Rural Nevada church takes fight against COVID restrictions on attendance back to Supreme Court
RENO, Nev. - A rural Nevada church is headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court in a second attempt to overturn the state's 50-person cap on attendance at religious gatherings.
The high court denied Calvary Chapel Dayton Valleys' request for an emergency injunction in July.
A new petition filed Thursday asks the justices to consider the challenge of Nevada's COVID-19 restrictions as a test case for others brought by churches across the country arguing their religious freedoms are being violated.
Calvary Chapel argues the 50-person cap is an unconstitutional violation of religious freedoms, partly because casinos and other businesses are allowed to operate at 50% of capacity.
Other secular businesses allowed to operate at half capacity include restaurants, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys.
A federal appeals court has scheduled oral arguments next month on the Nevada church's appeal of a U.S. judge's ruling in Reno upholding the state policy.
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