Bad riots erupted Sunday morning between rival protesters outside Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park, who welcomed attendants in violation of a court order banning services as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.
Some Protestants carried signs saying, “This church threatens everything” and “Jesus preaches outside – why can’t you?” On the other hand, signs cried out for religious freedom and condemned Govin Newsom as a communist.
While services were inside, 100 to 150 people gathered in the church parking lot and surrounding area, said Captain Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. By late morning, it turned out that the pro-church protesters were too many of the people who came to protest against the services. Buschow said no arrests had been made at that point.
“We currently have deputies on the scene, and are just dealing with issues with minor scratches,” Buschow said. Video footage showed kicks and screams, but no serious injuries.
The church has been holding indoor services since late May, and healthy provincial authorities have complained that parishioners have not used masks or practiced social distance when packing inside.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 2 to enforce health orders with court action, and last week a judge issued a restraining order against the church, saying the meetings were a threat to public health. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for August 31.
Meanwhile, Pastor Rob McCoy – who resigned as a member of the Thousand Oaks City Council in April after the governor considered churches non-essential – said he would step down in court, declaring that the collapse of the province is “an ideological issue,” not a health issue.
“Really, all we do is have church,” McCoy said Saturday on the church’s YouTube channel. “People come out of the woodwork to support us.”
McCoy warned parishioners that authorities could, however, sue her for violating the order of the Ventura County judge. Some parishioners have said they would happily frame such quotes, but he told them not to take it lightly. He said quotes could remain on their record and have consequences, such as the inability of them to maintain a concealed gun license.
Yet he said, “Considering that our founders have committed their lives, their fortunes, and their holy honor, a situation – it’s serious, but it’s not the end of the world.”
‘They are closing our businesses,’ he added, ‘destroying our families, removing our children from schools, traumatizing them emotionally and now releasing convicts in our province. And now they come to persecute a church. We have not had a single case of COVID in our church. We have been open since May 31st. ”
The Sheriff’s Office said Sunday that it had not arrested any people.
“We are aware of the situation and the court,” Buschow said. “We have not issued any citations today, and we do not intend to do so at this point.”
Churches in California have been whipsawed by state closures and reopened commissions because church events are linked to coronavirus outbreaks.
The tension between security and faith has merged in the suburbs of Southern California. The controversy over emerging cases of infection and deaths related to the coronavirus has not stopped some residents from packing services for individuals.
In May, Riverside County was quick to enter stay-at-home orders and was one of the biggest proponents of reopening services.
When Newsom demanded for the second time in July to stop services for indoor persons, some churches ignored the order, while others moved their services outdoors to sites such as parking lots.
Times staff writer Stephanie Lai contributed to this story.
