Numerous churches across the United States have filed lawsuits claiming that banning religious gatherings is a violation of the First Amendment, NBC reports. The US Department of Justice has also filed its own statement of support.
Vice President Mike Pence has also expressed support for houses of worship being permitted to hold services without being limited to ten participants, saying that "The liberties enshrined in the Constitution still apply to every American, even in the middle of a national emergency."
The pastor of a church in Virginia was recently issued with a criminal citation after 16 people gathered to worship. Pence, speaking to conservative-leaning talk show host Hugh Hewitt, said, "We can do the social distancing. People can, you know, sit a couple of seats apart."
In Kansas, churches sued the Democratic Governor over the 10-person limit for services, and a federal judge ruled that the state seemed to have "singled out" religious activities for "stricter treatment," NBC reported. As a consequence, Kansas churches are now bound by the same restrictions as businesses, such a providing hand sanitizer and face masks, and requiring people to adhere to social distancing rules.