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Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood<\/p>\n
jeffrey.k.hood@gmail.com<\/p>\n
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In recent days, our governments have repeatedly issued orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.\u00a0 These are scary times.\u00a0 Restrictions are necessary.\u00a0 The problem arises when preventative actions begin to flippantly infringe upon basic rights.\u00a0 From the foundation of our nation, religious practice has been something to be protected at all costs.<\/p>\n
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Make no mistake, these latest restrictions are very dangerous\u2026and I believe unconstitutional (they are not the least restrictive means necessary).\u00a0 There are varieties of religious groups who have to be physically together in order to practice their religion.\u00a0 Now do we just tell them that their religion is not important? \u00a0Do we give them no other options? \u00a0Churches have long been refuges for the struggling.\u00a0 Now we\u2019re supposed to just give them a locked door?\u00a0Ministers perform essential roles in our society.\u00a0 What about the congregant that needs help?\u00a0 Our rights are such that it is not the role of government to restrict any of these basic societal functions.\u00a0 RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO WE ARE.<\/p>\n
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With such affirmed, I CALL FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.\u00a0 Religious leaders should invite their congregations to carefully continue performing their essential social role in our society.\u00a0 To do anything else\u2026is to lose who we are\/who we are called to be\u2026lovers of our neighbors.\u00a0 In the midst of such blatant insensitivity toward marginalized and oppressed people, we must stand firm\/fight back. \u00a0Keeping the faith means holding fast to our rights \/ and the rights of others.<\/p>\n
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While most churches shouldn\u2019t be meeting right now\u2026we must never let anyone keep us from our essential occupation of loving our neighbors.\u00a0 God is with you\/us.<\/p>\n
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Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood<\/p>\n
jeffrey.k.hood@gmail.com<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood jeffrey.k.hood@gmail.com \u00a0 In recent days, our governments have repeatedly issued orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.\u00a0 These are scary times.\u00a0 Restrictions are necessary.\u00a0 The problem arises when preventative actions begin to flippantly infringe upon basic rights.\u00a0 From the foundation of our nation, religious practice has been something […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2509,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[628,5310,5487,1206,5274],"class_list":["post-7680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-freshwritings","category-thoughts","tag-civil-disobedience","tag-civil-rights","tag-coronavirus","tag-fight","tag-religious-liberty"],"yoast_head":"\n