A California Court ruled that an Evangelical church must pay $1.2 million in fines, including interest, for violating public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Professor Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford University’s Medical School condemned the ruling. He said in a tweet:  “Throughout the pandemic, California state courts have flouted the 1st amendment right to freedom of worship, & ignored evidence-based medicine. This punitive ruling is outrageous, which the church will certainly appeal”.

Judge Evette Pennypacker rejected the church’s argument that the public health officer’s orders prevented it from exercising its religious freedom or violated the Constitution.

The church routinely held large, indoor unmasked services during the coronavirus pandemic despite the health orders that applied to every entity in the county.

The Office of the County Counsel said that wearing a mask while worshiping is is “a simple, unobtrusive, giving way to protect others while still exercising your right to religious freedom”.

“Unfortunately, Defendants repeatedly refused to model, much less, enforce this gesture. Instead, they repeatedly flouted their refusal to comply with the Public Health Orders and urged others to do so ‘who cares what the cost,’ including death.”