Around New England

Worcester Pastor To Be Fined $300 For Holding Church Service

May 3, 2020

The pastor of a church in Worcester is going to be fined $300 tomorrow for holding a church service for more than 10 people, the city manager said.

Pastor Kris Casey led a service for several dozen people Sunday, May 3 at Adams Square Baptist Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the second Sunday in a row that Casey disregarded Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s executive order of March 23 limiting most public gatherings to 10 or fewer people, including what the order calls “faith-based” events.

Edward M. Augustus Jr., the city manager of Worcester, released a written statement Sunday afternoon saying that Casey will be fined $300 on Monday, May 4.

Here is the text of the statement, in full:

It is the city’s understanding that the pastor of the Adams Square Baptist Church has today violated Governor Baker’s order prohibiting public gatherings of more than 10 people. It is disappointing that despite all of the sound medical advice, and evidence of the effectiveness of limiting public gathering in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, that this pastor has chosen to ignore that. In so doing, he is putting the health of his parishioners, and anyone they may come in direct contact with, at risk. As such, tomorrow the pastor will be presented with a $300 civil fine, which is in accordance with the fine allowed for a second violation of the Governor’s order.