Police Ask Worcester Pastor To Obey Coronavirus Ban, He Declines

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester pastor held a worship service Sunday in defiance of Gov. Charlie Baker's order against public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic — and the pastor has told police he'll continue to hold services.

The Rev. Kris Casey of Adams Square Baptist Church alerted city officials April 22 that he would hold the regular in-person Sunday service April 26. In a letter, Casey said it's wrong that liquor stores and other businesses can stay open and places of worship can't.

"[I]t would seem that religious services are the only essential function whose core activity — association for the purpose of worship — has been basically eliminated," the letter says. "Such a shutdown of religious services violates clear Constitutional rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments."

About 56 people showed up to the service, according to officials. During normal times, the church attracts about 100 people for Sunday service. The church observed social distancing guidelines during the service, Casey pointed out. The church also broadcasts its services live over YouTube.

Mayor Joseph Petty and City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. both chastised Casey on Monday for putting the public at risk during the coronavirus crisis. The number of residents in the city with coronavirus rose to 1,806 on Monday, and 91 people have died of the virus at the city's hospitals.

Augustus sent Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent to the church on Monday to tell Casey to stop holding services. Casey told police he planned to hold another service Wednesday, Augustus said.

The city could fine the church, but Augustus said he hopes it doesn't come to that.

"It's really unfortunate that one faith-based group would choose to not follow the governor's order as every other faith-based group, and every social group, and business, and all the rest of the community have," he said. "I'm hopeful the pastor reconsiders."

The church isn't the first in Worcester to defy Baker's order. On March 18, a police officer with the alcohol enforcement unit witnessed people eating and drinking at the Vintage Grille.

And over the last few weeks, conservative activists across the country have been holding rallies demanding that states reopen as usual. One such rally is planned for Boston on May 1, just as the state hits the plateau of the coronavirus curve. Baker is expected to make an announcement this week about when he will lift the statewide ban on gatherings.