The US Supreme Court has ordered that California’s total ban on indoor worship is unconstitutional. In a 6-3 decision, the Court said at most, the state may limit indoor capacity to 25% of normal.

California’s limits on religious services can vary by county, depending on infection rates. However, almost all of the state is in the Tier 1 ranking of viral spread, and this tier bars in-person worship indoors. Critics have said the ban wrongly singles out religious gatherings and is among the strictest in the country.

The Court was acting on emergency requests from two Christian evangelical churches.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that federal courts owe significant deference to politically accountable officials regarding public health, but it “has its limits.”

Roberts wrote that California’s determination “that the maximum number of adherents who can safely worship in the most cavernous cathedral is zero—appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake.”

Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone called the ruling “a breath of fresh air in dark times.”

“I want to thank all those who have worked tirelessly to affirm that the worship of God is the most essential service of all, especially the leaders of South Bay and Harvest Rock churches. I’d like also to thank warmly those Catholics who joined me in standing up against abuses of power by signing the petition at FreeTheMass.com,” he said.