Catholic League president Bill Donohue said some states have one set of rules for protesters and a different course of action "for everyone else."
In a press release, Donohue points out how six states have treated protesters differently than people who were attending church services or outdoor gatherings.
He ripped some of the states for politicizing a public health issue and making a "mockery" of their "alleged interest in public health."
"Their contempt for religious liberty is beyond question," he said.
He called out California for placing a ban on chanting and signing in churches earlier this month, adding no restrictions were put in place for protesters.
"In fact, there was no attempt to ensure that protesters practiced social distancing," he wrote.
In Illinois, he said Gov. J.B. Pritzker placed restrictions on houses of worship "but none on protesters" in June. While many of the restrictions have been lifted, there is still a request for a reduction in singing and "group recitation."
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued a directive on outdoor gatherings, but explicitly stated that outdoor gatherings for political expression were not subject to comply, he wrote.
In states that experienced large amounts of protests like Minnesota, New York and Washington, Donohue said the gatherings weren’t limited in size but often times church services were given capacity limits.
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