The Dawson Springs area church accused by Governor Andy Beshear of worsening the spread of COVID-19 in Hopkins County by meeting against state guidance and by allegedly encouraging sick people to attend is refuting some of those claims.
Star of Bethlehem Church, which Governor Beshear never mentioned by name during his remarks Wednesday, has retained the Nelson, McDonald and Shrewsbury law firm to represent its interests.
The governor said on Wednesday that the church had a “preacher from Texas come down to Dawson Springs March 15 and 16.” Beshear claimed that when the visiting preacher left, “multiple families were sick” and further claimed the church had made a social media post saying those people only had the flu and not the coronavirus. The governor cited information that he had been given that several interviews after the fact revealed that sick individuals were encouraged to attend instead of quarantining at home.
Beshear attributed the church’s actions to COVID-19 spreading to a business, nursing home, ambulance service and a healthcare facility.
The governor first asked churches to not meet for in-person services on March 11 before ordering all social gatherings, including churches, to cease eight days later.
Attorneys issued a statement on behalf of the church Friday night claiming, “On March 12th 2020, Jack Whitfield, Judge Executive of Hopkins County, Kentucky, stated in a Facebook briefing that he did not consider Hopkins County in a state of emergency due to the lack of cases, also stating that he was not one to overreact and panic and that if the Governor makes changes and passes information to counties they would comply.”
The church acknowledges it met after the governor’s request against it on Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16, but says a March 17 service was canceled after local schools and restaurants were closed on March 16.
Star of Bethlehem says the church had been closed for three days when the March 19 order was issued and says it has “followed the Orders of both the Governor and local leaders.” They also claim to have cooperated with the local health department in its efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
They say the health department contacted the church on March 25 with information members had tested positive and with a request for a list of names of people who could have been in contact with the infected individuals. The list was provided and the church believes that everyone who was asked to quarantine complied.
Addressing the allegation that some were told to attend while sick the statement says, “This is simply not true. Star of Bethlehem has never encouraged or requested sick church members attend services.” They also assert the visiting preacher from Texas was not sick and hasn’t been sick since the revival.
The letter says, “Star of Bethlehem has suffered great losses within their congregation and will continue to grieve as church members and community suffer.” They also vow to “cooperate with local and state officials and lend any assistance possible.”
Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton on Thursday acknowledged several of the cases are connected to the church, but discouraged anyone from bullying members—saying many others in the community have held or attended other social gatherings where the virus could have spread.
Hopkins has been one of the hardest hit counties in western Kentucky with over 40 confirmed cases and four deaths.
Listen below to Gov. Beshear’s comments on church from Wednesday:
Mayor Cotton’s comments on discouraging bullying from Thursday:
Gov. Beshear orders gatherings, including churches, to cease on March 19
Gov. Beshear asks churches to cease in-person meetings on March 11
Church Statement:
