Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church had earlier filed a lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and other state and local officials, claiming their coronavirus pandemic regulations directed to churches are unconstitutional.
The suit, filed by a Thomas More Society Special Council in the Superior Court of the State of California County of Los Angeles on on Thursday (8/13/2020), aspires “to prohibit California from enforcing its unconstitutional and onerous coronavirus pandemic regulations against Grace Community Church and seeks a judgment that the health orders violate the California Constitution.”
Hours after Grace Community Church filed the suit to invalidate Los Angeles County’s unconstitutional restrictions on churches, the county filed for a temporary restraining order to compel the church to stop holding indoor services and comply with the constituted demands.
The Special Council’s complaint, headed by Jenna Ellis and Charles LiMandri, states that “the American people have begun to see that they are being cheated by their own government.”
“They have witnessed how the onerous restrictions imposed on them by public officials to allegedly fight the COVID-19 pandemic simply do not apply to certain, favored groups.
“When many went to the streets to engage in ‘political protests’ against ‘racism’ and ‘police brutality,’ these protesters refused to comply with the pandemic restrictions,” explained Thomas More Society lawyers. “Instead of enforcing the public health orders, public officials were all too eager to grant a de facto exception for these favored protesters.”
Subsequently, on Aug. 14, 2020, a California superior court vindicated Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church The prominent pastor and his popular church in Sun Valley took the stance that church is essential.
The court affirmed that position, acknowledging the constitutionally protected right of churches to remain open and to hold indoor services in their sanctuary.
Judge James Chalfant disclaimed almost all of the county’s requests at the Aug. 14 Los Angeles Superior Court hearing. This was in agreement with MacArthur and the church that it is the county’s responsibility to disclose why they should be permitted to infringe on the constitutionally protected rights of churches to freely exercise religion.
Chalfant expressed concerns over safety. Attorneys for Grace Community Church explained that Los Angeles County was being unreasonable in its demands. They offered to have the congregation conform with face-mask wearing and social distancing indoors until the matter could be fully heard.
This was set down as a more reasonable action than that of the county’s rush to shut down church services. The judge agreed and set the full hearing for Sept. 4, 2020, ordering the church to have congregants wear masks and social distance between family groups indoors.
Pastor MacArthur responded to the court’s ruling: “I am very grateful the court has allowed us to meet inside, and we are happy for a few weeks to comply and respect what the judge has asked of us because he is allowing us to meet. This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people. This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restrictions.”
Ellis stated: “This is a huge vindication for Pastor John and the board of elders at Grace Community Church, who have simply asked for their right to worship the Lord together in church to be acknowledged and protected.
“When I spoke with Pastor John after the hearing, he expressed sincere gratitude to the California court and Judge Chalfant. He said his congregation will be happy to comply with the judge’s temporary order.
“This is why John MacArthur is so deeply loved and respected by his congregation and all over the world. He is a gracious and firm leader, and his biblical stand for church being essential has now been rightly validated. We look forward to continuing to advocate on his behalf in asking the court to continue to protect the fundamental rights of churches.”
Charles LiMandri added: “This result is indeed a great victory for all citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of religion. Pastor MacArthur’s love of God and country motivated him and all the Grace Community Church elders to resist the unjust government shut-down orders targeting people of faith.
“Their devotion and patriotism have brought about a result that respects the legitimate interests of both the church and state. This result makes it possible for the thousands of congregants of Grace to continue to gather together in their church to worship, while at the same time honoring the court’s requirement that reasonable and temporary safety measures be observed.
“This court ruling should stay in effect at least until there can be a full court hearing in this case on Sept. 4, 2020. Please continue to pray that the courts allow this enlightened judge’s decision to stand so that all Californians can soon resume the worship of God in their respective churches.”
The lawyers for MacArthur believe that citizens are being misled by the US government which in turn has “irreparably damaged the confidence of Americans—and Californians especially — who now realize that the pandemic restrictions are neither necessary nor good.” Therefore, they state, Grace Community Church decided to resume worship services on Sunday, July 26 — “joining millions of Americans in deciding that enough is enough.”
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