In Bangor, Maine, a church has requested that the Supreme Court stop the state governor from reinstating any pandemic-related restrictions or mandates.
Calvary Chapel in Bangor, Maine, has submitted a request to the U.S Supreme Court to intervene in any potential pandemic-related restrictions that could arise due to the delta variant's high infection rate.
With increased infection rates across the United States, some religious leaders are concerned that state officials may implement restrictions again. The state has had a reasonably successful vaccination campaign, with 68 percent of the population receiving the final dose of vaccine. However, reports appear to imply that current vaccines have limited effects in stopping the delta variant. So the Calvary Chapel is making the first move by submitting its injunction to the court. "No pastor, church, or parishioner in America should have to choose between worship and criminal sanction flowing from demonstrably discriminatory restrictions," writes the Calvary Chapel attorney.
Local officials appear to be unconcerned with the potential of another lockdown. "For more than two months, there have been no restrictions whatsoever on the size of gatherings," says Marc Malon, spokesperson for the Maine attorney general. "and the state of emergency expired at the end of June. Given that, we are disappointed that Calvary Chapel continues to waste public and judicial resources by attempting to litigate an issue that is now moot,"
That has not dissuaded local leaders from filing. They believe it is entirely viable that the state could create a second lockdown that would severely restrict their rights.
The injunction was the week of July 24th, and the court will likely consider the injunction's viability in the coming weeks.
Calvary Chapel had previously filed an injunction against Maine in February, claiming that a recent Supreme Court case involving California was justification for removing the 50-person limit on their campus.
