WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is telling California that it cannot impose a ban on closed religious services because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The court issued orders on Friday in two cases in which churches sued for restrictions related to coronavirus in the state. The high court said that, for the time being, California cannot ban worship in areas where cases of viruses are on the rise, but it could limit indoor worship to 25% of a building’s capacity. The judges also refused to prevent the state from banning songs and chants in services.
The court’s three liberal judges disagreed.
The court’s action follows a decision in a New York case late last year, in which the judges split 5-4 by preventing the state from imposing certain frequency limits on churches and synagogues.
Shortly after, the judges asked a federal court to review a similar case over California restrictions in light of the ruling.