Church Awarded $220,000 by Washington DC After Filing Lawsuit Over CCP Virus Religious Restrictions

Contact Your Elected Officials

A Washington, D.C., church has been awarded $220,000 after it filed a federal lawsuit challenging the district’s restrictions on gatherings at places of worship during the CCP virus pandemic.

Leaders of Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) have appealed to D.C. officials since Mayor Muriel Bowser’s restrictions were issued on March 11, 2020, which banned all indoor and outdoor church meetings of 100 or more, even if participants wear masks and social distance.

But in October last year, Senior Pastor Mark Dever and CHBC’s elders won a preliminary injunction (pdf) against Bowser’s restrictions, allowing the congregation to resume worship services outdoors with proper precautions such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

In a settlement (pdf) between the two parties signed on July 8, 2021, Mayor Muriel Bowser and her administration agreed to pay $220,000 to church lawyers at WilmerHale and the First Liberty Institute, a Plano, Texas-based law firm that specializes in First Amendment religious freedom litigation.

As per the settlement, the district “agrees that it will not enforce any current or future COVID-19 restrictions to prohibit CHBC from gathering as one congregation” in the district.

The district further agrees that, should it impose new restrictions on religious gatherings in the name of mitigating COVID-19 or variant thereof,  they will not be more restrictive than on “comparable secular activities, as defined by the Supreme Court,” the settlement states.

The district also agreed to pay the church’s legal fees.

Senior Pastor Mark Dever is a nationally known evangelical leader and the founder of the 9Marks organization, which provides ministry and administrative resources for churches across the nation, and has been at CHBC since 1994.

The 850-member congregation has held worship services every Sunday since 1878, except for three weeks during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.

“All Capitol Hill Baptist Church ever asked is for equal treatment under the law so they could meet together safely as a church,” said Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute.

BY KATABELLA ROBERTS

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Trump’s Proposal For NATO To Stop Buying Russian Oil & Start Tariffing China Is Unrealistic

Trump proposed on social media that NATO stop buying Russian oil and start tariffing China 50-100% as part of his plan for ending the Ukrainian Conflict.

The Choices We Make

Death and disagreement are inevitable. Love and hate are choices. We will all die. Before we do, what choices will we make?

Elon Musk Speaks at Unite the Kingdom Rally

Tommy Robinson held rally, with Elon Musk appearing virtually, calling attention to leftist politicians who allow foreign immigrants to invade England.

Doxed Democrats Are Getting Fired Left and Left

Not a misprint because a title of “left and...

Hold Up, Feds, Without Federalism, There Is No USA

Federalism is essential to governing the U.S., yet the federal government is undermining it by bribing states to implement unnecessary federal programs.

ABC Halts ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Indefinitely After Charlie Kirk Remarks

ABC has indefinitely pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination drew criticism from the FCC chairman.

ABC Reporter Apologizes for Calling Texts From Kirk’s Alleged Murderer ‘Very Touching’

ABC reporter apologized after describing text messages between Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer and the man’s boyfriend as “very touching.”

Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates for First Time in 2025

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time this year following its two-day policy meeting that concluded on Sept. 17.

Driver Rams Car Into FBI Pittsburgh Gate in Potential Act of Terror, Official Says

Driver crashes car into FBI Pittsburgh office gate in a suspected targeted attack the agency says may be an act of terror against the bureau.

Rubio Says US Visa Revocations Underway After Charlie Kirk Death Celebrations

SoS Marco Rubio said foreign nationals who made celebratory comments over Charlie Kirk’s assassination will have their U.S. visas revoked.

Trump Supports Designating Antifa a Terrorist Organization

President Trump said he would support designating the antifa movement a terrorist organization in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination last week.

US Conducts Strike on Another Drug Boat From Venezuela: Trump

Three people were killed in a U.S. strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 15.

Trump Signs Memo Targeting Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

President Trump signed a memo to ensure drug ads give fair, balanced, and complete information to protect and inform American consumers.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central