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The Supreme Court has given a positive sign to a California church battling Governor Gavin Newsom’s restrictions on the number of people allowed in places of worship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In an order on Thursday, the court overturned a district court ruling against Harvest Rock Church with instructions to reconsider their challenge in light of the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of restrictions on prayer services in New York City.
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<< The September 2 order of the United States District Court for the Central District of California is set aside and the matter is referred back to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with instructions to remit the district court for further consideration in light of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, ”the Supreme Court said.
Fox News reached out to Newsom’s office for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and the Jewish group Agudath Israel of America, issuing an injunction against New York’s restrictions that limited prayer services to places of worship. worship to 10 people in some areas. and 25 in others. Religious organizations have claimed that Governor Andrew Cuomo’s policy was more restrictive against places of worship than against secular establishments.
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In California, there is a tiered system that places different levels of restrictions on different counties, but as of November 21, 41 counties in the state – representing 94% of the state’s population – were subject to the most restrictive regulations. which include the prohibition of all. interior religious services. Services in other counties have strict limits on the number of people allowed. The state issued specific guidelines for places of worship earlier this year.
The church’s legal argument is based primarily on the First Amendment. Under the amendment’s free exercise clause, the church claims Newsom’s order is illegal because it limits the size of religious gatherings while treating non-religious groups and activities differently.
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The church also cites case law relating to the First Amendment establishment clause which says that the government cannot “force or influence a person to go to or away from the church against their will.” The church says imposing criminal penalties on people who go to a place of worship encourages them to stay away.
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