Washington D.C., Apr 16, 2020 / 12:00 pm
The governor of New Jersey said on Wednesday that he had not considered the Bill of Rights when issuing an order banning religious gatherings as part of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Appearing on Fox News on April 15, Gov. Phil Murphy (D), a Catholic, was questioned by host Tucker Carlson about his executive order in the light of constitutional protections for religious worship and the freedom to congregate.
In Lakewood, New Jersey, 15 people attending a funeral for a recently-deceased rabbi were arrested at a synagogue on April 1 and charged with violating the order. Other religious events, including weddings, have been dispersed by police due to the order.
When asked how these policies were in line with the Constitution, Murphy replied "that's above my pay grade," and added that he had not considered the constitution when he made the order.