SCOTUS decision blocking New York governor’s limits on religious gatherings praised by religious leaders and conservatives

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On Wednesday, the new conservative majority in the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to ban restrictions on religious services in New York City, imposed by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo to limit the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the country. ‘State.

Cuomo told reporters on a teleconference Thursday morning that the ruling was a way for the new Supreme Court “to express its policies and its philosophy.” The decision has been hailed by many religious leaders and conservatives.

“I think the Supreme Court ruling on religious gatherings is more representative of the Supreme Court than anything else,” Cuomo said after the ruling. “It doesn’t matter from a practical standpoint because the area they were talking about has already been moved, it expired last week. I think it was really just an opportunity for the court to express its philosophy and its policy. It has no practical effect. “

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn applauded the decision after the court sided with the diocese and two Orthodox Jewish synagogues.

“I am grateful for the decision of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, who recognized the blatant violation of the First Amendment and the urgent need for relief in this matter,” said the Right Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, in a press release.

“I have said from the start that the restrictions imposed by Governor Cuomo were overbroad that did not take into account the size of our churches or the security protocols that kept parishioners safe,” he said. continued, later adding, “Our churches have not been the cause of any outbreak. We have pushed our legal battle this far because we should be seen as essential, for what might be more essential than coming together in safe in prayer in times of pandemic. “

Agudath Israel of America reflected this sentiment, saying in a celebratory post on their website that the ruling will have “a national legal impact on the status of religious freedom for years to come.”

“This is a historic victory,” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel, “This historic decision will ensure that religious practices and religious institutions are protected from government decrees that do not address religion. with the respect required by the Constitution. “

Amy Coney Barrett
United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas at the White House on October 26 in Washington, DC
Tasos Katopodis / Getty

Following the ruling, the decisive first for newly-appointed Conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett, others quickly took to social media to share their reactions, either with great respect for the ruling – and with contempt for the dissent in the Chief Justice John Roberts – either condemning the court for overt disregard of health and public health experts.

A range of conservative politicians, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, celebrated the move on Twitter. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Trump campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn, as well as the president’s fiercest supporters, including President of the Conservative Union of America Matt Schlapp, said the move could be reduced to the multiple conservative nominations of President Donald Trump by SCOTUS.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted that the Supreme Court ruling was a “major victory” for religious Americans and criticized Cuomo and other elected Democrats for “acting like totalitarians”, accusing them of ” use the COVID-19 epidemic as a way to suppress people’s right to worship. He also criticized Roberts’ decision to side with the three dissenting Liberal judges.

“Once again, Chief Justice Roberts is prepared to put aside his duty to uphold the Constitution when state or local heads are hostile to religion under the guise of public health,” the Republican senator tweeted. “But fortunately, this time he and the liberal judges lost.”

He added: “As families celebrate the #Thank you today, they can also give thanks for being able to come together to pray on Christmas this year without fearing the totalitarian Democrats who want to prevent us from exercising our basic right to worship.”

Missouri GOP Senator Josh Hawley also celebrated the decision, echoing Cruz’s accusations of religious discrimination by Democrats.

“Big news from the Supreme Court late last night – Court overturns New York Cuomo government’s discrimination against churches and synagogues,” Hawley tweeted Thursday. “Judge Barrett is the key to the majority.”

California Representative Kevin McCarthy criticized Cuomo for his response to the pandemic and questioned the science behind the restrictions.

“Power-hungry Democrats like Cuomo have used the pandemic as an excuse to target believers with sweeping restrictions,” he tweeted. “It has no scientific basis, and the Supreme Court agrees.”

Florida Representative Anthony Sabatini thanked Trump for “saving the Supreme Court” following Barrett’s appointment and criticized former President George W. Bush, a Republican, for appointing “liberal” Roberts as his judge. chief.

Meanwhile, several public health officials and others have spoken out against the decision. Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, celebrated the four judges who voted against dangerous gatherings during a pandemic.

“What a truly terrifying and appalling decision,” Ifill tweeted. “Judge Sotomayor’s dissent in this case, as in the prison case, and that of Judges Ginsburg and Kagan in COVID vote cases, will be the written account of how 4 SCOTUS judges valiantly attempted to save the nation from this pandemic. “

Dr Peter Hotez, professor and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, told CNN’s Boris Sanchez on Thursday that the decision “devalues ​​life.”

“It’s not about our religious freedom or our civil liberties,” Hotez said. “It’s about everyone on the bridge saving lives until everyone is vaccinated. Human life is not cheap. This Supreme Court ruling devalues ​​lives.”

Economist and New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman called the move “bad logic” and noted that it was “a very bad omen” for President-elect Joe Biden’s policies, especially environmental ones.

“Trump’s first major court decision – and, naturally, it will kill people,” Krugman tweeted. “Bad logic is obvious. Suppose I adhere to a religion whose rituals include dumping neurotoxins into public reservoirs. Does the principle of religious freedom give me the right to do so?”

He added: “Freedom of belief, yes; the right to hurt other people in a tangible way – which large gatherings do during a pandemic – no.”



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