Louisiana Pastor defies state order not to hold large gatherings. Expecting 1000+ attendees.

You can’t make this up if you wanted. After previously already defying the governors order not to hold gatherings larger than 50 people, he held service again last Sunday and plans on continuing to do so.

Not only are they asking people to come over, they literally bus them in from across five parishes. Despite the governors order, criticism from self-thinking Christians and a petition seeking his arrest, he has been quoted in an interview with CNN:

“If they close every door in this city, then I will close my doors, […] you can’t say the retailers are essential but the church is not. That is a persecution of the faith.” Spell also told CNN he believes the pandemic is “politically motivated.”

Not only are they asking people to come over, they literally bus them in from across five parishes. Despite the governors order, criticism from self-thinking Christians and a petition seeking his arrest, he has been quoted in an interview with CNN:

“If they close every door in this city, then I will close my doors, […] you can’t say the retailers are essential but the church is not. That is a persecution of the faith.” Spell also told CNN he believes the pandemic is “politically motivated.”

Name and shame:
Pastor Tony Spell
Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

For his part, Spell said he is following social distancing guidelines, including instructions from Washington. The pastor said someone from the White House — he declined to say who — called him last week.

The official, according to Spell, asked him to hold services outside, make his congregation stand six feet apart and prevent non-family members from touching.

According to the Washington Post, Spell spoke with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council of the Trump administration. Perkins was not available for comment.

In a statement, the White House said, “During this public health crisis, the Trump Administration has been extremely proactive in reaching out to leaders from the faith community, hosting several calls last week with more than 1,200 inter-faith leaders.”