Divided Supreme Court Rejects Churches on Covid Restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected calls by churches in California and Illinois to block restrictions on worship services during the coronavirus outbreak, issuing orders that revealed a deep divide among the justices on the balance between religious liberty and protection of public health.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s liberals in a 5-4 majority in the California case, refusing to exempt a San Diego church from crowd limits imposed by the state. Roberts said judges must give elected officials wide latitude to make health and safety judgments during a pandemic.

“Where those broad limits are not exceeded, they should ...