Pastor Rob McCoy and the Newbury Park church he leads will be allowed to bolster their lawsuit filed against the county over coronavirus restrictions, a Ventura County judge ruled Tuesday. Superior Court Judge Henry Walsh said the courts freely allow parties in litigation to amend their lawsuits and that the state of the law is evolving on religious restrictions. He cited in particular a Los Angeles Times story reporting comments made early this week by judges in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Based on his reading, the federal court signaled it was going to modify previous rulings viewed as too restrictive on churches. Walsh did not elaborate, but the issue reportedly centers on the prohibitions on indoor worship services. McCoy and Godspeak Calvary Chapel have defied public health orders banning indoor services for months, arguing that the rules infringe on religious liberty and prevent fellowship that congregants need. Under Walsh’s ruling, McCoy and the chapel were allowed to add claims that the restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution along with their original claims of violations of the state Constitution. Constitutional claims The church is now claiming violations of rights guaranteed under the First Amendment, such as free exercise […]
