L.A. County sues church for violating COVID-19 orders with indoor worship services

A church that has gained national attention in recent weeks for repeatedly defying state and county orders by holding indoor services is the subject of a countersuit filed Thursday by Los Angeles County. The suit was filed in L.A. County Superior Court against Grace Community Church and Pastor John MacArthur for violating the county health officer’s order, which in mid-July prohibited indoor operations in various sectors, including places of worship. On Sunday, MacArthur welcomed worshipers to “the Grace Community Church peaceful protest.” “The county took this action reluctantly, after working with the church for several weeks in hopes of gaining voluntary compliance with the Health Officer Orders, which allow for religious services to be held outdoors in order to slow the spread of a deadly and highly contagious virus,” the county said in a statement. Though he said he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit specifically, Davis said at a news briefing Thursday that, generally speaking, “we start by using education as the primary step in gaining compliance.” “However, when compliance is not achieved, we have to look at other tools at our disposal,” he said, adding that “we won’t be able to enforce our way out of this pandemic, and we need everyone doing their part.” “We, as a county, are so grateful to those religious institutions that are adhering to the order and have found ways to worship” that do not put their congregations or communities at risk, he said.