(ChurchLeaders) With its new conservative majority, the U.S. Supreme Court continues to side with churches in cases concerning pandemic-related restrictions. On Tuesday, SCOTUS erased lower court rulings in Colorado and New Jersey that favored state public health orders over houses of worship.
Since its November 25 ruling for a Roman Catholic diocese that sued the state of New York, SCOTUS has made it clear that religious liberties warrant protection. Before Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed in late October, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with liberal justices who deferred to elected leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.