Prayers answered: HB 542 makes law what many believe our God-given right

Trinity Angican Church on Rochester Hill Road was one of few churches that never stopped holding inperson services during the lockdown; inset, the church's pastor, Matthew Mirabile (Courtesy photos)

This weekend at churches all over the Northern Seacoast, ministers, priests and rabbis gathered with parishioners in seeking worship, spirituality, healing and fellowship in a world that is perhaps harder to understand than ever before.

Thanks to HB 542, recently signed into law by New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, these gathering will never be unfairly targeted ever again like they were in last year's months-long pandemic shutdown when liquor stores and Home Depot were open for business while houses of worship across the region were shut tight.

"In a free society religious liberty is one of the keystone rights we have," Keith Ammon, R-New Boston, told The Rochester Voice on Wednesday. "Anytime that liberty gets restricted we are losing one of our rights as Americans. With this bill it's protected the way our founders wanted it to be."

HB 542, tabbed in its forward as "an act relative to the protection of religious liberty," states that during states of emergency a church must be treated as an "essential service" just like a hardware or liquor store," Ammon said.

While the fact that liquor stores were open while churches were shuttered may have seemed a cruel farce, one Rochester pastor said their closures did real damage to many of those most at risk, especially those with mental health and substances abuse issues.

"We shouldn't be talking just about the dangers of COVID here," said the Rev. Matthew Mirabile, rector of Trinity Anglican Church. "There's the mental health aspect. Churches play a big part in the health of a community."

Trinity was one of the few area churches that stayed open to worship throughout the shutdown, including continuation of their Deep Recovery Program, which combines faith, neuroscience and skills for personal transformation for those dealing with addiction and other "life-controlling problems."

"I'm confident we saved one or two lives," Rev. Mirabile said on Friday. "I actually had one man that told me personally, 'If it weren't for you guys, I'm not sure I'd be here right now.'"

The bill, which becomes law in October, means that churches can stay open if choose were there another COVID lockdown, Gov. Sununu told The Rochester Voice on Thursday.

While Gov. Sununu said he doesn't anticipate more lockdowns, the bill makes it clear "you can't treat religious institutions differently than other "essential services."

Father Mirabile said while they were open during the lockdowns, they observed strict social distancing, mask wearing and occupancy requirements as well as modifying the sacraments by using disposable cups for sacramental wine.

"We never had anyone get sick from coming to church," he said, adding that the unintended consequences of the lockdowns did severe damage to those most vulnerable.

"It's surprising that those who are concerned about mental health would be against keeping churches open," he added. "It's a proven scientific fact that a positive environment, and positive feelings help strengthen the immune system, and prayer is part of that. There have been enough articles about domestic violence increasing, suicide and drug and alcohol abuse. We should be doing anything we can to alleviate that, and clergy are among the first people come to see when they're having these crises."

The new law, which goes into effect in October, allows the individual minister, priest or rabbi to make the best decision for their flock, said Ammon, who said he was surprised the Republican-sponsored bill was so partisan.

Only six Democrats voted for it, he said.

Opponents of the bill said it was a public health issue and worshiping together in one place can spread the disease.

"You have to have a sense of priorities," Ammon said. "I mean, is there a higher authority than the government?"