Demand an End to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's Unconstitutional and Unlawful Executive Order to Shutdown Schools of Faith in Kentucky

ISSUE
Why has the Democrat Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear ignored Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s opinion on the unconstitutionality of closing schools of faith while also defying Kentucky Law?

On Thursday, November 18th 2020, Democrat Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an unconstitutional and unlawful executive order mandating all schools, including all private and schools of faith cease in-person instruction beginning November 23rd. As a result of this order, all schools in the Diocese of Covington have been closed for in-person instruction in grades K-12 beginning Monday, November 23rd until in person classes resume on Monday Jan 4th.
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Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's Opinion OAG 20-13

You can read AG Cameron's entire opinion here:

https://ag.ky.gov/Priorities/Government-Transparency/opinions/Opinions%20New/OAG%2020-13.pdf

Subject
Whether, during the current state of emergency caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Governor, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, or any other state or local officials may order the closure of religiously affiliated schools that are in compliance with reasonable social distancing and hygiene guidelines set forth by recognized national or international health agencies and organizations.

On August 19th, 2020, Attorney General Daniel Cameron documented his very well thought out opinion in reference to it being unconstitutional and against Kentucky Law for the Governor to mandate the closing of schools of faith.
In the Attorney General's Opinion, state and local leaders cannot order the closure of religious schools that comply with social distancing and health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opinion says leaders "are prohibited from closing religiously affiliated schools because it does not appear that school closure is the least restrictive means to serve a compelling state interest."

"Our courts have consistently held, throughout this pandemic, that religious entities are protected by our Constitution," said Attorney General Cameron. "Religiously affiliated schools are an important extension of faith for many Kentucky families, and the state cannot prevent them from operating so long as necessary health precautions are observed."

The opinion says parents can send their children to religiously-affiliated schools and that religious organizations have a First Amendment right to open and operate schools as long as they are consistent with recommended health guidelines.

Closing religious schools could risk violating the Constitution, according to the Attorney General's office. They say it would also violate Kentucky's Religious Freedom Restoration (RFRA) act, which provides that the government cannot "substantially burden" a religious belief without demonstrating "a compelling governmental interest" and using "the least restrictive means to further that interest."

"Under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, KRS 446.350, the Governor, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and any other state and local officials, are PROHIBITED FROM CLOSING RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED SCHOOLS because it does not appear that school closure is the least restrictive means to serve a compelling state interest."

AG Cameron joined Danville Christian Academy in filing a federal lawsuit that seeks a statewide temporary restraining order against Gov. Andy Beshear's latest ban on in-person classes amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky by Danville Christian Academy, claims Beshear's executive order, announced Wednesday, requiring private and public schools to halt in-person classes until January violates the First Amendment, as well as Kentucky’s equivalent constitutional guarantees and the commonwealth’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

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I believe that our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Covington have been doing an excellent job in following the Diocese's COVID plan and mitigating the spread of the virus. The few cases that have been reported at NDA have been determined to have been contracted outside of school and then those individuals have quarantined for 2 weeks.

Why is the Diocese not taking this executive order to court in the spirit of receiving a favorable decision once and for all in reference to whether schools of faith have the autonomy to make decisions {ie remaining open or closing} that are in the best interest of their students.

Last I checked, we live in a free society where our citizens have been given the liberty to make their own decisions based on risk/reward but these liberties are quickly eroding and being taken away from us.
It is past time for we, the people, to stand up and make our voices heard!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, "individuals are more likely to survive the coronavirus after contracting it. The health agency has stated that people in the age groups of 0 to 19 have a 99.997% chance of survival if they contract COVID-19, the age group of 20 to 49 a 99.98% chance, 50 to 69 years old 99.5% and 70 years old and above a 94.6% chance.

I strongly encourage you to sign this petition and pass it on to all of your contacts if you believe that our Diocesan students should be receiving in person instruction for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year and beyond to protect the overall well-being of each students' spiritual, mental, and physical health.
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Mental Health Issues Impacting Adolescents in the Face of Pandemic
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7448765/#bib3
According to the U.S. Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, adolescence is a crucial period for social development. Social distancing and school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic can worsen existing mental health problems in adolescents and increases the risk of future mental health issues.1 A loss of routine for many students, social isolation, and feelings of loneliness increase the risk of mental illness.

Historically, schools have provided a social support network and mental health services for vulnerable teens. However, closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has taken away the protective layer of school-based mental health support.

Both increased social media use and traditional forms of education moving to digital platforms have led to the majority of adolescents spending more time in front of screens.5 Excessive screen time is often associated with poor sleep, sedentary habits, mental health problems, and physical health issues.5 sleep problems, and worries about the future are some of the common mental health issues impacting adolescents in the face of the pandemic.3 Increased incidence of mental health problems, including stress-related disorders, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, have been described in adolescents during a pandemic.3 Quarantine, trauma, and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic further increase the risk of mental health problems.3
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The Cincinnati Enquirer published the following article on 11/17/20:
15 Mason kids to hospitals for suicidal ideation in 3+ weeks, COVID-19 pandemic hits kids hard

"In Mason, specifically, we've looked at, over the last three to four weeks, 15 cases where students have had to go to the hospital for suicide ideation," Superintendent Jonathan Cooper said to families in his weekly wrap-up Nov. 13.
He said he is certain there are more kids who've had suicidal thoughts than those 15, because the district only can learn of the hospitalizations if families want to come forward.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Cooper said.

The district's students are not unique in facing pandemic-related mental health challenges. Across the region and nation, people, including kids, are suffering from mental health issues triggered by pandemic-required isolation, food and health services changes, financial losses for families and other issues
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I encourage you to sign this petition if you believe in the rights afforded to schools of faith and churches under the United States Constitution and Kentucky Law are being eroded under unconstitutional and unlawful mandates, guidelines, and executive orders by the Democrat Governor of Kentucky.
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Sign and share this petition if you want students that are enrolled in schools of faith to return to in-person instruction immediately and if you want to overturn the Governor's overreach in executing an unconstitutional and unlawful executive order preventing students attending religious schools now and in the future.
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John 10:10
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I {Jesus} came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

Jeremy 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Ephesians 6:10-18 - The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

“Every single day the Catholic Church feeds, houses, and clothes more people, takes care of more sick people, visits more prisoners, and educates more people than any other institution on the face of the earth could ever hope to.” - Matthew Kelly

Historically, we have been a people of action in coming together to promote social justice issues and there is no better time than the present to stand together in reference to what is in the overall {spiritual, mental, and physical} well-being of our students! They need to be attending in-person instruction and receiving all of the benefits that go along with it.

Please join me in taking action to make a difference for our students' present and for their futures by signing and sharing this petition far and wide through any means necessary {word of mouth, email, social media, etc...} to let our voices be heard. The more signatures we obtain from parents, students, grandparents, aunt, uncles, friends, the bigger and stronger our voice!

If you’re tired of being pushed around and having your rights, livelihood, and school operations dictated to you, it’s time for action and execution. It’s time for us to collectively stand up for our rights, our kids’ rights, for the U.S. Constitution and for Kentucky Law.

We must collectively make our voices heard. There is power in numbers and we must present a big/powerful voice. Be the change that you want to see.

We owe to our kids to fight for them, their school experiences, their futures, and their mental health. I would sacrifice my life for my girls if it meant protecting and preserving their lives so they could live life to the fullest.