The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision late Friday that California must lift its coronavirus pandemic restrictions on in-home religious gatherings and prayer meetings.
The petitioners are a pastor and group of worshipers who hold services in their home because of coronavirus restrictions. They asked for an injunction reversing the lower federal courts and blocking California Gov. Gavin Newsom while this case is on appeal.
Earlier in 2020, faith leaders protested Newsom’s lockdowns on indoor worship. Later in the year, Newsom ignored a Supreme Court order and doubled down on his lockdowns regarding indoor religious gatherings.
The lower courts, including the Ninth Circuit, ruled against these home-church worshipers. According to the court majority, this is “the fifth time the Court has summarily rejected the Ninth Circuit’s analysis of California’s coronavirus restrictions on religious exercise.”
