CNA Staff, Dec 3, 2020 / 10:00 am
In an apparent victory for religious freedom during state efforts to impose necessary COVID restrictions, the Supreme Court on Thursday vacated the Ninth Circuit's ruling against California churches.
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the Brooklyn Diocese and Orthodox Jewish synagogues in their case against the state's COVID restrictions. On Thursday morning, the Supreme Court accepted the appeal of California churches against the state's restrictions and vacated the Ninth Circuit's decision, sending the case back to the lower courts for reconsideration in light of its opinion on the Brooklyn Diocese case.
On Nov. 23, Harvest Rock Church--a church with several campuses in California--and Harvest International Ministry--an association of churches in the state--appealed to the Supreme Court for relief from the state's pandemic-related restrictions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued a "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" in August, restricting the operations of some businesses and organizations. Depending upon the severity of the spread of the coronavirus in a particular area, the order curbed the operations of certain businesses and organizations.