Tampa megachurch pastor arrested after leading packed services despite 'safer-at-home' orders

[ShookKnight]

Tampa megachurch pastor arrested after leading packed services despite 'safer-at-home' orders

The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a "safer at home" order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff says up to 500 people were in attendance at Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne's Sunday services.

www.fox13news.com

Yeah, yeah, Christians are being persecuted (thanks Obama).

But, here is the BEST part of this story;

On Sunday, Howard-Browne defended his decision to keep the church open in a video posted to his YouTube channel, claiming the building had the technology to eradicate any virus.

"We brought in 13 machines that basically kill every virus in the place," Howard-Browne said. "If they sneeze it shoots it down like at 100 miles per hour and it will neutralize it in a split second."

Machines!! 13 machines that kill EVERY virus in place!!

Wow!! Such powerful machines!!

What a time to be alive!!

... wait, this religious leader wouldn't by LYING at a time like this to exploit fears and take people's money... would he?

 

[snoopy7548]

Good. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[shortylickens]

Yet more evidence half the country wants to move forward, and half the country wants to move backwards.

They won't be happy until we're living in the Inquisition again.

 

[thilanliyan]

But muh free speech!! Religions are people!! More lib persecution of cons!! Etc etc.

 

[sandorski]

pew pew pew, Corona ded...

 

[soulcougher73]

Sheeple led to the slaughter in the name of god and stupidity.

 

[soulcougher73]

pew pew pew, Corona ded...

Or lots of dead sheeple in the pew pew pews 😛

 

[sandorski]

Or lots of dead sheeple in the pew pew pews 😛

It's unfortunate that the Pastor isn't John Bolton. The memes would be obvious.

 

[Leymenaide]

Why are so many so desperate to believe anything? You should see the look on their faces when I explain to them that I teach Math because it is the only truth.

 

[dphantom]

Why are so many so desperate to believe anything? You should see the look on their faces when I explain to them that I teach Math because it is the only truth.

your belief sounds eerily familiar....

 

[Moonbeam]

Seems like people exercise the same irrational faith every time they go to the store these days.

 

[MtnMan]

The irony of the fact that people ignore a real thing (COVID-19) to go and beg (pray) to the imaginary thing (any god) to save them from the real threat (COVID-19).

 

[kage69]

Sorry but organized religion is mental masturbation performed for an audience.

This pastor is an exhibitionist of this fiction and doesn't care if feeding his routine costs lives. He's probably got a tax exempt lifestyle to support. Those extra houses, cars and private jets don't buy themselves folks.

 

[kage69]

your belief sounds eerily familiar....

That sounds eerily like a post from one who thinks atheism is a religion. *insert abstinence/sex position comparison here*

Can you name any religion or belief system that enjoys the certitude that math does? Or are you another deist who gets irked when people use the term "truth" the correct way?

 

[hal2kilo]

Tampa megachurch pastor arrested after leading packed services despite 'safer-at-home' orders

The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a "safer at home" order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff says up to 500 people were in attendance at Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne's Sunday services.

www.fox13news.com

Yeah, yeah, Christians are being persecuted (thanks Obama).

But, here is the BEST part of this story;



Machines!! 13 machines that kill EVERY virus in place!!

Wow!! Such powerful machines!!

What a time to be alive!!

... wait, this religious leader wouldn't by LYING at a time like this to exploit fears and take people's money... would he?

Sounds like electrostatic cig smoke filters.

 

[HomerJS]

Doesn't this sound just like Trump and his supporters have treated COVID-19? Trump changed his tune when the stock market tanked but his morons are still fighting the last war.

 

[UNCjigga]

Evangelical pastors all need to hire an IT guy who can setup a live stream and an online collection plate. ATers should be making bank on this!!

 

[kage69]

Doesn't this sound just like Trump and his supporters have treated COVID-19? Trump changed his tune when the stock market tanked but his morons are still fighting the last war.

Losing all the gains of the last three years, that must be a kick in the mushroom for a guy who thinks he's a gift to Wall Street.

You'd think a guy trying to sell the narrative of being 'a war president' would actually take war a little more seriously, but then this is Cadet Bonespurs we're talking about. Corona seems to be inspiring the same amount of duty in the "man" that the Vietnam War did.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Evangelical pastors all need to hire an IT guy who can setup a live stream and an online collection plate. ATers should be making bank on this!!

"Are you saying my soul can be saved by Jesus while I'm in my underwear drinking my morning coffee?!"

How's that for something that will never return to the old pre-covid days. People think telework is a big deal, how about tele-SALVATION!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Sorry but organized religion is mental masturbation performed for an audience.

This pastor is an exhibitionist of this fiction and doesn't care if feeding his routine costs lives. He's probably got a tax exempt lifestyle to support. Those extra houses, cars and private jets don't buy themselves folks.

Churches around here have been closed before Cuomo issued his "ten points".

I'm not certain his insurance would cover lawsuits nor would freedom of religion protect him in court concerning an "act of God". There's irony.

 

[cytg111]

I feel sorry for the public service folks that has to get close to these clowns.

 

[dainthomas]

"Are you saying my soul can be saved by Jesus while I'm in my underwear drinking my morning coffee?!"

How's that for something that will never return to the old pre-covid days. People think telework is a big deal, how about tele-SALVATION!

Wait until evangelicals get to the part of the bible that says god is everywhere. You don't even need some shyster in a fancy suit.

 

[trenchfoot]

And here I thought straight thinking Christian folks would have learned their lesson from all those Pastors who turned out to be Posers.

Legendary Pastors Who Fell From Grace

The Bible loves a good redemption story, but forgiveness only goes so far. These religious leaders who fell from grace shocked the world when their crimes and scandals became public. Fallen pastors and leaders include famous men like Ted Haggard, one of many anti-gay activists caught in a gay sex...

www.ranker.com

And those disgraced pastors are the stupid ones who fooled themselves into thinking that with God as their savior, why they could enrich themselves any 'ol which way they felt.

We now have a newer crop of Pastor Posers who've learned from the mistakes of the stupid ones and are gleefully digging into the wallets, credit cards and checkbooks of their faithful followers with more cleverness, style and pizzazz because God gave them their gift to do just that so it must be all good.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Good. We should be arresting or fining anyone not sheltering in place or ignoring social distancing at this point.

 

[dawp]

and number 2 arrested

Second pastor charged with violating public orders says church doors will still be open on Sunday | CNN

For the second time in two days, police have charged a pastor with defying public orders against large gatherings by holding church services with hundreds of members. And despite the charge, he says the church doors will still be open Sunday.

www.cnn.com