Trump administration intervenes after Christians fined for attending 'drive-in' church

Department of Justice suggests local officials were targeting religious conduct as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns remain in effect

The US Department of Justice has weighed in on a case involving a Mississippi church that sued the city of Greenville after local officials fined residents for attending its drive-in religious services on Easter Sunday.

In a Statement of Interest filed on Tuesday, the federal department sided with Mississippi church and suggested the city’s actions were effectively targeting forms of religious conduct during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The facts alleged in the complaint strongly suggest that the city's actions target religious conduct" in violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, the lawyers wrote.

The church has said that city police officers handed out $500 citations to those attending services. Greenville has since said it will not seek to collect the penalties, the Justice Department noted.

The Greenville dispute is one of several around the United States in which religious groups have objected to state or local restrictions on gatherings, saying they infringe on religious rights. Most houses of worship have voluntarily complied with shutdown orders, with some holding services online.

US Attorney General William Barr said in a statement the Justice Department will work to uphold the constitutional right to freely practice religion as states and cities seek to contain the spread of the coronavirus by limiting worship services.

"Religion and religious worship continue to be central to the lives of millions of Americans. This is true more so than ever during this difficult time," he said. "The pandemic has changed the ways Americans live their lives. Religious communities have rallied to the critical need to protect the community from the spread of this disease by making services available online and in ways that otherwise comply with social distancing guidelines.

The attorney general added: "The United States Department of Justice will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government, in their response to COVID-19, singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions."

The Justice Department intervention follows a pattern in which the administration of President Donald Trump has sided with conservative Christians on various issues, including opposition to abortion rights and support of certain businesses which refuse service to LGBT people because of religious objections to gay marriage.

Additional reporting by Reuters