SCOTUS rejects request from California church to block worship restrictions
Mary Margaret Olohan on May 30, 2020
The Supreme Court of the United States has rejected a request from a church to block California restrictions on religious services.
South Bay United Pentecostal Church of Chula Vista, California, filed a petition over Memorial Day weekend saying that Newsom’s coronavirus restrictions “arbitrarily discriminate against places of worship in violation of their right to the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” according to CNN.
But the Supreme Court rejected this request Friday in a 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with liberal justices on the bench.
“Although California’s guidelines place restrictions on places of worship, those restrictions appear consistent with the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment,” Roberts wrote, the publication reports.
Kavanaugh, writing for both Thomas and Gorsuch, said that he would grant the “Church’s requested temporary injunction because California’s latest safety guidelines discriminate against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses.”
“Such discrimination violates the First Amendment,” he added.
Newsom said Monday that churches may re-open but that services must be limited to 100 people or 25% capacity, according to CNN. A lawyer with the Thomas More Society representing the church said the church will amend the petition to reflect the updated order as the challenge goes forward.
Attorney Charles LiMandri, who serves as Special Counsel to the Thomas More Society, said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation that the case is “far from over.”
“Our next appellate brief is due in the Ninth Circuit on June 5,” he said. “If it is necessary to go back up to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Ninth Circuit rules again, we will benefit from a much more favorable standard. We are hopeful that fact would also lead to a better result for religious liberty.”
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We need another Trump appointed Supreme Court Justice to make the Court truly conservative and negate Roberts and his the too often displayed hatred towards freedom and liberty.
I don;t believe that….California has Churches?!?!
Well stated Tim!!!! We pray on that God will protect and grant another conservative Justice.
I agree totally.
If I were a pastor in California I’d tell my congregation to gather at Walmart or Kroger or Home Depot and hold services there
I’d love to know what the Dems have on Roberts so that he doesn’t dare do the right thing.
I do agree, however the Republicans did not allow the democrats to confirm a new judge during an election year. I can hear the cries now.
Where does he get the right and power over the people he took an oath to SERVE an protect??
Every minute of every day we are at risk of injury and death, whether we are driving a car, walking down the street or sitting at home, so is his next step to lock us up a padded room?. Newsom is a smooth talker just like Obama and the rest of Satan’s chosen leaders , but their intent is pure evil. God expects us to stand up and be counted, and Jesus Christ said, if you are ashamed me (in front of this world) then I will be ashamed of you before God. (I added)
Amen!!! Roberts made 2 Lefty mistakes…1st was his pro abortion vote….2nd was his anti 1st Amendment …Church goers..people of FAITH…WE’RE ON OUR OWN…GO TO YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP TOMORROW…ENOUGH OF BIG BROTHER VIOLATING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS!!!
Roberts has to go. You forgot Obama fraud.care.. I was penalized .
These courts are ruling without facts. Every act by the medical hacks. Are theory. Why haven’t they locked up gays . for HIV/AIDS. That is still around. And no cure.