WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is asking California’s Santa Clara County that it cannot ban in-house religious worship services because of a coronovirus epidemic.
high Court Issued an order Friday evening in a case brought by a handful of churches.
Justice told the State of California in early February that it could not ban indoor church services due to the epidemic. Judges said at the time that the state could cap indoor services to 25% of a building’s capacity and continue singing and chanting.
But Santa Clara had argued that its temporary ban on any kind of indoor ceremonies, including worship services, should be allowed. The county, which includes San Jose, said it was treating houses of worship differently from other indoor locations where it bans the presence of gatherings and hats. The county said that people could go to homes for prayer, to pray or for confession among other things, but could not gather with groups of others. The county said the same can be said about retail establishments where shoppers can go but cannot gather for an event like reading a book.
The unsigned order of the Justice said on Friday that his action was “clearly determined” by his order earlier this month. The court dissolved the three liberal judgments.
Santa Clara told the court in a letter Thursday that coronovirus cases in the county had continued to decline recently and that it was already close to lifting the ban on indoor ceremonies. If the data continued a positive trend, the letter County, all indoor ceremonies are expected to be permitted, Subject to restrictions, as soon as next Wednesday.
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