An appeals court has chosen to abid by Governor Gavin Newsom's ban on in-person church services amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the South Bay United Pentescostal Church in San Diego cannot reopen immediately as they had hoped, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The two judges in the majority decided that the "constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied."
They wrote, "We're dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure."
Opponents will likely be angered by the ruling, claiming that California is violating their religious freedoms in the governing body's attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Last week, many California counties received approval to begin the reopening process for certain businesses including retail shops and restaurants. Churches are not included in reopening plans until phase 3.
