(NewsReady.com) – During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) banned in-person gatherings, including religious services. He eventually revised them to limit the number of attendees. The Supreme Court later ruled against his church restrictions, deciding they were a violation of the First Amendment. And now, the governor has to pay a large settlement to one church.
In early May, Newsom reached a settlement with the Liberty Counsel, which sued him on behalf of the Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena. The deal reached requires the state to pay $1.35 million for legal fees and the governor can’t ever impose restrictions on churches again.
CA Gov. Gavin Newsom has now been forced to wave the white flag of surrender AND pay $1.35M legal fees to Liberty Counsel. @GovJanetMills, how long will you continue to terrorize churches in Maine?#LetUsWorship #reopenchurches #reopenMaine #reopenAmerica pic.twitter.com/0tswcykZ3s
— Liberty Counsel (@libertycounsel) May 21, 2021
Liberty Counsel Founder Mat Staver called Newsom the “worst governor in America” for the First Amendment. He said that during the pandemic, churches were harassed every day with criminal charges. Fortunately, because of the counsel’s work, religious freedom will remain in California.
Copyright 2021, NewsReady.com
