California church wins court battle over COVID fines <\/p>\n
Ainsley Earhardt speaks with Pastor Mike McClure of San Jose's Calvary Chapel and constitutional attorney Mariah Gondeiro of the Advocates for Faith & Freedom non-profit to hear about their victory against COVID mandates.<\/p>\n
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A California appeals court dropped nearly $200,000 in fines for a San Jose church that came under fire for violating COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings during the height of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Mike McClure, pastor of Calvary Chapel, and constitutional attorney Mariah Gondeiro detailed the experience on \"Fox & Friends\" Thursday, relaying what they consider a victory for religious freedom.<\/p>\n
\"It's a blessing for the First Amendment,\" McClure told host Ainsley Earhardt.<\/p>\n
CALIFORNIA CHURCH THAT WAS FINED OVER $200K FOR DEFYING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS GETS FINES DROPPED<\/p>\n
Pastor Mike McClure, from Calvary Chapel San Jose, speaks during a press conference outside of Santa Clara Superior Court in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer\/MediaNews Group\/The Mercury News via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\"Pastors across the country, I think we need to realize that we have this freedom that God's given us, and we're needed more today than ever with the hope, truth, love\"<\/p>\n
Gondeiro said the appellate court elected to drop the charges because the U.S. Supreme Court had already established a legal precedent on the issue.<\/p>\n
\"The Supreme Court has been very clear over the last year that these orders violated the First Amendment. This is a religious freedom case, and they violated the First Amendment because they discriminate against religion,\" she said.<\/p>\n
SUPREME COURT DENIES NEVADA CHURHC'S APPEAL OF ATTENDANCE RESTRICTION AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC<\/p>\n
Supporters of Calvary Chapel San Jose wave to cars outside of Santa Clara Superior Court in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer\/MediaNews Group\/The Mercury News via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\"The county as well as the state of California allowed a lot of essential businesses or businesses that they deemed essential to stay opened, but not this church.\"<\/p>\n
Gondeiro went on to restate the court acted in accordance with judicial precedent by dropping the fine.<\/p>\n
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The legal struggles for McClure are not over yet, however. The county is still attempting to slap him with a $2.8 million fine for the pandemic-era violations.<\/p>\n
\"If it's jail time, I'm ready for whatever. Honestly, I'm not wanting to fight the county. I think that they just don't understand the Constitution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The fees are something I have honestly not thought about.\"<\/p>\n
In a press release, Gondeiro said she expects the church to have a \"complete victory\" in that case as well.<\/p>\n
Taylor Penley is a production assistant with Fox News.<\/p>\n
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