Louisiana church does it again - this time with 500 people.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

We manage to achieve international fame each day. From today, reported on Guardian UK's rolling coronavirus page:

See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/29/coronavirus-live-news-trump-proposes-quarantine-of-new-york-and-other-hotspots

Hundreds of worshippers attended services at a Louisiana church on Sunday, flouting a ban on large gatherings, angering neighbours and seemingly turning a deaf ear to their governor, who once again warned that hospitals could soon be overwhelmed with new cases of the coronavirus, AP reports.

An estimated 500 people of all ages filed inside the mustard-yellow and beige Life Tabernacle church in Central, a city of nearly 29,000 outside Baton Rouge.

Assistant ministers and worshippers who stood outside the front doors and in the parking lot of Life Tabernacle told news reporters to leave, saying cameras would not be allowed on the property and they had been told not to talk to the news media.

Original story from last Sunday:

Baton Rouge church continues to host Sunday service with hundreds in attendance
Posted: 2:25 PM, Mar 23, 2020
By: KATC News

Link to story: https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/baton-rouge-church-continues-to-host-sunday-service-with-thousands-in-attendance

(snip)

A Louisiana church hosted more than 1,800 people at its Sunday morning service.

WVLA in Baton Rouge says that 26 buses were used to pick people up from around the Baton Rouge area to take them to church.
++++
The church's pastor Tony Spell went against state and federal guidelines for social distancing to hold the service. Spell tells WLVA that the Life Tabernacle Church in Central believes in the healing hand of Jesus, even through an aggressive global pandemic.

Throughout the service, parishioners were seen touching each other and closely gathering, very few wearing masks or gloves.

Spell says if anyone in his congregation is infected with the virus, he will heal them through God. "I'm going to address that by laying hands on them and praying for them and depending on God to heal their body," Spell said.

Just as with the megachurch in South Korea, this congregation will be directly responsible for countless hospitalizations and deaths.

KY............ ......... ...........and at some point..........

[gibraltar72]

1. Tabernacle says it all to me.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

22. These sacrifices at the tabernacle are somewhat different.......

than the ones I remember from church as a kid. It was usually their first-born or a lamb I think.

For this round, it's the old and feeble so Abraham and Moses would have to watch their backs......

[jls4561]

2. Best rename the place. Not going to be "Life" Tabernacle for too long.

[HotTeaBag]

3. Funerals are next.

Hopefully not as well attended.

[jimfields33]

4. It'd be something if they stay healthy but give it to others.

Hell i’m Catholic and watched mass on a facebook stream. There are tons of ways to do your thing on Sunday's safely.

[HotTeaBag]

8. Well, someone somewhere did say that

it's better to give than to receive.

Speaking of Church - it truly is unfortunate that we no longer have houses of worship to safely attend nor gyms to work out in, as those are two really important places and things that people can turn to in times of anxiety, as both (depending on your jam) can bring peace to a troubled mind.

[jimfields33]

13. So true.

[LovingA2andMI]

5. What The Hell...

Many of these people are going to die. Needlessly. So STUPID!!

[Eliot Rosewater]

15. For every infected peson they will infect 3 or 4 each of them will infect 3 or 4 more and so on

so the pastor is guilty of voluntary manslaughter and so are the people who came

thousands possibly including YOU or ME if they travel OR the people they infect TRAVEL

MOTHER FUCKING NO GOOD GOD DAMN ASSHOLES

[Jamastiene]

38. This. n/t

[RussBLib]

28. religion is a curse

[Demonaut]

6. This preacher is a mass murderer, if he lives he should be charged

[flor-de-jasmim]

7. They should have an identifying patch so others will know to keep their distance.

[dem4decades]

9. If they get sick take them to the church, not to the hospital.

They've made their choice.

[OverBurn]

12. Good Call

[KY_EnviroGuy]

21. Well, they are self-professed faith healers!

They may even be selling their healing secrets by phone or on-line, just like tRump would have them do......

[delisen]

10. Another Golden Calfer/Jm Jones/ Blasphemer/Placing himself above the god

he claims to follow. This is the branch of "christianity" that is a death cult.

It overlaps with the branch of republicanism that is also a death cult.

[lunasun]

11. No- it's good. He said they are relying on the healing hands of Jesus. If any get sick they'll be OK

He is a first responder and brings the Holy Ghost to them

[Phoenix61]

14. If I could withhold medical care from

them I would. I’m not willing to risk the life of a medical professional for someone who arrogantly refuses to make the smallest effort to keep themselves safe. Let them pray themselves well.

[npk]

16. Who are they really listening to though...

Trump or god. The real irony is that neither will save them if they do require medical attention from the COVID-19.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. I suspect most of these people are addicted to social media.

Like a lot of folks these days, social media and cable TV is in essence their god and a hard addiction.

Most probably watch tweets and texts all day from.....

*a variety of Rethug politicians like Edwards, Kennedy and Trump,
* one or more local evangelical preachers and some national ones like Robertson and Graham, and
* a host of people in the local flock spreading the dogma around.

At other times, they likely watch Faux News.

I feel that's why it's hard to get through to them. The right-wing has managed to occupy their minds full-time....

[npk]

25. Yep you are right

And Faux News has been telling people to get back to normal along with tRump. They will never listen to the people who are actually looking out for the best interest. It's maddening.

[cojoel]

17. while such a service is in progress

The police should bring over a 100 or so tow trucks, impound all of the vehicles in the parking lot and tow them away from the premises, and also bring over a few paddy wagons to be ready for when the service ends.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Wait until they are all inside and then lock the Fing doors.

Allow them to evacuate the children only.

[Marrah_Goodman]

19. I hope the rest of the state is smart enough to avoid those people like the plague

[keithbvadu2]

23. Attendance means cash flow.

[yankeepants]

24. A reading from the Book of Darwin n/t

[GemDigger]

26. The first question asked at the emergency room should be

Did you go to a packed church? If they answer yes, put the idiots at the back of the emergency line and keep them there.

[la-trucker]

27. Darwin awards time

When people rely on religion instead of science, this is bound to happen

[progressoid]

40. But this isn't limited to them.

Good people will die from their actions.

[la-trucker]

41. That is absolutely true

They are exposing their loved ones and their colleagues and others they may contact with

[customerserviceguy]

29. Somebody had it right a couple of days ago

They should be referred to as "Branch Covidians".

[get the red out]

30. RW Religion

Is about the collection plate, worshipping Trump, and owning the libs.

They are all arrogant, the conning ministers and their devout followers both. A sick symbiotic relationship that can now kill the body as well as the usual rotting of the mind.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

31. Yes, my experience as well with the "new" breed of Christian.

They in no way are like the people I was raised around in the 50s and 60s in the Southern Baptist Church. Love, humility and compassion were the primary themes with virtually no evangelical leanings other than a few overseas missionaries.

Then, in the 90s when I was around some who identified as prosperity gospel Christians, I just about lost it......

[keithbvadu2]

33. The "prosperity gospel" pastors/collectors seem to do much better in the prosperity than the investo

The "prosperity gospel" pastors/collectors seem to do much better in the prosperity than the investors/donors.

[get the red out]

43. I recall similar in the 70s until Falwell

My parents were "Church of Christ" and my paternal grand-parents were Baptists. They seemed to be trying to follow their religion but not a "preacher". When I was growing up in Paintsville, KY in the 70s, There was one Baptist Church in town that was considered irrationally conservative by most everyone else, even other Baptists I knew. They were NUTS about preventing teenagers in the congregation from attending school dances! They always scheduled some youth activity during dances at either of the two high schools. A friend whose parents were totally into that Church made him go to Liberty University. He wanted to be free so bad! It took him years and a bad marriage then divorce from a woman he met at Liberty to start that process. A harbinger of things to come IMO.

I have a first cousin who is a Freewill Baptist Preacher, all his conversations are full of a religious fanatic code. My Sister and I can't even hold a conversation with the guy. Our worlds are so different culturally that it was like trying to understand the cultural conversation norms with someone from another country as you go along, with no explanation.

[Turbineguy]

32. When the infection curve turns

it's the evangelicals and trump supporters that will insure its gentle slope instead of precipitous drop.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

35. Yep, they'll mourn their dead and go right back into the same bad habits.

After all, those collection plates must be filled (*)............

* Although I'll bet most have set up on-line means of contributing. Visa, Mastercard and AMEX gladly accepted.

[nilram]

34. Let me know how that works out for ya!

[Raine]

36. I'm glad that I don't know anyone

stupid enough to participate in something like. Unfortunately they have certainly put enormous amounts of people in danger as they pass it along.

[struggle4progress]

37. "Our whole church is planning to go over Niagara Falls in barrels, to demonstrate our deep faith!"

[jmg257]

39. Theyre all gonna die...

Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2020, 08:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Unfortunately they are going to take a lot of other people with them.

Fucking lock the doors next time they congregate - and do not let them out for 14 days or more.

[Initech]

42. Shit like this is why this is going to be dragged out months instead of weeks.