Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Drive-in Church Services Allowed in Fresno During COVID Shutdown
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
April 21, 2020

Share

Drive-in church services can begin in Fresno and throughout California following a legal victory by the California and Virginia-based Center for American Liberty.

The nonprofit announced Saturday that Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in court documents that because vehicles are “technology,” drive-in church services are permitted under the state’s shelter-in-place rule.

The Center for American Liberty had sought a temporary restraining order against the state’s opposition to drive-in church services. Newsom and Becerra backed off banning the services in their response to the court.

Center Continues Fight for Open Churches

“This is heartening progress for our clients, and all Californians,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, CEO of the Center for American Liberty. “But while this is a step in the right direction, it is still not enough.

“Even after these policy changes, houses of worship are still very limited in their permissible activities. Many of these activities provide immeasurable societal good, be it delivering food to the elderly, hosting addiction support groups, providing spiritual comfort and counseling for Californians in crisis, and so many other essential services.”

Riverside and San Bernardino counties amended their shelter-in-place orders after the Center for American Liberty announced its legal victory Saturday.

Bredefeld Applauds Decision but Also Wants Open Churches

Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld issued a statement Monday afternoon pointing out the organization’s successful fight to permit drive-in church services during the coronavirus lockdown.

“We still need to remove the restrictions on churches to allow people to attend services both inside and outside the church implementing CDC guidelines and social distancing as is being applied currently to essential businesses.” — Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld

Bredefeld also called on the governor to open church doors to regular services.

“We still need to remove the restrictions on churches to allow people to attend services both inside and outside the church implementing CDC guidelines and social distancing as is being applied currently to essential businesses,” Bredefeld said.

“Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order that bans people from attending church is also unconstitutional and must be amended to allow our citizens their Constitutional freedom to worship and attend their church, synagogue, or any other house of worship.”

US Attorney General Barr Sides With Religious Freedom

Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General William Barr entered the debate by supporting a Mississippi church’s decision to hold services in defiance of shelter-in-place orders there.

“Even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers,” Barr said.

DON'T MISS

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

DON'T MISS

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

DON'T MISS

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

DON'T MISS

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

DON'T MISS

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

DON'T MISS

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

DON'T MISS

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

DON'T MISS

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

UP NEXT

Big Spenders: These Companies Are Giving the Most to California Legislative Candidates

UP NEXT

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

UP NEXT

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

UP NEXT

North Korea’s Long-Range Missile Test Signals Its Improved, Potential Capability to Attack US

UP NEXT

Southern California County Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge in COVID Funds Scheme

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

Anti-Semitic Incident at Oakland Cafe Raises Concerns About Rising Intolerance

UP NEXT

Schwarzenegger Endorses Harris, Warns Against Another Trump Term

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

2 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

2 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

3 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

3 hours ago

Fresno Murder Suspect Stopped in Las Vegas, Others Wanted

3 hours ago

Trump’s Crowds Are Dwindling as His Campaign Winds Down

4 hours ago

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

4 hours ago

Music Legend Quincy Jones, Architect of Pop’s Greatest Hits, Dies at 91

4 hours ago

Big Pharma Backs Harris 6-to-1 Over Trump in Presidential Campaign Contributions

5 hours ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

The 1.4 million acres of Sierra National Forest land proposed for a national monument would make the land between Yosemite and Sequoia natio...

8 mins ago

8 mins ago

‘Leave It the Way It Is’: Off-Roaders, Hikers React to Proposal to Change 1.4M Acres of Sierra Forest

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the baseball World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP/Ashley Landis)
2 hours ago

Yankees Retain Cole, Add $36 Million Extension to Keep Ace

Voters cast their ballots at Desert Breeze Community Center in Las Vegas during the last day of in-person early voting in Nevada on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Nearly 75 million people have cast early ballots, making their voices heard amid worry about the process, the outcome and democracy itself. (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times)
2 hours ago

5 Reasons Early Voting Is Overwhelmed With Falsehoods

2 hours ago

Christian McCaffrey Returns to Practice for the 49ers From Achilles Tendon Injury

2 hours ago

California Sues LA Suburb for Temporary Ban of Homeless Shelters

3 hours ago

You May Have Blocked Someone on X but Now They Can See Your Public Posts Anyway

3 hours ago

Some Republican-Led States Refuse to Let Justice Department Monitors Into Polling Places

Gerrick Franklin (pictured), 34, was taken into custody Sunday in Madera County on suspicion of killing Tyler Hamon, 33. (Fresno PD)
3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal NW Apartment Shooting

Search

Send this to a friend