Court reverses decision to allow indoor worship services in Santa Clara County

On Wednesday night, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California temporarily suspended its Monday order that required the county to allow indoor worship services after they were banned to curb the spread of COVID. 

Santa Clara County says indoor worship can resume at 20% capacity

Santa Clara County says indoor worship services can resume at 20% capacity. The change comes after a federal district court's decision Monday evening. 

San Jose church fined $2M; other California churches open doors following new ruling

The justices said for now California can’t continue with a ban on indoor church services, but it can limit attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and restrict singing and chanting inside.

Supreme Court lifts California's ban on indoor worship services, Santa Clara County to continue ban

The Supreme Court ruled that California can no longer ban indoor worship services because of the coronavirus pandemic. Santa Clara County says it will continue to ban all indoor gatherings.

Newsom to revise California's indoor church guidelines after ruling

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said Saturday it will issue revised guidelines for indoor church services after the Supreme Court lifted the state's ban on indoor worship during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sitting on billions, Catholic dioceses cash in on coronavirus aid

When the coronavirus forced churches to close their doors and give up Sunday collections, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte turned to the federal government’s signature small business relief program.

Biden calls out 'political extremism' at National Prayer Breakfast

President Joe Biden called for a confrontation of the “political extremism” that inspired the U.S. Capitol riot in remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.

'God is on your side': Group of US Catholic bishops call for support, defend LGBT youth against bullying

Declaring “God is on your side,” a Roman Catholic cardinal, an archbishop and six other U.S. bishops are declaring their support for LGBT youth and denouncing the bullying often directed at them.

Biden attends mass at same DC church he worshipped at as VP

President Joe Biden attended Mass for the first time since taking office, worshipping Sunday at the church he frequented when he was vice president.

Calvary Chapel pastors appear in contempt of court case

A South Bay church that’s repeatedly defied a county health order barring indoor gatherings was back in court on Thursday.

Pope Francis says women can read at Mass, but still can't be priests

Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while reaffirming they cannot be priests.

Pope prays for dead in Capitol rioting, appeals for calm

Pope Francis said Sunday that he is praying for those who died in the U.S. Capitol rioting and has appealed for calm to prevail in the United States to help safeguard that nation's democratic values.

Bay Area Jewish leaders respond to anti-Semitic symbolism displayed at Capitol

In the hours that followed Wednesday's siege at the Capitol, rabbis around the Bay Area offered immediate support to Jewish congregants. Many were alarmed by anti-Semitic symbolism and references to the Holocaust they'd seen on the news.

California widow of drowned family establishes scholarship fund at Jewish school in childrens' name

Sarah Wyman created the fund to honor her children, ages 4 and 7, who are presumed dead from a Jan. 3 drowning accident. A sneaker wave at Blind Beach in Jenner snatched up the children from the beach, and her husband, Michael Wyman, 40, raced in to save them. He drowned, and the children have not been found.

Pope Francis misses Vatican New Year's ceremonies due to back pain

Francis was suffering from "painful sciatica" and could not preside at an hour-long, year-end prayer service Thursday evening, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Bill legalizing abortion passes in Pope Francis' native Argentina

Abortion will be legalized in Pope Francis' homeland up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and also will be legal after that time in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life.

Calvary church leaders found in contempt of court over COVID violations

In San Jose, a church lost another round in court today, for repeatedly violating health orders that limit or prohibit indoor services.