Mayor Bill De Blasio is threatening to shut down churches and synagogues permanently if they don’t comply with the order that says no gatherings of ten or more during the coronavirus outbreak in New York city:
De Blasio: churches and synagogues that hold worship services may be closed permanently pic.twitter.com/kdUsdbP2YO
— Matthew Schmitz (@matthewschmitz) March 29, 2020
Here’s more from DC Examiner:
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned religious leaders that their places of worship could be shut down permanently if they did not follow the city’s order to pause services during the coronavirus pandemic.
“A small number of religious communities, specific churches and specific synagogues, are unfortunately not paying attention to this guidance even though it’s so widespread,” the New York Democrat said Friday at his daily press briefing.
“I want to say to all those who are preparing for the potential of religious services this weekend: If you go to your synagogue, if you go to your church and attempt to hold services after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services,” he added.
De Blasio said that continued resistance of authorities to close religious services could mean a permanent shutdown.
“If that does not happen, they will take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently,” he said.
It’s one thing to say the city will prevent those churches who don’t comply with holding services, and how unfortunate that would be. It’s another thing entirely, and quite fascist, to threaten the closure of those churches permanently. Especially when, as Hot Air notes, that he’s not threatening to close down parks even though people continue to gather there in much larger numbers.
I’m quite sure New York’s commie mayor doesn’t have the authority to shut down churches permanently even if they do violate the ban, as the constitution guarantees freedom of worship. The fact that De Blasio would even say this, however, should send shivers up every freedom-loving spine in the city.