Sun Valley church defies court order with Sunday service

Grace Community Church in Sun Valley held a packed morning service Sunday, defying a court order directing them to refrain from holding indoor services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Santa Clara pastor vows to keep holding indoor church service despite $52K in fines

North Valley Baptist church had already been hit with $15,000 in fines for two church services held on Aug. 23 then one on Aug. 26, according to the East Bay Times reports. 

South Bay church fined $10,000 for holding indoor services during pandemic

A Santa Clara County church has been fined $10,000 for violating health restrictions and holding indoor services during the pandemic. 

San Francisco priest says 'fear has replaced faith' and reports on COVID-19 are 'largely unreal'

Father Joseph Ilo also brought politics into the fray, noting that stoking fear about the deadly virus is raging during an election year. "Those who control the media have stated a vitriolic opposition to our incumbent president," he wrote. 

Sacramento pastor to defy Newsom's shutdown, possibly run for governor

Pastor Greg Fairrington, leader of 3,500-members Destiny Christian Church outside of Sacramento, said he plans to continue holding in-person services despite Newsom's second shutdown announced Monday.

Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police

The Vatican issued a long-awaited manual for bishops and religious superiors on conducting in-house investigations into allegations of priests who rape and molest minors and vulnerable adults.

After threats from city, Catholic archbishop in SF agrees to obey coronavirus rules

One such gathering occurred last Saturday, where Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone convened about three dozen worshipers to lament what he called the "blasphemous"  toppling of the controversial statue of Junipero Serra.

Televangelist Jim Bakker sued by second state over coronavirus treatment claims

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed the lawsuit in Arkansas against Bakker and Morningside Church Productions, just three months after the state of Missouri filed a similar lawsuit.

California gives the OK for churches to reopen with limited capacity

The order does not allow worship services to resume right away. It does, however, recommend that places of worship continue online services for those vulnerable to COVID-19, including older adults and those with comorbidities.

Clergy to gather in SF Monday to call for delay in reopening houses of worship

A group of black religious leaders plans to assemble at noon Monday to promote sticking with virtual worship services during the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Officials: 2 California church services sources of virus outbreaks

Mendocino County public health officials said Sunday that six more people who participated in a Mother’s Day service at Assembly of God Church in Redwood Valley contracted the virus, raising the number of cases to nine and making the outbreak responsible for a third of local infections.

Religious leaders urge places of worship to stay closed despite call for reopening

Members of the San Francisco National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced that on Monday, Memorial Day, they along with black pastors and members of the Interfaith Council will gather outside of City Hall at noon to hold a "Social Distancing Sermon" to urge black churches to keep their doors closed.

1,200 California pastors to defy state's stay-at-home order on May 31

More than 1,200 California pastors say they will resume in-person services on May 31 in defiance of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.