Pastor Mike McClure: GOVT INTRF w/Free Exercise of Religion, New Paradigms w/Sargis Sangari EP #112

On Monday, 22 AUG 22, on New Paradigms with Sargis Sangari, Episode #112, Pastor Mike McClure, senior pastor of #CalvaryChapel of #SanJose, #California, joins me to discuss the #government #interference with the free exercise of #religion.

On 16 AUG 22, the California 6th #DistrictCourt of Appeal reversed a lower court decision to levy a 200K fine against Calvary Chapel and pastor Mike for violating state and county limits on indoor public gatherings during the pandemic.

The 6th District Court cited a May 2020 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court (#SCOTUS) in February of 2021 that a ban by #Governor #GavinNewsom on indoor worship services violated freedom of religion. Additionally, the #appellatecourt noted that the restrictions on indoor gatherings during the #pandemic also applied to secular gatherings but were stricter for #worship services than secular activities such as grocery shopping.

Despite the ruling, #SantaClara #County has stated that it will continue to seek $2.3 million in penalties against the #church for violating other #COVID-19 rules that weren't affected by the court decision, such as requiring #facemasks, even if they did not work, during services in late 2020.

Join me for this critical discussion on the State of California's overreach on the freedom to worship in the United States.