Senate Bill 263 says state and political subdivisions, like county health departments, have to allow for religious activities to take place under the same reasonable guidelines as other essential businesses, and those guidelines can't interfere with Indiana's religious freedom law.
Another bill that senator brown helped author would make religious activities essential if and when a disaster emer ency is declared.fox 55 caleb saylor is live in fort wayne tonight to tell us more about senate bill two 63...and how itl impact local religious services.senate bill 263 has been in the works since the beginning of this year and its main goal is to make religious activities essential.
The goal is to allow people to worship in person during a disaster emergency ... such as the covid-19 pandemic.
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At the beginning of the pandemic, churches shut their doors and shifted online.
Wanting to keep people safe while still practicing their faith.
But, with precautions in people are heading back.
Reverend mark gurtner, vicar general with the fort wayne south bend diocese says senate bill 263 is something he happ a bout.
Think it good thing that churches aren unjustly given restrictions more than other essential businesses, on the other hand the church is happy to cooperate with local and state health officials to make sure that everyone is safe.
The bill says state and local government leaders have to allow for religious activities to take place under the same reasonable guidelines as other essential businesses, like grocery stores and pharmacies.
Senator liz brown, who helped author the bill says religious services were deemed non- essential in the beginning, and limiting their ability to service is against the principles our country was founded on.
E certainly think th treat can someone's faith less than buying eggs and milk at the grocery store, which is what is happening.
Back up, churches would be allowed to operate at any capacity laid out for essential businesses of similar size, and would be allowed to enforce or not enforce mask wearing, which is something the fort wayne - south bend diocese is enforcing.
Many religious groups have been back in person for a while, with proper precautions in place.
And gurtner says a bill like this is all about balance between listening to the science and the need of people t the beginning of this, you know, i think we went overboar know we didn what we know.
So, now we know that we could have been in person, with a lot of precautions where at the beginning we though we had to completely shut down and it probably turned out that hat not the case.,3 senate bill has made it through the senate, has been referred to the house, amended, and sent back to the senate where it was passed by a vote of 36 to 10 and while it not on the bill watch list, senate bill 263 is now just awaiting a signature from governor holcomb.
?reporting live in fort wayne, caleb saylor.
Fox 55 news