A court has again sided with John MacArthur, the pastor of Grace Community Church, denying a renewed application for a restraining order by the County of Los Angeles against the California church for holding indoor worship services during the Coronavirus pandemic. 
 
On Tuesday, Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled that the county’s efforts to obtain a temporary restraining order did not meet statutory requirements, noting that the county had never previously fined the church. He did not strike down the gathering ban, which will still allow Los Angeles County to fine the church moving forward. 
 
MacArthur released a statement expressing gratitude to Judge Beckloff for his “reasoned opinion,” stating, “It should shock the conscience of every Christian that churches are coming under assault from our own government simply for holding church. Church is essential.”
 
MacArthur and Grace Community Church initially sued state and local officials over violation of their constitutional rights after the county sent a cease-and-desist letter threatening fines or imprisonment if the congregation continued to meet inside its sanctuary. In response, the county filed a countersuit against the church seeking a restraining order. 
 
The next scheduled hearing on the original lawsuit filed by the church against the county and the countersuit filed by the county against the church will take place September 4th.

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