Supreme Court Denies Nevada Church’s Request to Reopen Like Casinos, Restaurants

In a 5-4 decision on Friday, the Supreme Court denied a Nevada church’s request to be exempt from the state’s 50-person cap on gatherings.

Christianity Today reports that Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley contended that it should be able to meet at 50 percent capacity like casinos and restaurants as long as they impose social distancing guidelines.

The church argued that restricting meeting sizes to 50 people was a violation of their first amendment right of religious freedom.

But the liberal majority, alongside Chief Justice Roberts denied Calvary Chapel’s request without any further comment.

In a dissenting opinion from three of the four justices who voted in favor of the church’s request, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh insisted that they would have issued an injunctive relief while the court fleshed out the case.

“That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimination is disappointing,” the statement read.

“We have a duty to defend the Constitution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve us of that responsibility. The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. It says nothing about freedom to play craps or blackjack, to feed tokens into a slot machine or to engage in any other game of…