{"id":542159,"date":"2021-05-26T20:06:39","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T00:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=542159"},"modified":"2021-05-26T20:06:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T00:06:40","slug":"gov-gavin-newsom-no-longer-allowed-to-restrict-houses-of-worship-ordered-to-pay-1-35m-settlement-to-church-over-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-gavin-newsom-no-longer-allowed-to-restrict-houses-of-worship-ordered-to-pay-1-35m-settlement-to-church-over-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Gavin Newsom No Longer Allowed To Restrict Houses Of Worship, Ordered To Pay $1.35M Settlement To Church Over Lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgov-gavin-newsom-no-longer-allowed-to-restrict-houses-of-worship-ordered-to-pay-1-35m-settlement-to-church-over-lockdown%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=542159&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GettyImages-92570444-1200x800-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom was ordered by a federal judge to pay a $1.35 million settlement to a Los Angeles-area church in his capacity as governor because of the state\u2019s onerous lockdown rules against houses of worship.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to paying Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena, California, U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal also&nbsp;<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/lc.org\/PDFs\/Attachments2PRsLAs\/2021\/051720CaliFinalJudgmentEnteringPermanentInjunctionandAwardingAttyFees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ruled<\/a>&nbsp;that state restrictions on houses of worship would be permitted only if child infections rose 100%, statewide cases are at least 26 per 100,000 people, or available ICU hospital bed capacity falls below 20%, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/newsom-ordered-pay-millions-church-discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington Examiner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny new public health precautions on religious worship services and gatherings at places of worship not in the guidance [are included],\u201d Bernal ruled.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling marks the first statewide permanent injunction against COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Mat Staver, who is founder of the nonprofit law firm Liberty Counsel, which represented Harvest Rock Church, described Newsom as \u201cthe worst governor in America\u201d when it comes to religious liberty.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe church stayed open [during the lockdown], and the pastor and parishioners were threatened with daily criminal charges that were up to a year in prison,\u201d Staver said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGov. Newsom\u2019s COVID restrictions intentionally discriminated against churches while providing preferential treatment to many secular businesses and gatherings,\u201d Staver added. \u201cWhat\u2019s important is this ruling is permanent. He cannot ever do this again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Newsom, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/a-huge-win-california-lifts-capacity-limits-on-churches-following-5-rebukes-from-scotus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">received<\/a> five rebukes from the Supreme Court, faces a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/breaking-gov-newsom-recall-moves-forward-after-petition-reaches-1-6-million-verified-signatures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recall election<\/a> after a petition&nbsp;reached the requisite number of signatures in April to land on the ballot later this year.<\/p>\n<p>California\u2019s lockdown began March 19, 2020, and permitted only essential businesses to remain open, which did not include houses of worship. He later allowed churches to open at 25% capacity if the number of congregants remained fewer than 100 people, but instituted another lockdown last summer that lasted until April for much of the state.<\/p>\n<p>Newsom also drew national attention last year when Pastor John MacArthur and the elders of the prominent Grace Community Church in Los Angeles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/compliance-would-be-disobedience-prominent-california-church-defies-state-lockdown-to-resume-in-person-assembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chose to defy<\/a> state and local restrictions by resuming worship services. Citing Christ and the Bible as the ultimate authority over his congregation, MacArthur wrote in a lengthy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gty.org\/library\/blog\/B200723\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">blog post<\/a> replete with Scripture that \u201cwe cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord\u2019s clear commands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Newsom\u2019s office defended him in a recent statement to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/pasadenas-harvest-church-wins-lawsuit-against-gavin-newsom-lifting-worship-restrictions-1593096\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Newsweek<\/a>, which said: \u201cGov. Newsom has always put the health and well-being of Californians first, resulting in the lowest positivity rates in the country and over 35 million shots in arms \u2014 more than any other state.&nbsp;This settlement resolves this case while providing clarity and certainty to the public around the public health standards applicable to places of worship following recent rulings by the US Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/a-huge-win-california-lifts-capacity-limits-on-churches-following-5-rebukes-from-scotus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2018A Huge Win\u2019: California Lifts Capacity Limits On Churches Following 5 Rebukes From SCOTUS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/john-macarthurs-la-county-church-continues-to-fight-for-freedom-to-hold-indoor-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John MacArthur\u2019s L.A. County Church Continues To Fight For Freedom To Hold Indoor Services<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/compliance-would-be-disobedience-prominent-california-church-defies-state-lockdown-to-resume-in-person-assembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u2018Compliance Would Be Disobedience\u2019: Prominent California Church Defies State Lockdown To Resume In-Person Assembly<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><em>member<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom was ordered by a federal judge to pay a $1.35 million settlement to a Los Angeles-area church in his capacity as governor because of the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2313197,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GettyImages-92570444-1200x800-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Gov. Gavin Newsom No Longer Allowed To Restrict Houses Of Worship, Ordered To Pay $1.35M Settlement To Church Over Lockdown","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-542159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/GettyImages-92570444-1200x800-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Gov. Gavin Newsom No Longer Allowed To Restrict Houses Of Worship, Ordered To Pay $1.35M Settlement To Church Over Lockdown","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=542159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2313197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=542159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=542159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=542159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}