Pastor Could Face 3 Years in Jail

By Woody Jenkins, Editor • Rev. Tony Spell, pastor of Central’s Life Tabernacle Church, 9323 Hooper Road, is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 22 at the Parish Courthouse downtown before 19th Judicial District Judge Bonnie Jackson.

The pastor is charged with holding church on six occasions in violation of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Emergency Orders. He could be sent to jail for up to three years. In fact, if the governor decides to push it, Rev. Spell could be charged for each of the 80 worship services he has conducted, each with a penalty of six months, or 40 years in prison.

Pastor Spell said, “Of course, at Life Tabernacle, we operate under the Bible’s admonition that we as a church must never cease assembling.  Hebrews 10:25: ‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’”

He said, “We believe the right to freedom of worship comes from God, not from man.  Government may recognize our rights or not, but governments do not create those rights.  Fortunately, here in the United States, our Founding Fathers affirmed from the very beginning of our country the true origin of ‘rights’ and spelled it out clearly in the Declaration of Independence.”

“At the state level, the state legislature makes the law.  While the Governor may be authorized to issue emergency orders, he cannot make law. It should be clear that no emergency order of a Governor can lawfully take away our constitutional rights under the First Amendment, which includes Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of Assembly.  Any attempt by the Governor to do so is ultra vires, or outside the law and of no effect.”

“When the Governor had the Chief of Police of Central come and arrest me in the sanctuary of Life Tabernacle Church, that arrest was totally unlawful.  When District Judge Fred Crifasi ordered me not to preach in church on Sunday morning, ordered that I be confined to my home, and ordered an ankle bracelet attached to my leg, all of those things were unlawful too.

“Here at Life Tabernacle, the persecution of our congregation and me personally continues, but I will not bow to the state and agree that the Governor has the lawful authority to bar me from the pulpit, or close down our church — or any church for that matter!”

Rev. Spell’s attorney, Jeff Wittenbrink, said the pastor will enter a plea at the time of the arraignment.

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