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pstokely

(10,529 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:17 AM Mar 2020

Florida Megachurch Reluctant To Cancel Services Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Source: Huffpost

As one of the most prominent Hispanic evangelical leaders in the nation, Maldonado’s challenge for faithful people to attend church amid a global pandemic carries weight. He is a televangelist and the lead pastor of a 7,000-seat megachurch in a Miami suburb that draws even more attendees at nine satellite campuses.

As of Tuesday evening, it doesn’t appear that the church is planning to cancel in-person worship, despite requests from local and federal authorities to avoid large gatherings to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/king-jesus-church-florida-coronavirus_n_5e7120e8c5b60fb69ddf6f66

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Florida Megachurch Reluctant To Cancel Services Amid Coronavirus Outbreak (Original Post) pstokely Mar 2020 OP
let's see: do they care more about people, or money? Skittles Mar 2020 #1
Maybe Darwin? Lithos Mar 2020 #2
If prayer worked, Scarsdale Mar 2020 #21
Grifters gonna grift... RockRaven Mar 2020 #3
"God will exempt true believers from the new coronavirus," Maldonado said. greyl Mar 2020 #4
And if you get it, YOUR faith wasn't strong enough. FiveGoodMen Mar 2020 #36
That is going to be very sad Hekate Mar 2020 #5
Wish local law enforcement could lock the idiots in and just drop off food and water 😬 MLAA Mar 2020 #6
I wish they would just lock them in. Jamastiene Mar 2020 #15
Oh, I think he's right... in fact, ALL the megachurches should continue having services! TygrBright Mar 2020 #7
They will spread it to innocent bystanders elsewhere in public Jamastiene Mar 2020 #16
I'm a bit surprised. The mega church here in Georgia asked their members to attend their services napi21 Mar 2020 #8
That makes far more sense n/t Jamastiene Mar 2020 #17
I have no problem with them not canceling the services. cstanleytech Mar 2020 #9
$$$$$$$ demosincebirth Mar 2020 #10
our episcopal bishop of san jaquin california has closed all of our churches . AllaN01Bear Mar 2020 #11
A church service cannot happen without coughs and sneezes. And then... Beartracks Mar 2020 #12
And how about a communion service? blugbox Mar 2020 #35
Florida Megachurch Reluctant To Cancel Services Amid Coronavirus Outbreak FelineOverlord Mar 2020 #13
They should be forced to stay there and quarantine in place together. Jamastiene Mar 2020 #14
The only good answer for them! (if they know, this will they STILL attend?) bluestarone Mar 2020 #33
I am getting tired of making fun of this dumbfuckery? Brainfodder Mar 2020 #18
Sign Mandatory Waiver Roy Rolling Mar 2020 #19
Would it be called Scarsdale Mar 2020 #22
So sad "organized" religions have so much power over people who don't know better. Judi Lynn Mar 2020 #20
Declare a State of Emergency in the County and place deputies outside rpannier Mar 2020 #23
money money money money money money money money money truthisfreedom Mar 2020 #24
Florida man needs his money............... nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #25
Ironic. 'televangelist' wants in-person services (nt) apnu Mar 2020 #26
Life Tabernacle Church attendees in Baton Rouge are believed to be immune from corona virus. tetedur Mar 2020 #27
Fewer IQ45 voters in LA come Nov. paleotn Mar 2020 #28
'A Florida man' Traildogbob Mar 2020 #29
Too much money to be made from donors. Hmmm. Sounds familiar. NurseJackie Mar 2020 #30
Grifters gotta grift. NT Happy Hoosier Mar 2020 #31
SHOW ME THE MONEY! Chops to Tom Cruise! machoneman Mar 2020 #32
Bolt the fucking doors shut once they are inside. The Mouth Mar 2020 #34
This is the virtually the same script that undermined South Korea's first rate public health efforts soryang Mar 2020 #37

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
21. If prayer worked,
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 05:24 AM
Mar 2020

tRump would not be president. His ugly mug would not be on TV and computer screens daily.

RockRaven

(14,974 posts)
3. Grifters gonna grift...
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:26 AM
Mar 2020

"If they don't show up every week, they might realize they don't actually need to give me money on the regular... that's not what Jeebus wants!!!"

greyl

(22,990 posts)
4. "God will exempt true believers from the new coronavirus," Maldonado said.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:33 AM
Mar 2020

The "holy man" only values the tens of thousands of dollars goers will sacrifice to him this Sunday.

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
15. I wish they would just lock them in.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 02:59 AM
Mar 2020

Let them pray for food and water. Other lunatics who think like them will drop off more food and water than they have room to store.

Don't use taxpayers' money to feed them and reward their bad, selfish behavior, while they endanger other lives by not following the simplest of suggestions to stop the spread of the virus.

TygrBright

(20,762 posts)
7. Oh, I think he's right... in fact, ALL the megachurches should continue having services!
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:35 AM
Mar 2020

And really encourage their congregations to attend.

(I'm probably piling up enough bad karma to spend several incarnations as a factory farm animal with that, but...)

wistfully,
Bright

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
16. They will spread it to innocent bystanders elsewhere in public
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 03:02 AM
Mar 2020

later though. If there was a way to get them to spread it between each other and not endanger the lives of others in public later, after church, then go for it. This? They way they are doing this? It is selfish and will make it take longer to flatten the curve.

