More churches in the United States challenge COVID-19 restrictions

Various churches in California and Minnesota, with the backing of a conservative legal group, filed lawsuits this week against the governors of both states to challenge the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, which they consider violations of religious freedom.

The lawsuits represent the latest in a series of legal challenges by clergymen and temples who believe they should be exempted from certain restrictions placed on public gatherings by governors who insist the measures are necessary to contain the pandemic. Most of the lawsuits have been rejected, although some have been successful.

In Minnesota, a lawsuit was filed in federal court Thursday against Gov. Tim Walz’s executive orders requiring six feet (1.8 meters) of social distancing and face masks to be worn in religious services.

“Governor Walz, a former professor, failed on religious liberties,” said Erick Kaardal, special legal counsel for the Thomas More Society. “Other states, including Texas, Illinois and Ohio, have excluded churches from the COVID-19 mask mandates.”

Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison reiterated his defense of Walz’s mandate, arguing that it is legally and constitutionally sound.

Walz had been embroiled in a battle with Catholic and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations across Minnesota over the restrictions he placed on gatherings of more than 10 people. The governor relented and determined that they could offer services at 25% of capacity if certain conditions were met once they made it clear that they planned to challenge the mandate.

A few days ago, a pastor in Palmetto, Florida, filed a lawsuit against the mask order set by Manatee County. The Rev. Joel Tillis of Suncoast Baptist Church said the mandate should not include temples as it makes praying difficult.

The Thomas More Society, which specializes in litigation over religious matters, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in California Superior Court against Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials. The complaint seeks to prevent the application of “regulations for the unconstitutional and severe coronavirus pandemic” against the Community Church of Grace in the Sun Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Pastor John MacArthur has been conducting church services in recent weeks before a crowd of parishioners, in defiance of congregation limits set by state and county authorities.

“We will obey God more than man,” MacArthur said in a message to his congregation. “He will be on our side.”

One of the attorneys representing MacArthur and his church is Jenna Ellis, who is also a legal advisor to President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

“The California edicts calling for an indefinite shutdown have exceeded the rational and are firmly in the territory of tyranny and discrimination,” Ellis said. “This is not a health issue. It’s about deliberately focusing on the churches. “

The lawsuit claims that the restrictions on large gatherings should not apply to churches because they did not apply to mass demonstrations against racism and police brutality.

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