| Foolishness isn't faith In times of crisis and fear, many Americans rightly turn to their faith. But what happens when faith leaders put their followers in peril by insisting the only way to properly worship is to gather in large groups that risk spreading the deadly coronavirus? Officials in Florida have taken the drastic step of filing charges against a pastor who defied that state’s stay-home order, calling on congregants to attend Sunday services at his megachurch. The Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne presided over several services with several hundred parishioners at the River Church. The pastor has blasted stay-home orders as anti-Christian and an infringement on freedom of religion. He also has complained that warnings about the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic have been overblown. Mr. Howard-Browne allegedly encouraged his followers to hug each other during church services, which they apparently willingly did. Tom Walters, pastor of Word of Life Church in Hempfield, Pa., held a Sunday service late last month despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order, suggesting that such orders amount to “a direct attack against the church itself.” He later apologized but to some extent the damage was done. He had pitted public health against freedom to worship, as if the two cannot co-exist. In Louisiana, the Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge, held services for 1,200 people in violation of state rules against large gatherings. According to news reports, Mr. Spell compared himself with Jesus after a summons for his arrest was issued. “Never been more proud to be persecuted for the faith like my savior,” Mr. Spell said. Religious leaders have a special authority in the community, and Mr. Howard- Browne and Mr. Spell, especially, recklessly abused theirs. Florida and Louisiana authorities should throw the book at them. More than that, other clergy considering flouting public safety and common sense as important holidays approach in several religions should reconsider and reflect on their true responsibility to the faithful. Yes, many religions call on followers to gather together for worship — for Sunday church services, for Friday prayers, for the Seder. But as many religious leaders have argued in recent weeks, getting together in close proximity for these important rituals is not more important than human life. Foolishly insisting on holding large-group services and taking on authorities who want to prohibit it is not only reckless, it diverts energy from offering real spiritual support and comfort in a time of great need. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine has resisted issuing orders to close down worship services, rightly leery of crossing boundaries of church and state separation. Instead the governor has prevailed upon the wisdom of conscientious faith leaders. In response those leaders have nearly all done what is best for their communities, canceling in-person worship services during the pandemic and ramping up safer ministering over the phone and the Internet. Congregants do not need to risk their health and the health of their communities to practice their faiths. What they need are religious leaders who can reassure them it is all right to avoid dangerous large gatherings and who can offer alternative and safe ways to connect with each other. Canceling in-person worship services is not canceling worship. Those who jeopardize the lives of their flocks as Mr. Howard-Browne and Mr. Spell did deserve to face swift and severe justice. | 