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Court Says California City Can Keep Churches Closed Over Coronavirus, But Massive Protests are OK
Life News ^ | 6/17/20 | Pacific Justice Institute

Posted on 06/19/2020 7:20:15 PM PDT by marshmallow

A federal court in the San Francisco Bay Area has determined that churches do not contribute to a vibrant and fun atmosphere and therefore may be excluded from Salinas’ downtown area.

New Harvest Christian Fellowship has rented space along Main Street in Salinas for more than 25 years. Their growing congregation prompted leaders to recognize several years ago that the church needed a larger facility. In the meantime, the church has had to limit or even discontinue some ministries because of the space limitations. In 2017, it seemed the church’s prayers were answered when a larger building just across the street went up for sale. With property at a premium in Northern California, the church seized the opportunity and bought the building in early 2018.

But the city had a different vision for Main Street. It demanded sharp restrictions on the building’s use such as worship and assemblies only on the second floor, and dedication of retail space on the ground floor to an extent that proved unworkable for the church. The church contacted Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), which quickly recognized the preferential treatment the city was giving secular assembly uses at the same time it was blocking the church. Just a few feet away the city permitted theaters and live entertainment venues to operate without similar restrictions.

When PJI pointed the city to the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which PJI has successfully litigated for many years, the city refused to budge and PJI filed suit.

On May 29, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Van Keulen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a surprising decision siding with the city. The court determined that churches generate limited interest, do not draw tourists, and therefore detract from the city’s goals of vibrancy.

(Excerpt) Read more at lifenews.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: california; church; coronavirus; judiciary; ndcalifornia; susanvankeulen; tyranny

1 posted on 06/19/2020 7:20:15 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Oh some blacked robed communists says religion isn’t important

....Well call me surprised.


2 posted on 06/19/2020 7:24:19 PM PDT by PanzerKardinal (Some things are so idiotic only an intellectual would believe it.)
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To: marshmallow

Judge van Keulen was appointed by Trump.

She’s a Silicon Valley swamp lawyer.


3 posted on 06/19/2020 7:29:13 PM PDT by PanzerKardinal (Some things are so idiotic only an intellectual would believe it.)
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To: marshmallow

Let’s welcome the new BLM Church...... try to shut that one down!


4 posted on 06/19/2020 7:30:32 PM PDT by Lockbox
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To: marshmallow
Whatever else he/she/it wants to do. Just don't go to church!


5 posted on 06/19/2020 7:30:54 PM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Can I trust that you and I will get out and vote for Trump, this November!)
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To: PanzerKardinal

Judge van Keulen was appointed by Trump.

Someone needs to tell Wikipedia.


Judge van Keulen was appointed on January 3, 2017.

[1][2][3] She filled the San Jose position vacated by former U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal, who left the bench to join Facebook in June 2016.[2][4] Judge van Keulen's chambers are currently based in the San Jose division of the Northern District of California.[7]


 

6 posted on 06/19/2020 7:36:22 PM PDT by Bratch (If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.)
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To: marshmallow

Phew....nothing like a vibrant gang in downtown Salinas.

The judge made a serious error.


7 posted on 06/19/2020 7:43:41 PM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: marshmallow

GREAT SCOT. = California is NOT called “the land of fruits & nuts” without just cause.

Yours,TMN78247


8 posted on 06/19/2020 7:49:28 PM PDT by TMN78247 ("VICTORY or DEATH", William Barrett Travis, LtCol, comdt., Fortress of the Alamo, Bejar, F'by 241836)
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To: Bratch; PanzerKardinal
""Judge van Keulen was appointed by Trump."" "Someone needs to tell Wikipedia. Judge van Keulen was appointed on January 3, 2017. [1][2][3] She filled the San Jose position vacated by former U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal, who left the bench to join Facebook in June 2016.[2][4] Judge van Keulen's chambers are currently based in the San Jose division of the Northern District of California.[7]"

Trump wasn't sworn in until January 20, 2017. And I bet it was highly unusual for any POTUS to appoint anybody to anything after a new POTUS gets elected. But Barry Sotor sure got busy in November on...

9 posted on 06/19/2020 8:04:42 PM PDT by Dogbert41 (Jerusalem is the city of the Great King!!!)
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To: marshmallow

Ifnore the ruling.


10 posted on 06/19/2020 8:05:28 PM PDT by Chgogal (Wuhan Virus, Chinese Virus, Kung Fu Virus - Wuhan Chinese Kung Fu Virus aka CCP virus.)
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To: marshmallow

Wake up churches!


11 posted on 06/19/2020 8:06:27 PM PDT by Pajamajan ( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you have. Don't wait. Do it today.)
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To: Dogbert41; PanzerKardinal; Bratch
Nice catch on the date.

Also:

A U.S. magistrate judge is a judicial officer of the district court and is appointed by majority vote of the active district judges of the court to exercise jurisdiction over matters assigned by statute as well as those delegated by the district judges.

12 posted on 06/19/2020 9:08:08 PM PDT by an amused spectator (Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer's p*ssboy)
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There’s ONE Dubya judge, two Clinton judges and ELEVEN Obama judges on that court...


13 posted on 06/19/2020 9:10:24 PM PDT by an amused spectator (Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer's p*ssboy)
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To: an amused spectator

BTTT


14 posted on 06/19/2020 9:11:08 PM PDT by timestax
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To: PanzerKardinal

Magistrate judges aren’t appointed by the President. They’re appointed by the other judges in the district to act as sort of assistant. They also are not lifetime appointments.


15 posted on 06/19/2020 9:15:41 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: Mr. Lucky; PanzerKardinal
They’re appointed by the other judges in the district to act as sort of assistant.

By a majority vote of the judges in my post #13...

16 posted on 06/19/2020 9:17:57 PM PDT by an amused spectator (Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer's p*ssboy)
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To: marshmallow

God forbid if PedoJoe wins and the Senate flips.
Within 6-12 months, every church and synagogue in the country will be shut down permanently.
Think it can’t happen? It already has. The DS/RAT virus BS was just a test run for their future plans and agenda.


17 posted on 06/19/2020 9:41:01 PM PDT by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: marshmallow

Since law is rapidly being outlawed, at what point is defiance the only alternative?


18 posted on 06/20/2020 6:45:34 AM PDT by NTHockey (My rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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