Supreme Courts Lift Ban
Supreme Courts lifts California ban on indoor church services
Churches in California can open for indoor services after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a state ban on indoor worship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a 6-3 decision announced Friday night, the Court ruled in favor of two Southern California churches that had sued Gov. Gavin Newsom over the state’s strict guidelines, which limited churches to holding services outdoors or online.
While the six justices in the majority differed over to what extent the state can restrict worship, all agreed that California’s COVID-19 regulations violated the First Amendment’s protections for free exercise of religion by treating churches unfairly.