united-states religion
Gathering bans and Churches
<p>With bans on gatherings due to the virus, can the government close churches or are they exempt due to seperation laws?</p>

<p>The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment requires government restrictions on churches to satisfy a compelling government interest, such as preventing massive deaths from disease. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from granting special privileges to a specific religion or to all religions (<a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/330/1/" rel="noreferrer">Everson v. Board of Education</a>, 330 U.S. 1 – government may not "pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions or prefer one religion over another"). </p>

<p>Exempting only religious gatherings (however defined) would be unconstitutional. Restricting <em>all</em> gatherings (including religious gatherings) would be constitutional (subject to the general restrictions being itself constitutional).</p>
