ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
CONTACT: Nicole Velasco
NVELASCO@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM
Murrieta, CA— In a pivotal case for religious liberty, Calvary Chapel San Jose and its senior pastor, Mike McClure, have petitioned the California Supreme Court to overturn a $1.2 million fine imposed for holding worship services during COVID-19 lockdowns—restrictions that courts have already deemed unconstitutional.
Filed by Advocates for Faith & Freedom, the Petition for Review urges the high court to resolve critical constitutional questions involving religious liberty, due process, and protection from excessive government punishment. At stake is not just justice for Calvary Chapel, but the broader freedom of churches across California to worship without fear of punishment.
“This case is about far more than a fine, it is about the condition of religious liberty in California,” said attorney Robert Tyler. “Calvary Chapel did what the Church has always been called to do: gather in worship, stand in faith, and care for one another in a time of fear and deep need.”
The Petition emphasizes that while Santa Clara County permitted secular exemptions, from construction sites to cigar lounges to nail salons, it singled out religious gatherings for punishment, in direct violation of the Free Exercise Clause.
Adding to the constitutional concerns, the Santa Clara County’s fines are based on a temporary restraining order that was later ruled unconstitutional. Still, the Court of Appeal upheld sanctions tied to that void order, threatening the rule of law and enabling government overreach.
A serious due process failure is also at stake. Santa Clara County claims it served Calvary Chapel with a notice of violation but offered no proof the Church ever received it. The lower court accepted this version without a trial, denying the Church its basic right to be heard.
Finally, the Petition argues the $1.2 million in fines is not only unjust, but unconstitutional. Under the Eighth Amendment, excessive fines are prohibited, especially when imposed on citizens exercising core First Amendment rights. Calvary Chapel acted in good faith, followed its calling, and saw no COVID-19 cases linked to its services. Yet Santa Clara County treated them like criminals.
"We answer first and foremost to God,” states Pastor Mike McClure. “When government commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, they have crossed a line our founders would have never permitted and our duty is clear. We gathered in obedience to Christ, and we will continue to stand firm in our allegiance to our Creator who is worthy of our praise. Our trust is not in the courts, but in the Lord who sees and judges righteously.”
The California Supreme Court is now being asked to take up the case to protect churches, uphold the Constitution, and ensure that no government can punish faith communities for fulfilling their sacred mission, especially in a time of crisis.
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Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.