The appellate court ruling temporarily halts indoor services and set a Sept. 4 hearing for complete arguments from both sides in the case. In issuing the temporary stay, the court said the case involved “difficult questions of law” that could not be resolved in time for Sunday’s church services, so the justices opted to leave the ban in place until the Sept. 4 hearing.
A Sun Valley church was planning to hold an indoor service Sunday in defiance of a court order.
In a decision issued late Saturday, the California Court of Appeal set aside a lower court order that would have allowed indoor services to take place at Grace Community Church.
The appellate court ruling temporarily halts indoor services and set a Sept. 4 hearing for complete arguments from both sides in the case.
In issuing the temporary stay, the court said the case involved “difficult questions of law” that could not be resolved in time for Sunday’s church services, so the justices opted to leave the ban in place until the Sept. 4 hearing.
Local officials praised the ruling.
“Los Angeles County is pleased that the California Court of Appeal recognizes the vital importance of our Health Officer Orders in protecting the lives and health of our residents as we work to slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus,” a county statement released Saturday said. “We will continue to work closely with all religious institutions, including Grace Community Church, to make sure their congregants are protected and provided with accurate information about worshiping safely during this phase of the pandemic.”
Pastor John MacArthur indicated, however, he intended to hold an indoor service Sunday in spite of the order. The church’s website listed a service scheduled for 10:30 a.m., led by MacArthur.
On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant had denied almost all of the Los Angeles County’s reasons for requesting a temporary restraining order against the church. He agreed that it was the county’s burden to show “why they should be permitted to infringe on the constitutionally protected rights of churches to freely exercise religion.”
Read another article on this topic: In Defiance of Tyrants: John MacArthur & Grace Community Church
