Supreme Court Lifts California Restrictions On In-Home Religious Gatherings

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Last week the Supreme Court ruled that California cannot place COVID-19 related restrictions on residents holding religious related gatherings, including bible studies and prayer meetings, in their homes.       

5-4 RULING

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of lifting restrictions even though California has announced that coronavirus related mandates will loosen on April 15. 

The state Superior Court acknowledged that residents may see change on the 15th but said that “officials with a track record of ‘moving the goalposts’ retain authority to reinstate those heightened restrictions at any time.” Therefore, the five conservative justices felt it necessary to alter restrictions related to religious groups. 

DISSENTING VOICES

Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent on behalf of herself, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomeyer. 

“California limits religious gatherings in homes to three households. If the State also limits all secular gatherings in homes to three households, it has complied with the First Amendment,” Kagan wrote. 

“And the State does exactly that: It has adopted a blanket restriction on at-home gatherings of all kinds, religious and secular alike. California need not … treat at-home religious gatherings the same as hardware stores and hair salons.” 

WHAT THE RIGHT IS SAYING

WHAT THE LEFT IS SAYING