Three southern California churches have filed a lawsuit against the state's governor and local officials over orders that ban religious gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order on March 19 to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The order says that residents should stay home, except for essential needs or jobs. It required indoor shopping malls and nonessential retail to close.
But the pastors of three churches in Riverside and San Bernadino counties filed a federal lawsuit on Monday in the Central District of California, saying that religious services should be deemed essential because they are important for the "spiritual health of the congregation."
One pastor, Patrick Scales, said he believes he can have in-person services at his Shield of Faith Family Church in Fontana while also keeping parishioners safe.
He explained that worshippers can be seated with family units six feet apart and everyone will wear a mask when inside.
"Scales believes he can have in-person church services while making every effort to prevent contact between congregants by adhering to social distancing guidance, just as grocery stores, laundromats, and marijuana dispensaries are implementing to keep their customers safe," the lawsuit states.
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The pastor said that church service is especially important now during the pandemic and he wants to open his doors "to help deal with the spiritual and physical needs of its congregants."
Wendy Gish, a member of Sheild of Faith Family Church, said in the lawsuit that she would attend services if it was allowed.
Brenda Wood, the senior pastor at Word of Life Ministries International in Riverside, held a drive-thru church service on Easter. Wood said worshippers followed social distancing guidelines by wearing masks and remaining in their cars, parked six feet apart.
She preached using a portable amplification system, according to the lawsuit. Wood said she would like to continue drive-up services every Sunday.
Another pastor, James Dean Moffatt of Church Unlimited in Indio, said immediately after he learned about the virus he had his church cleaned and disinfected. He also provided sanitizing materials to everyone who entered the building and encouraged those who felt sick to stay home.
Moffatt held a service in his church on April 5 to mark Palm Sunday and was fined $1,000 for violating the state's order. The suit states that Moffatt "believes that scripture commands him as a pastor to lay hands on people and pray for them" but he cannot do that if he is not allowed to hold in-person worship services.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, chief executive of the Center for American Liberty, told the Associated Press that the state should not be able to dictate how a person worships. The California nonprofit organization filed the suit.
“If a Californian is able to go to Costco or the local marijuana shop or liquor store and buy goods in a responsible, socially distanced manner, then he or she must be allowed to practice their faith using the same precautions,” she said.
The lawsuit accuses Newsom and other local officials of using the pandemic "to expand their authority by unprecedented lengths" by depriving residents in the state "fundamental rights protected by the U.S. and California Constitutions, including freedom of religion, speech, and assembly."
The governor's office was not immediately available on Tuesday.
The pastors are asking the court to declare that the orders violate residents' right to freedom of religion and assembly.
Associated Press contributed.
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