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Supreme Court lifts Newsom’s indoor church service ban, allows restrictions

February 6, 2021

A divided Supreme Court on Friday rejected California’s ban on indoor religious services, ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus order violates the public’s Constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.

In the 6-3 decision, the court ruled that Californians can attend indoor religious services with several restrictions: a limit on attendance and possible restrictions on singing and chanting. The justices’ opinions were varied with Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas wanting to provide churches relief from all restrictions and the three liberal justices — Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor — opposing the appeal in support of Newsom’s order and science.

“Justices of this court are not scientists. Nor do we know much about public health policy. Yet today the court displaces the judgments of experts about how to respond to a raging pandemic,” Kagan wrote. “The court orders California to weaken its restrictions on public gatherings by making a special exception for worship services.”

On the other side, the six conservative justices found that Newsom’s order appeared to unfairly target places of worship with strict regulations.

“Since the arrival of COVID–19, California has openly imposed more stringent regulations on religious institutions than on many businesses.” Gorsuch wrote. “California worries that worship brings people together for too much time. Yet, California does not limit its citizens to running in and out of other establishments; no one is barred from lingering in shopping malls, salons, or bus terminals.”


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A very good start! Stick a fork in Newsom. He’s almost done as governor, as is his political career.


41

That’s what they said about Nixon in 1962.


-20

Indeed, with Newsom’s recall troubles and Cuomo’s lying and corruption exposed, Kamala Harris is the happiest politician in America right now.


0

Amen!!!


28

Gee, Kagan, read the Constitution. Hint, it specifically forbids interference with the practice of religion.


35

No one is restricting anyone’s religion. we’re trying to survive a pandemic. Jesus himself said : And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. The hypocrisy of Christians is staggering. They say they’ve read the bible and love Jesus and then do exactly the opposite of Jesus own words.


-5

Hey Ben, not allowing church services is RESTRICTING religion. As a practicing Christian I can tell that for most, the act of worshiping, with our fellow Christians, in a Church, is a big part of practicing our religion. Not the only aspect obviously but a big part of it.


Further, what about the “follow the science” screaming coming from the left and MSM got the last year? The fact is, based on contact tracing data, the limited amount available at least, church services are not particularly dangerous so long as some mitigation and protocols are followed.


Come on man, follow the science.


-1

The only religious institutes that dont want to keep congregates safe are Radical Cults no different than Jim Jones. Drink the coolaide, and avoid Science based institutes if you get sick, your wasting resources. Crazy cults that have no spiritual value at all.


-49

Just like the cult of liberalism and progressivism, hows the grape koolaid taste Kevin.


52

Liberalism? Being a super spreader isn’t a Liberal issue. It’s an ignorance issue. All gods matter!


-5