As reported by the
Los Angeles Times, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division yesterday sent a letter (
full text) to California Governor Gavin Newsom complaining about discriminatory treatment of houses of worship in the state's COVID-19 Reopening Plan. The letter says in part:
Places of worship are not permitted to hold religious services until Stage 3. However, in Stage 2, schools, restaurants, factories, offices, shopping malls, swap meets, and others are permitted to operate with social distancing....
We believe... that the Constitution calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship, including in Stage 2 of the Reopening Plan.
