A Louisiana pastor is facing intense criticism after he disregarded emergency state restrictions on public gatherings of over 50 people by holding a Sunday morning service for nearly 2,000 people.
Pastor Tony Spell is the leader of the Life Tabernacle Church where he regularly preaches about the evils of homosexuality and speaks in tongues.
Over the weekend, Spell bused in over 1,800 people from around the Baton Rouge area to attend his Sunday morning service.
26 buses carried in 1,825 parishioners for an outdoor service where social distancing definitely did not happen.
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Throughout the morning, worshipers could be seen sitting side-by-side, shaking hands, hugging, and touching each other. Hardly any were wearing face masks or gloves.
Spell insists that the best way to handle a pandemic by trusting in the healing hand of Jesus. He adds that if any of the people who attended Sunday’s service contracts COVID-19 he, personally, will heal them.
Related: Antigay preacher sued for selling fake coronavirus cure
“I’m going to address that by laying hands on them and praying for them and depending on God to heal their body,” Spell told local media in an interview.
In addition to the service, the church served 1,000 lunches, conducted nine water baptisms, and collected 30 pints of blood from blood donors.
Spell says pastors, not doctors, nurses, and public health professions, should be the first responders during pandemics.
“When the paramedics can’t get there, when the law enforcement can’t get there, the holy ghost can get there it will make a difference in someone’s life,” he insists.
Governor John Bel Edwards responded to Spell’s behavior by once again urging everyone, especially faith leaders, to respect emergency state restrictions that have been put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“I would urge that faith leaders and all faith leaders to heed this directive and not necessarily engage in mass gatherings where this coronavirus can spread,” Edwards said.
Louisiana currently has the fastest growing rate of coronavirus cases in the world and the third highest number of cases per capita in the country, behind New York and Washington state.
Related: Tennis champ Margaret Court says ‘blood of Jesus’ will save her church from coronavirus
Cam
Those grifters are’t going to let the possible death of people stop them from scamming as much money as they can.
frapachino
Hey Graham where’s the story on Andrew Gillum?
Harley
Everybody already knows about him. What are you, some MAGA hat wearing Russian troll? You keep posting this nonsense on every article. Give it a rest already.
Cam
Translation: The right wing anti-LGBT bigot is desperately trying to defend the right wing Christian bigot by deflecting the topic.
Evji108
You just can’t fix stupid. You can fool yourself, but you cannot fool God.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
And you absolutely know he encouraged the ignorant morons to donate as much as they possiblity can to “continue God’s work”.…
I personally am praying that abhorrent pernicious puddle of puke comes down with the most severe horrific case of corona virus leading to the most excruciating painful death.
And I fully agree with him about the Holy Ghost being at the ready. Except he is in for a shocker. Once he burns out his vile mortal coil, the Holy Ghost will appear to deliver his repugnant arse to the darkest corner of Hell to burn in unimaginable excruciating agony for all eternity….
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succubus
shut up fool
Josh in OR
Sad thing is, several of these idiot pastors of idiot congregations will end up having no COVID-19 cases in their congregation, and will take that as a sign from God that he should keep on hating and lying from the pulpit.
Religion is a cancer.
Mack
While I don’t wish ill on anyone, maybe this time it might be justified.
youarebetterthanthat
Liked I read on Reddit:
“God can hear you from home. If your church demands you to come in you’re in a cult.”
Ricanthony
Survival of the fittest. Southerners are the stupidest Americans. Good riddance if they get sick.
phtdesign
As a 71 year old southerner who has lived in New York and Germany, I can say with confidence, STUPID is not confined to the south! ?
blackhook
You can’t help STUPID! It boggles the mind how anyone can fall for these charlatans, and actually give them their hard-earned money. Hocus pocus dominocus indeed! #ImagineNoReligion #ItsEasyIfYouTry
justgeo
I hope he blessed them all by licking their snot!
nitejonboy
Sometimes I am really ashamed to live here in Louisiana…I live in the north part of the state, far away from this fukin moron, but I do hope the governor shuts this shit down and arrests him if he tries this again. These people may be stupid but they wouldn’t be going to these revivals if the moron didn’t open the doors, so they need to shut it down to save them from themselves.Religion really does make people stupid….you can love God and not need religion ya know ?
1898
“In addition to the service, the church served 1,000 lunches, conducted nine water baptisms, and collected 30 pints of blood from blood donors.”
ummm… how was the blood collected, and by whom? it’s hard for me to imagine that the Red Cross would willingly participate in an event that knowingly went against state and federal CDC guidance
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Evil Smcubag probably drinks it …..
john.k
Believers should remember that when the Creator gave us brains (s)he meant us to use them!
GayVeteranOfcr
No one should assume that God will save them from their stupid acts.
That is a prideful sin, to assume they’ll have help in that way.
What have each of them done to help others?
Nothing – they seek help without helping others, only for themselves, as though God will help them even though they committed sin of pride.