Two Del. pastors win lawsuit against Gov. Carney

DELAWARE – The Delaware Supreme Court has unanimously concluded that Governor John Carney repeatedly violated the religious freedoms of two pastors and their congregations during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

The lawsuit was filed by Reverend Alan Hines of Townsend Free Will Baptist Church and Reverend David Landow of Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

The pastors sought a declaration that the Emergency Orders that Governor Carney issued, during the March to June 2020 timeframe, were illegal. This includes prohibiting in person Sunday religious services, preventing indoor preaching, banning singing, barring the elderly from church, prohibiting Baptism, prohibiting the Lord’s Supper, and favoring Jewish circumcisions over Christian baptisms.

The Delaware Supreme Court declined to issue future injunctive relief against Carney, but did make it clear that he can never issue such orders again.