Federal judge rules Calif. Gov Gavin Newsom had right to ban church services
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that California Gov. Gavin Newsom had the right to ban churches from assembling during the coronavirus pandemic in the interest of public health after Cross Culture Christian Center in Lodi sought a temporary restraining order against the move.
“This Court finds the State and County stay at home orders being challenged here bear a real and substantial relation to public health,” U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez wrote in his order denying the application brought by the church and Pastor Jonathan Duncan.
“Arguing otherwise, Plaintiffs contend Cross Culture Christian’s biweekly services ‘do not pose a unique or unacceptable threat to public health and safety’ — ‘[i]n fact, the Church ... is much safer than shopping at Costco, Walmart, or Home Depot in Lodi.’”...
