne. He faces charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency order!

[happycat]

Good! That was irresponsible, I don't know what the congregation was thinking either. People need to wake up.

[Free2be]

He's been arrested according to news reports.  He's dangerous on several levels.

[SugarPuff]

I don't know what type of church this is but this continues to be a problem with a lot of fundamentalist churches across the country (NOT mainstream religions).  They are staying open using the  first ammendment. They are even telling parishioners thar if they get sick they will recover through the congregation's prayer.  Some of the fundie mega churches insurance companies have not even been able to get them to halt services. 

Edit : Just looked The River church up and yes they are a pray away church.  They are getting slammed with negative comments on social media. 

[icezeus]

I was thinking that this was about an article that I read earlier today. I am going to fudge on the numbers because I don't remember them exactly except for how many have died. A church in Washington State, had  choir practice a few weeks back. They did take precautions, but just because someone does not look Ill does not mean that they are not a carrier. I want to say that there were about 160 members in the choir and 60+ showed up for practice. Fast forward and dozens have tested positive for Coronavirus and are ill, 3 of the choir members have died. 

SMH

[ValuSkr]

Thank you for the update.  Foolish man - he could have live-streamed the service.

[chiclets]

Finally some authority is being done.

[Greeneyedlady21]

I'm glad he was arrested. If that's what it takes to get people like him to stop doing such things well that's a shame...but necessary. Too late of course to prevent illness and death among his congregation.

[SugarPuff]

He was only arrested because of a Florida state law which carries a fine of  $500 or up to 60 days in jail.  The article I looked at said he will basically only  get a warning with a slap on the wrist.  

[suzyQ3]

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@icezeus wrote:

I was thinking that this was about an article that I read earlier today. I am going to fudge on the numbers because I don't remember them exactly except for how many have died. A church in Washington State, had  choir practice a few weeks back. They did take precautions, but just because someone does not look Ill does not mean that they are not a carrier. I want to say that there were about 160 members in the choir and 60+ showed up for practice. Fast forward and dozens have tested positive for Coronavirus and are ill, 3 of the choir members have died. 

SMH

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@icezeus, I read about this today. I'm also fuzzy on the details. It's so tragic. From what I read, they think that someone was asymptomatic at the time and that the large number of people who became sick might be due to the forceful breathing involved, creat creating emission of viral particles that were then inhaled.