Have churches in the U.S. been affected by coronavirus-related restrictions? A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers in the United States saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now. Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature has pushed through a law that bans local or state officials from ordering all houses of worship in the state or in a particular geographic region to close.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the law Wednesday ― even though he hasn't ordered churches to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reportedly never contemplated taking such a step, Cleveland.com reported.

The purpose of House Bill 272 is to protect Ohioans' freedom of religion in the future, state Sen. Terry Johnson, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen several states encroach on Americans' First Amendment right of worship and assembly, disregarding it completely by forcing the closure of places of worship and religious institutions," Johnson said. "While I am thankful that no such order was imposed in Ohio, this amendment is a preemptive step should we ever find ourselves in this situation again." Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Despite repeated warnings from health experts about the risk of social interaction amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, governors in at least four states have exempted houses of worship from statewide bans on mass gatherings, and this weekend will offer a first test to see if any congregations forge ahead despite the warnings. Have Democrat-led states imposed coronavirus-related restrictions on churches? Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has banned gatherings of 50 or more and signed a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday. But both mandates explicitly exempt houses of worship from the misdemeanor penalty for violators.

"That's an area we don't have the ability to directly enforce or control," Whitmer said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tightened restrictions on mass gatherings in her state to no more than 10 people. But much like with Michigan, she exempted houses of worship as long as congregants engage in appropriate social distancing. Ohio officials carved out exemptions for religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals, from its stay-at-home order, on top of a broad exemption for any gathering "for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech." And this week, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luhan Grisham (D) imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more that excludes those "congregated in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship."
The Democrats want to shut down U.S. churches permanently.
Claim: The Democrats want to shut down U.S. churches permanently.

Evidence: Have churches in the U.S. been affected by coronavirus-related restrictions? A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers in the United States saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now. Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature has pushed through a law that bans local or state officials from ordering all houses of worship in the state or in a particular geographic region to close.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the law Wednesday ― even though he hasn't ordered churches to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reportedly never contemplated taking such a step, Cleveland.com reported.

The purpose of House Bill 272 is to protect Ohioans' freedom of religion in the future, state Sen. Terry Johnson, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen several states encroach on Americans' First Amendment right of worship and assembly, disregarding it completely by forcing the closure of places of worship and religious institutions," Johnson said. "While I am thankful that no such order was imposed in Ohio, this amendment is a preemptive step should we ever find ourselves in this situation again." Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Despite repeated warnings from health experts about the risk of social interaction amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, governors in at least four states have exempted houses of worship from statewide bans on mass gatherings, and this weekend will offer a first test to see if any congregations forge ahead despite the warnings. Have Democrat-led states imposed coronavirus-related restrictions on churches? Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has banned gatherings of 50 or more and signed a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday. But both mandates explicitly exempt houses of worship from the misdemeanor penalty for violators.

"That's an area we don't have the ability to directly enforce or control," Whitmer said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tightened restrictions on mass gatherings in her state to no more than 10 people. But much like with Michigan, she exempted houses of worship as long as congregants engage in appropriate social distancing. Ohio officials carved out exemptions for religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals, from its stay-at-home order, on top of a broad exemption for any gathering "for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech." And this week, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luhan Grisham (D) imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more that excludes those "congregated in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship."

Which of the following options is true?

Options: 

 - supported

 - refuted

 - not enough evidence

 - conflicting Evidence/Cherrypicking
refuted
Claim: The Democrats want to shut down U.S. churches permanently.

Evidence: Have churches in the U.S. been affected by coronavirus-related restrictions? A survey by the Pew Research Center in April found more than 90% of regular churchgoers in the United States saying their churches had closed their doors to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with the vast majority saying that worship services had moved entirely online. Social hours and church suppers are a thing of the past, at least for now. Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature has pushed through a law that bans local or state officials from ordering all houses of worship in the state or in a particular geographic region to close.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the law Wednesday ― even though he hasn't ordered churches to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and has reportedly never contemplated taking such a step, Cleveland.com reported.

The purpose of House Bill 272 is to protect Ohioans' freedom of religion in the future, state Sen. Terry Johnson, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen several states encroach on Americans' First Amendment right of worship and assembly, disregarding it completely by forcing the closure of places of worship and religious institutions," Johnson said. "While I am thankful that no such order was imposed in Ohio, this amendment is a preemptive step should we ever find ourselves in this situation again." Are churches exempted from coronavirus-related restrictions in some states? Despite repeated warnings from health experts about the risk of social interaction amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, governors in at least four states have exempted houses of worship from statewide bans on mass gatherings, and this weekend will offer a first test to see if any congregations forge ahead despite the warnings. Have Democrat-led states imposed coronavirus-related restrictions on churches? Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has banned gatherings of 50 or more and signed a statewide stay-at-home order on Monday. But both mandates explicitly exempt houses of worship from the misdemeanor penalty for violators.

"That's an area we don't have the ability to directly enforce or control," Whitmer said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tightened restrictions on mass gatherings in her state to no more than 10 people. But much like with Michigan, she exempted houses of worship as long as congregants engage in appropriate social distancing. Ohio officials carved out exemptions for religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals, from its stay-at-home order, on top of a broad exemption for any gathering "for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech." And this week, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luhan Grisham (D) imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more that excludes those "congregated in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship."

Which of the following options is true?

Options: 

 - supported

 - refuted

 - not enough evidence

 - conflicting Evidence/Cherrypicking
user
refuted
assistant