The United States Supreme Court sided with a Pasadena church challenging California Governor Gavin Newsom’s ban on indoor religious services Thursday.
Supreme Court justices ordered a lower federal court to reexamine California restrictions on indoor religious services after a challenge by Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church Inc. and Harvest International Ministries Inc., which have over 160 churches across the state.
Justices directed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider their ruling in light of the Nov. 25 Supreme Court decision which ruled in favor of churches and synagogues that challenged New York state restrictions on indoor services.
“This is great news, we want to continue to provide the safest spaces for our members. Currently, we are offering outdoor and online services, but want to expand our services when it is safe to do so,” said Rusty George, lead pastor at Real Life Church in Santa Clarita.
George said Real Life has adapted to the current orders with not only services but events as well, with a drive-through celebration planned later this month.
“We want to make sure our community is safe,” he said adding, Real Life is monitoring the current guidelines and will change based on the regulations as well as input from the congregation.
As part of the first stay-at-home order in March, when COVID-19 cases began to rise in California, Newsom banned indoor religious services.
Places of worship were briefly allowed to hold indoor services after easing of the restrictions in Spring but were barred again in July amid a spike in cases.
The Pasadena church filed a court order to allow indoor services citing the First Amendment and discrimination on why some indoor gatherings are allowed, but not religious services.
“For the governor, COVID-19 restrictions are apparently optional and penalty-free. But for churches or anyone worshipping in their own home with someone who does not live there, COVID-19 restrictions are mandatory and enforced via criminal penalties,” lawyers for Harvest Rock wrote to the Supreme Court.
Currently, church services are only allowed to be held outdoors, with restrictions in place by the state and Los Angeles County health orders.
On Thursday, Newsom announced a new stay-at-home order set to go into effect on a regional basis, when one of five sections of the state goes below the threshold of ICU capacity.
The new stay-at-home order still bars indoor worship, allowing outdoor services.
As of Friday, the lower federal court has not issued a second ruling in the case, with the current restrictions of indoor services still in place.
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