After almost a year of negotiations, a Christian law firm has secured a lot of money for some California churches that were unconstitutionally shut down during the COVID pandemic.
California was – and continues to be – one of the most regressive states in the U.S. when it comes to COVID-related restrictions, coming down especially hard on churches. While bars and superstores and other establishment venues were permitted to open up, churches and other places of worship were still being shut down, and their congregants required to mask up or be vaccinated.
Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute tells AFN it made no sense. “Governors cannot treat churches differently than other essential entities and organizations,” he argues. “If they’re going to allow a hardware store or a marijuana dispensary or a liquor store to open up, they better also allow a church to open up.”
Being a law firm focused on defending religious freedom, PJI did what it knows best to do: it went to court.
“We first had to seek an emergency writ from the United States Supreme Court in order to get the governor of California – and the county of Santa Clara, specifically – to allow churches to reopen,” Dacus explains. “After liquor stores and pot shops and department stores were allowed to open, these churches were still closed.”
None other than the U.S. Supreme Court eventually weighed in about a year ago, and agreed with Dacus. PJI and five churches in Santa Clara County last week reached a six-figure settlement – the PJI founder couldn’t share the exact amount – and obtained a ruling that allowed churches to exercise their biblical mandate of meeting together.
The legal victory, according to Dacus, ensures those churches will continue to offer opportunities for individuals to secure their eternal destinies – which is “the best kind of remuneration,” he says.
And the financial settlement, he adds, should be a warning to other jurisdictions. “Hopefully this will send a signal loud and clear to governments across America that when they decide to shut churches down, there may be a price they have to pay,” the attorney concludes.
The Santa Clara County churches represented by PJI – in a joint effort with the Cannistraci Law Firm and McAllister Law Group – are Gateway City Church, The Home Church, The Spectrum Church, Orchard Community Church, and Trinity Bible Church.
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Copyright American Family News. Reprinted with permission.
#1. Amendment 1 – Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
#2. The Love and worship of God and his son Jesus Christ goes against the Democrat Party’s doctrine and philosophy. Where as the Democrat Party believes that it is god, defining genders, sexual identities and behaviors and the right of a unborn baby to live.
Ones relationship with God, is entirely between them and God.
One can love and worship God or not, it is their choice.
One can love and worship the devil and the Democrat Party, it is their choice.
John 8:42-44 – 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
pITY its the tax payers, that will have to pay for this.. AND NOT THE POLITICIANS themselves, who PUSHED these laws.