Supreme Court Grants Relief To California Churches Under Assault by Governor
"The Governor of California was told in no uncertain terms, get your grubby Anti-Christian hands off of the collective Church body by Monday's Supreme Court decision. The horrific strangling of churches and Christians seemed like a direct state overreach based on pure hatred of religious liberty and the rights of peaceful God-loving believers to gather to hear the word of God in any manner," said Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate of the U.S. Inc.
" The U.S. Supreme Court granted temporary relief on Monday to pastors who sued California over the state's coronavirus restrictions.
The decision effectively allows a group of houses of worship to conduct indoor services with some limits after a lower court backed the state's restrictions. Monday's order sends the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals with instructions to remand to the district court.
It comes after a series of controversial cases in which states like California imposed restrictions that came up against religious liberty claims.
On Friday, the justices said in a 6-3 vote that the state could not impose sweeping bans on indoor worship but could cap it at 25% of the building's capacity.
Last week's decision showed the justices wrestling with restrictions on indoor singing or chanting, ultimately allowing California to halt those activities.
"The state's present determination - that the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zero - appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake," Chief Justice Roberts said.
Newsom's office said those measures were imposed to protect worshippers from getting infected. "
PHOTO CREDIT: EUGENE DELGAUDIO, PRESIDENT OF Public Advocate of the United States Inc.