100 Pastors Gather To Oppose LA County's Health Restrictions
DANA POINT, CA — Nearly 100 Southern California pastors plan to meet this week to discuss Los Angeles County's coronavirus restrictions perceived to be unfair to groups holding faith-based events.
The meeting comes amid increasing tension between county health officials and church groups chafing at the countywide prohibition against large gatherings during the pandemic. Some pastors have held indoor church services as acts of civil disobedience, some have encouraged parishioners to ignore mask requirements, and some have challenged the orders in court. Over the weekend, a church in Walnut held a family fair drawing hundreds while barring county health inspectors from entrance.
"The Los Angeles County Public Health Department threatened to shut down the event, levy fines," event organizer Marc Ang said. He claims it was implied that he might face arrest.
"L.A. County is unfairly treating the faith community while giving special treatment to leftist liberal groups as evidenced by their preferential treatment of the lack of social distancing events...," Ang said, attempting to cite Saturday's Women's March in downtown L.A. as one such example.
The event, which included a petting zoo and puppet show, was held Saturday at On a Mission Church in Walnut and attended by about 500-600 people during the four-hour event, according to the event publicist.
Two people believed to be public health officials were denied entry because the fair was being held on private property, the publicist said.
Due to the severity of the outbreak in Los Angeles, the county instituted more restrictive health measures than neighboring counties such as Orange and Ventura. Some pastors have emerged as leading critics of LA's lockdown measures. Many see a double standard in large street protests and demonstrations being allowed to take place while indoor masses and church events are discouraged.
Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley defied a judge's order to preach to a packed church in Sun Valley last month while mocking mask requirements.
The pastors intend to meet from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Tuscany Grill in Dana Point, and will also discuss the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearings to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, contending that Senate Democrats have "demonized Judge Barrett*s religious faith."
City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch
