LA County terminates parking agreement with MacArthur’s church

Worshippers have nearly filled Grace Community Church’s 3,500-seat auditorium at times during the past several weeks in peaceful defiance of state and county health orders. So far, Los Angeles County hasn’t made good on threats of fines or imprisonment against the Sun Valley, Calif., church or its pastor, John MacArthur. But on Friday, the county’s Department of Public Works sent the church a letter giving it 30 days to vacate a large area of a nearby parking lot it has leased since 1975. Jenna Ellis, special counsel to Thomas More Society, which is representing the church, called the eviction an act of retaliation. “This is harassment, abusive, and unconscionable,” she said.

Where does the case stand? A judge has declined several requests from the county to issue a temporary restraining order forbidding the congregation from gathering for indoor worship. A state court will hold a full hearing on the church’s religious liberty claims against the county on Friday.

Dig deeper: Read Steve West’s account in Liberties of the battle between MacArthur and California officials over coronavirus-related shutdowns.