California church that held services despite COVID lockdown wins major victory in court, still faces targeted harassment from county

Pastors and other leaders of one California church are celebrating a recent victory from the court, as they remain wary of continued legal harassment from the county.

Santa Clara County officials leveled a bevy of fines against Calvary Chapel in San Jose, California, as well as against senior pastor Mike McClure and other associate pastors because the church continued to hold worship services in 2020 without mask mandates or social distancing requirements. In November of that year, the county successfully petitioned the county Superior Court to hold the church and its pastors in contempt of court for violating county lockdowns.