Finally, California churches are able to open—though at a minimum level of 25% of capacity—guess you will have to have 4 Easter services to get all who want to attend a space.
“The Supreme Court on Friday overturned judges who supported California’s pandemic-driven ban on indoor church services, ruling that the state’s health orders violate the Constitution’s religious protections.
The case stemmed from a South Bay church’s months-long fight to resume services despite the spread of COVID-19.
The justices voted 6-3 in favor of South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista.
Why did this church have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorney, just to be able to hold services? Because Newsom wants to bankrupt our churches. Another reason to Recall him.
Supreme Court Backs Local Church’s Fight to Worship Indoors During the Pandemic
Times of San Diego, 2/5/21
The Supreme Court on Friday overturned judges who supported California’s pandemic-driven ban on indoor church services, ruling that the state’s health orders violate the Constitution’s religious protections.
The case stemmed from a South Bay church’s months-long fight to resume services despite the spread of COVID-19.
The justices voted 6-3 in favor of South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista.
Their ruling, though, according to the Los Angeles Times, said California still may limit capacity at indoor services to 25%, while also placing restrictions on singing and chanting.
Public health officials have noted that singing is a particularly risky behavior during the pandemic.
“We are heartened by this order from the United States Supreme Court allowing South Bay to gather for worship this weekend while our case against Governor Newsom continues. Throughout the COVID lockdown, the Governor has demonstrated a flagrant disregard for California’s citizens and their deeply and sincerely held religious beliefs,” the church said in a statement.
The original lawsuit, filed in San Diego federal court, alleged that state and local elected officials have “intentionally denigrated California churches and pastors and people of faith by relegating them to third-class citizenship.”
Federal judges in San Diego and San Bernardino, and the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco, rejected that argument, siding with the state in the court battle.
The Supreme Court’s vote settled along partisan lines. The conservative branch, made up of Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and the newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett, overturned the lower courts.
The liberals, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor, sided with the state.