Better yet, let ALL the megachurches have services, but lock their asses in there. Let them pray for whatever they need to survive together in there.

napi21

(45,806 posts)
8. I'm a bit surprised. The mega church here in Georgia asked their members to attend their services
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:36 AM
Mar 2020

on line & on TV. They said they were doing that for the safety of their members. The 2 Catholic Churches here did the same thing. Even told their parishioners they would be fulfilling their obligation to attend mass on Sunday by attending an on line or internet mass. To me that looks like the Church in Fla. only cares about the money!

cstanleytech

(26,299 posts)
9. I have no problem with them not canceling the services.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:39 AM
Mar 2020

Of course the people will not be allowed to leave to go home for 2 to 6 weeks afterwards but hey atleast they did get to have their services.

AllaN01Bear

(18,271 posts)
11. our episcopal bishop of san jaquin california has closed all of our churches .
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:56 AM
Mar 2020

time for everyone to do daily devotionals .

Beartracks

(12,816 posts)
12. A church service cannot happen without coughs and sneezes. And then...
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 01:24 AM
Mar 2020

... all these people share air and shake hands and then disperse among the rest of the population -- potentially sharing WAY more than the good news of Jesus Christ.

==========

blugbox

(951 posts)
35. And how about a communion service?
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 10:40 AM
Mar 2020

Many churches pass around a bowl of cracker chunks that all the hands get to rummage through. Find your perfect piece then straight in the mouth...

FelineOverlord

(3,580 posts)
13. Florida Megachurch Reluctant To Cancel Services Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 02:06 AM
Mar 2020

Does Florida have a limit on how many people can gather in one place like so many other states do?

After seeing the spring break beach photos, I guess not?

Because Gov. DeSantis can definitely shut this down.

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
14. They should be forced to stay there and quarantine in place together.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 02:56 AM
Mar 2020

If they want to spread that crap to each other, go right ahead, but don't risk the rest of the public's lives because they refuse to follow the simplest of suggestions to stop spreading this virus. Lock them in there together and make them ride it out locked in there just praying to their God. See if he will magically produce the stuff they need to survive in there. Selfish assholes.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
18. I am getting tired of making fun of this dumbfuckery?
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 03:08 AM
Mar 2020

Only takes one dead's kin and a bit of lighter fluid?

Seriously, they have no brains at all?

These $coundrels are putting many at risk, ah religion, it has that habit doesn't it?
PUN intended







Roy Rolling

(6,918 posts)
19. Sign Mandatory Waiver
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 03:25 AM
Mar 2020

During hurricanes, law enforcement asks those who refuse to evacuate to list next of kin because EMS can’t help them once the wind starts blowing.

Every church attendee needs to sign a waiver declining a hospital bed and ventilator when they get sick. Save the sick first, the stupid second.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
22. Would it be called
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 05:30 AM
Mar 2020

"divine intervention" if the pastor and his family came down with the virus?? He is putting himself and his family in harms way, too. Can prayer cure this?

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)
20. So sad "organized" religions have so much power over people who don't know better.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 03:36 AM
Mar 2020

Anyone who feels powerless in the world, anyone who is frightened by what he/she has experienced already, anyone who senses how vulnerable he/she really is is a sitting duck for these maniacs.

They are only too happy to step forward and start playing their psychological games with the unconscious fear of unsuspecting victims.

What a shame for them to be able to do this to anyone, not to mention 10's of thousands in a "congregation."

rpannier

(24,330 posts)
23. Declare a State of Emergency in the County and place deputies outside
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 07:02 AM
Mar 2020

No one goes in, unless they want to spend their Sunday worshiping at the altar of the county jail

truthisfreedom

(23,148 posts)
24. money money money money money money money money money
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 07:04 AM
Mar 2020

money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money

tetedur

(820 posts)
27. Life Tabernacle Church attendees in Baton Rouge are believed to be immune from corona virus.
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 07:53 AM
Mar 2020
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_bf37904a-68c0-11ea-b73d-13541bd7e87a.html




The pastor of a church in Central on Tuesday evening defied the governor's order on the novel coronavirus by welcoming hundreds of people into his church, WAFB is reporting.

The Rev. Tony Spell says police showed up at Life Tabernacle Church after the service telling him the National Guard would break up any future services with more than 50 people gathered. Spell says 305 people attended the service.

Spell says he does not believe his congregation is at risk of getting COVID-19.

“We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says.”

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says those violating the governor’s proclamation could face prosecution as a last resort.

Spell said he had an even larger crowd this past weekend.

“I had 1,170 in attendance Sunday,” Spell said. “We have 27 buses on Sundays picking up people in a five-parish area.”

Traildogbob

(8,760 posts)
29. 'A Florida man'
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 08:59 AM
Mar 2020

Spring break fools, Mar-A-Logo, Mega Church Greed, 3000 ppl cruise ship unloaded, massive amounts of old people, Millions of trumpers, all leadership with heads up trumps ass, and so many “Florida Men’, build that damn wall across northern Florida. This Petri dish of fools will be ground zero. Hurry back to Florida trump family.

soryang

(3,299 posts)
37. This is the virtually the same script that undermined South Korea's first rate public health efforts
Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:41 PM
Mar 2020

The Shincheonji cult in South Korea is responsible for two thirds or more of the covid cases in South Korea. They said and did virtually the same things Maldonado is saying.

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