Louis J. Virelli III quoted in story about arrest of pastor for violating the ‘safer-at-home’ order
By Chelsea Chatham and Eric Glasser
WTSP Channel 10
March 30, 2020
Excerpt
Lou Virelli, a constitutional law professor at Stetson University, says a U.S. Supreme Court case from 30 years ago – Employment Division v. Smith, essentially says that as long as the government isn’t asking the church to do something it isn’t asking everyone else to do, it’s on solid legal ground.
“Of course, if they were targeting churches, if worship ceremonies were singled out, that would be a totally different situation,” Virelli said. “But I think it’s fair to say that’s not what’s happening here.”
This article was originally published on the WTSP Channel 10 website on March 30, 2020, with the headline, “Pastor arrested, accused of violating ‘safer-at-home’ order by holding Sunday services.”
Post date: March 30, 2020
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580