JEFFERSON CITY — After a tense debate, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow houses of worship to remain open when a state of emergency is declared.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many houses of worship were advised to close their doors due to social distancing guidelines. In some areas, closures were mandated or highly restricted on the number of people that could attend services.
Rep. Sean Pouche, R-Kansas City, is from one of these places. On March 21, 2020, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a stay-at-home order that mandated people to stay home unless they were going somewhere essential, like the grocery store or a hospital.
The stay-at-home order was written so that violations would be considered misdemeanor offenses and could result in a $500 fine or six months in jail. Places of worship were not on the list of essential services.
A later amended version of the city's order allowed worship services with limited attendance numbers.
Pouche said that government mandates to close a house of worship go against the First Amendment. House Bill 2760, introduced by Pouche, is entitled the "Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency" Act or "PRAISE" Act.
Pouche's bill aims to include churches as essential services along with hardware stores and airports that were allowed to remain open during the pandemic.
"To be clear, this bill just says you cannot hold places of religious worship to any stricter guidelines than any other private entity," Pouche said. "So if your Home Depot can be open to 25% (capacity), then your church can be open to 25%."
Opponents of the bill worried that if a deadlier pandemic were to arise, this bill would put their constituents at risk. One opponent, Rep. Gregg Bush, D-Columbia, shared his experiences as a health care worker during the pandemic.
"I buried two coworkers because I was a bedside nurse during COVID," Bush said. "That's what happened to me as a bedside nurse, and I still see their faces."
Bush and other opponents went on to say that worship does not need to be held in a physical building, as worship and spirituality can come from within.
"You can have church anywhere," said Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis. "You can have it in your bathroom, your kitchen, your basement. When that tornado hit (St. Louis) on May 16, I had church in my basement."
Supporters of the bill said that for some, houses of worship were a place of solace during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that they are essential.
"I think being able to practice your faith, going to church, is the most essential thing," said Rep. Bill Hardwick, R-Dixon.
Supporters argued the bill would protect churches from government oversight, not give them free rein to ignore health concerns.
Pouche said that when the decision is left to places of worship, he believes a congregation's leaders will make the right decision for their members.
"Most people trust their preacher or their leader of their congregation," Pouche said. "I really believe that those leaders will not put their flock in jeopardy if they have the information given to them."