In January 2021, Santa Clara County sued Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike McClure was spared jail time for persevering with to carry service through the COVID pandemic.
McClure and his church have been ordered to cease internet hosting indoor providers with out face masks through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week an appeals courtroom dominated Calvary Chapel from San Jose won’t must pay round $200,000 in fines over the pastor’s COVID insurance policies.
ABC News reported:
A California church that defied security rules through the COVID-19 pandemic by holding giant non secular providers gained’t must pay about $200,000 in fines, a state appeals courtroom dominated.
Calvary Chapel San Jose and its pastors have been held in contempt of courtroom and fined in 2020 and 2021 for violating state and county limits on indoor public gatherings. The principles have been geared toward stopping the unfold by way of shut contract of the virus, which has brought about greater than 10 million confirmed instances and greater than 93,500 deaths for the reason that pandemic started in mid-2020, in keeping with state public well being figures.
However on Monday, California’s sixth District Courtroom of Enchantment reversed these decrease courtroom selections, citing a Might 2020 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom in February 2021 {that a} ban by Gov. Gavin Newsom on indoor worship providers in counties the place COVID-19 was surging violated freedom of faith.
The choice by a newly conservative majority courtroom got here lower than a 12 months after the excessive courtroom beforehand dominated the ban was justified on well being and security grounds.
