(The Slice): The church was rendered non-essential in 2020 by the U.S. goenment causing backlash rom religious leaders. While the DC mayor relaxed Coronavirus restrictions for churches to gather on Christmas, churches had been closed to public gatheings for most of the year. The Archdiocese of Washington sued D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over the city's COVID-19 restrictions on in-person church services, calling them "arbitrary," "illegal" and "unscientific" and arguing they favor businesses like restaurants over houses of worship. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with a Colorado church in its challenge of the state's COVID-19 restrictions, vacating a lower court's order and requiring a federal appeals court to reexamine the case. The Right to beleive organization responded to these challenges to religious freedom stating in a press relase, "It should also concern people of all faiths that the courts are often all too ready to use such cases as opportunities to expand their powers and authority. Judicial overreach opens a Pandora's box of government encroachment into religious expression and free exercise. It can, and often does, lead to protracted legal battles; distracting religious organizations and nonprofits from their primary missions; and forcing them to bear heavy costs to defend themselves.
Pastor Da’Quarius Green , a 31-year-old leader of Elba Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Alabama, was shot on Dec. 23, 2025 and died several days later in the hospital after a domestic dispute at his home in Level Plains . Authorities have described the shooting as a “domestic incident” involving his wife, 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲. Local news station WTVY reported "c ourt records show that Green was arrested on misdemeanor domestic violence charges 3 times in Houston County last year, with each of those cases dismissed. Also in 2024, a woman filed a protection order against Green in Houston County in which she believed him to be a danger," but did not confirm Mrs. Massey as the suspect. Various reports indicate the couple's children were present when he was shot in the head. In one instance, a woman who shared children with Green alleged that he repeatedly struck her , including once when she was pregnant. The sitution appears to be shaping int...