The controversial story of the Sacramento Slavic church linked to 71 coronavirus infections

 | 
04/04/2020

Bethany Slavic Missionary Church doesn’t shy away from controversy. The giant Pentecostal church near Rancho Cordova, one of the cornerstones of the Sacramento area’s Eastern European immigrant community, injected itself into a fierce and borderline violent debate over gay rights more than a decade ago, earning rebukes from elected officials and scorn from the gay community over its tactics. Last year, its members participated in protests at the state Capitol against a bill that strengthened California’s vaccination laws. And now Bethany Slavic and its 3,500 members have found themselves accused by Sacramento County health officials of blatantly violating the stay-at-home orders designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Peter Beilenson, county’s health director, said 71 people linked to the church, including congregants and people they know, have been infected with the virus, including one person who has died. The cluster at Bethany Slavic accounts for nearly one-fifth of all the COVID-19 cases in the county as of Friday.

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 11/23/2024
11/23/2024
Members of the LGBTQ community in the Philippines can adopt children as individuals, but legal adoption does not extend to same-sex couples due to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
11/22/2024
Donald Trump announced today (Friday, Nov. 22) that he is nominating hedge fund executive Scott Besent, a top fundraising for the Trump campaign, to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
11/22/2024
A housing program in Vancouver is ensuring that transgender and two-spirit people have a safe place to call home. CBC’s Caroline Chan stopped by …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from ,

Added on: 11/23/2024
Donald Trump announced today (Friday, Nov. 22) that he is nominating hedge fund executive Scott Besent, a top fundraising for the Trump campaign, to …
Added on: 11/23/2024
A housing program in Vancouver is ensuring that transgender and two-spirit people have a safe place to call home. CBC’s Caroline Chan stopped by …
Added on: 11/22/2024
In the wake of the U.S. election, crisis lines are surging – an undeniable indication that the most marginalized groups among us are reeling in uncertainty. In …