“Neither Gov. Newsom nor any other state representative has the authority to dictate what is and what is not ‘essential’ to Christian worship, says Steve Meister, a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church, who organized a letter to the California governor asking him to ease restrictions on religious gatherings. (Photo: Immanuel Baptist Church)
His church building in Sacramento is little more than a mile from the California State Capitol, where stringent COVID-19 restrictions originate, so the Rev. Steve Meister easily could make it there and back on his lunch break.
Meister, a Bay Area native and lifelong California resident, has lived in various regions of the state but has called Sacramento home for 12 years, since he became a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church.
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(Photo : Phil Roeder / Flickr / CC)
A Supreme Court ruling prompted Los Angeles County to reverse the existing ban on church indoor worship services.
On Dec. 19, the Los Angeles County released a statement declaring the reverse on the currently implemented ban on indoor worship services in churches. The move is in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling about the in-person church gatherings across the state.
The County however, reminded the people in Los Angeles attending churches of several rules and restrictions that came along with the lifting of the ban. Because Los Angeles County is experiencing an unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to congregants and to the entire community is critical, the County stated.
Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema
Los Angeles County recently announced that it was allowing houses of worship to hold both indoor and outdoor services, reversing an earlier ban on indoor services.
In a statement Saturday, the county government explained that the decision to allow the services comes due to recent legal decisions from the United States Supreme Court.
“Places of worship are permitted to offer faith-based services both indoors and outdoors with mandatory physical distancing and face coverings over both the nose and mouth that must be worn at all times while on site,” stated the county.
“Places of worship must also assure that attendance does not exceed the number of people who can be accommodated while maintaining a physical distance of six feet between separate households.”
Supreme Court rules against 2 states on pandemic worship restrictions
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas of New Jersey and her husband, Mark Anderl, attend the funeral Mass of their son Daniel Andrew at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Kendall Park, N.J., Sept. 26, 2020. (CNS photo/courtesy Diocese of Metuchen)
By Carol Zimmermann • Catholic News Service • Posted December 16, 2020
WASHINGTON (CNS) The Supreme Court, once again siding with houses of worship opposed to pandemic-related restrictions, ordered lower federal courts in Colorado and New Jersey Dec. 15 to reexamine state-imposed indoor worship restrictions.
The court’s move was made in light of its recent decision in late November to lift similar restrictions for the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. In early December, the court also told federal judges to reexamine limits on California churches based on this decision.
US Supreme Court rules against worship restrictions in Colorado, New Jersey Rain falls on the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Dec. 14, 2020. CNS photo/Tom Brenner, Reuters
US Supreme Court rules against worship restrictions in Colorado, New Jersey By
Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service December 16, 2020
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court, once again siding with houses of worship opposed to pandemic-related restrictions, ordered lower federal courts in Colorado and New Jersey Dec. 15 to reexamine state-imposed indoor worship restrictions.
The court s move was made in light of its recent decision in late November to lift similar restrictions for the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. In early December, the court also told federal judges to reexamine limits on California churches based on this decision.