California Church Fined $1.2M: Religious Freedom vs. Public Health

A church in Santa Clara County, California, was fined $1.2 million for defying health orders during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. The church held services with hundreds of attendees and organized various events while not adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines. The case has stirred debate about the balance between religious freedom and public health measures, with some arguing that the government's approach is heavy-handed and infringes on fundamental American values.