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Santa Clara County sues church holding indoor services

Olga R. Rodriguez | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years AGO
by Olga R. Rodriguez
| October 30, 2020 1:06 PM

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Santa Clara County has filed a lawsuit against a San Jose church to stop it from holding weekly indoor services that violate the county's coronavirus shutdown orders, saying $350,000 in fines have not stopped church officials from holding services with hundreds of people.

The county filed for an injunction Tuesday against Calvary Chapel San Jose and Pastor Mike McClure because the church has been hosting weekly indoor church services with about 600 people who are not wearing masks or social distancing, officials said in a statement Friday.

Under the county's health order, indoor gatherings for religious or other purposes are capped at 100 people, masks must be worn, and social distancing requirements must be followed.

County officials spent months trying to work with church officials to get them to come into compliance and issued fines when they refused, the statement said.

“After church officials made clear they had no intention of ending their dangerous conduct, the County Counsel and District Attorney filed the request for a court order," it said.

Santa Clara was among a group of San Francisco Bay Area counties that were the first in the country to impose coronavirus restrictions when it ordered a shutdown in March.

McClure didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

A hearing on the case is scheduled for Monday,

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