Amid a number of legal defeats, including a Supreme Court ruling, embattled Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing off his coronavirus pandemic restrictions on gathering for worship.
“In response to recent judicial rulings, effective immediately, location and capacity limits on places of worship are not mandatory but are strongly recommended,” the California state website now reads, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
The state is keeping restrictions on singing, chanting, physical distancing, and face masks, however.
“Our work is far from over,” Thomas More Society attorney Paul Jonna told the Free Beacon. “We still need to ensure the state can’t revert to its unconstitutional regime in the future, and we’re continuing to challenge other restrictions on churches.
“The capacity guidance for places of worship is now only ‘recommended’ and not mandatory. This is a huge win that God has provided for all people of faith.”
The updated guidance comes after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Friday, declaring the state’s restrictions on at-home religious worship unlawful.
Also, the Court ruled, “some comparable secular activities more favorably than at-home religious exercise” and California “cannot assume the worst when people go to worship but assume the best when people go to work,” according to the report.
Newsom’s administration did not respond to a request for comment from the Free Beacon.
Newsom has been embroiled in a number of controversies of late, including a recall effort that might cost him the governor’s mansion in the fall. Regardless, he faces a potentially challenging reelection campaign in 2022.
Source: Newmax
