Texas voters pass new amendment, removes hindrances limiting religious services

November 3, 2021501 views0

Texas voters pass new amendment, removes hindrances limiting religious services

2021-11-03T19:28:56+01:00

By Bede

Texas voters have passed all eight amendments to the state constitution in which proposition 3 was among.The amendment will prevent the state as well as cities and counties from limiting religious services at houses of worship and elsewhere.At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, worship services across the country were shut down in order to limit the spread of the disease. Some Texas churches turned to live streaming in order to make services available.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who identifies himself as a defender of religious liberty, earlier in the pandemic deemed houses of worship essential services, allowing them to get around stay-at-home orders. He even exempted them from a statewide mask mandate.Still, worship services were linked to COVID-19 outbreaks across the country. In Mississippi, health officials recommend everyone 65 and older or 16 or older with high-risk medical conditions be fully vaccinated against coronavirus before attending indoor services.All congregants were also advised to wear a face mask at all times during in-person services and Sunday school classes and maintain 6 feet of separation from people who don’t live in the same house as them.The officials further urged people not to gather in close groups while entering or exiting the building and should use hand sanitizer.Singing at services is “a high-risk activity that can quickly spread viral particles,” officials said.“It is preferable to not have choirs; however, if choirs are performing, they should be small in number, masked, and separated by six feet,” the Mississippi Health Department said in the release.READ ALSO: Why Kentucky Baptist Convention president wants sex abuse task force