Pasadena church loses court case but celebrates victory on looser COVID-19 restrictions [Los Angeles Times]
Hours ahead of Christmas, a California church has lost another round in its legal battle against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 restrictions.
A federal appeals court Wednesday ruled 2-1 against Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church, which on Tuesday moved for an emergency injunction against the governor’s guidelines.
Judges Morgan Christen, a Barack Obama appointee, and Johnnie Rawlinson, a Bill Clinton appointee, ruled in favor of Newsom’s orders, while Ronald Reagan appointee Diarmuid O’Scannlain partly concurred and partly dissented with the ruling, according to court documents obtained by Politico.
Hours ahead of Christmas, a California church has lost another round in its legal battle against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 restrictions. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Wednesday ruled 2 to 1 against Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church, which on Tuesday moved for an emergency injunction against the governor’s guidelines.
Judges Morgan Christen, a Barack Obama appointee, and Johnnie Rawlinson, a Bill Clinton appointee, ruled in favor of Newsom’s orders, while Ronald Reagan appointee Diarmuid O’Scannlain partly concurred and partly dissented with the ruling, according to court documents obtained by Politico.
“The requested deadline is hardly arbitrary,” O’Scannlain wrote. “The church seeks immediate action from our court so that its members can worship on Christmas Day, one of the most sacred holy days in the Christian calendar.”
God given right: Christmas carolers in California defy orders, sing without masks
Published
Christmas carolers defy orders by singing without masks in Napa.
NAPA, Calif. - Dozens of Christmas carolers in the North Bay are using the holiday tradition as a way to protest the latest stay-at-home orders from the state of California.
On Wednesday, many carolers came out to sing Holy Night and other holiday songs at Veterans Park, many without masks.
They said the objective was to gather friends, family and strangers to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, and to show support for the Napa business community.
POLITICO
Federal court declines church’s bid to lift California Covid restrictions by Christmas
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decided it would not grant the Harvest Rock Church’s request for relief in time for holiday services.
Congregants kneel and observe social distancing while celebrating Mass at a Los Angeles cathedral. | Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo
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A federal appeals court has declined to lift California’s coronavirus restrictions on a Pasadena church in time for Christmas, blocking in-person worship services from being held amid the pandemic.
In a ruling handed down Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decided it would not grant the Harvest Rock Church’s request for relief from the restrictions by Thursday, on Christmas Eve.