Government over-reach threatened religious liberties in 2020

(The Slice): The church was rendered non-essential in 2020 by the U.S. goenment causing backlash rom religious leaders. While the DC mayor relaxed Coronavirus restrictions for churches to gather on Christmas, churches had been closed to public gatheings for most of the year. The Archdiocese of Washington sued D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over the city's COVID-19 restrictions on in-person church services, calling them "arbitrary," "illegal" and "unscientific" and arguing they favor businesses like restaurants over houses of worship. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with a Colorado church in its challenge of the state's COVID-19 restrictions, vacating a lower court's order and requiring a federal appeals court to reexamine the case. The Right to beleive organization responded to these challenges to religious freedom stating in a press relase, "It should also concern people of all faiths that the courts are often all too ready to use such cases as opportunities to expand their powers and authority. Judicial overreach opens a Pandora's box of government encroachment into religious expression and free exercise. It can, and often does, lead to protracted legal battles; distracting religious organizations and nonprofits from their primary missions; and forcing them to bear heavy costs to defend themselves.