Court weighs in on applying mass gathering ban to churches

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP/WTVQ) – A federal appeals court has declined to block the Kentucky governor’s temporary ban on mass gatherings from applying to in-person religious services.

The three-judge panel ruled Saturday.

It cleared the way for Maryville Baptist Church to hold drive-in worship services while adhering to public health requirements.

That’s an alternative Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has encouraged throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

But the panel stopped short of applying its order to in-person worship services.

The ruling came after the church asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an emergency order stopping Beshear’s mass gathering ban from being enforced against religious services.

Maryville Baptist hailed the ruling as a legal victory for the church.

Governor Andy Beshear was asked for his reaction to the ruling at his coronavirus briefing on Sunday.

“So my question is, they went to court, they say it’s a victory, are they abiding by it?  Now, the 6th Circuit has said okay, no in-person, but drive-in and they say hey, we won.  Are they going to abide by it?  I just hope that they do,” Beshear said.