In a huge decision for the faith community, the notoriously liberal Ninth Circuit has rejected an appeal from a California church of the recent shutdown order.
According to Fox News, “the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena’s request for a temporary restraining order against the state’s worship-related restrictions so that it could hold Christmas services.”
Although the court decided against the church, the decision was not unanimous. “I strongly object to our failure to accommodate, even in a temporary fashion, Harvest Rock Church’s request for relief from California’s severe restrictions on indoor worship services by December 24,” said Justice Diarmuid O’Scannlain in a dissenting opinion.
BREAKING: Federal appeals court declines to lift Calif. #COVID19 restrictions on Pasadena church in advance of Xmas. Judge O'Scannlain (Reagan) dissents & would grant interim relief for holiday. Majority: Rawlinson (Clinton) & Christen (Obama) Doc: https://t.co/SWLGzZaRnR
— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) December 24, 2020
To read more about the court’s decision, click here.