In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.

Three justices wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions on behalf of the four conservatives who said they would have granted the injunctive relief while the court fully considers the merits of the case. (continued here (usnews.com))

In fact, NONE of the five members in the majority bothered to explain their decision, but the minority was so outraged that together they wrote 24 pages in dissent. Of the four, Justice Gorsuch’s dissent was the most succinct. So here it is.

JUSTICE GORSUCH, dissenting from denial of application
for injunctive relief.

This is a simple case. Under the Governor’s edict, a 10-screen “multiplex” may host 500 moviegoers at any time. A casino, too, may cater to hundreds at once, with perhaps six people huddled at each craps table here and a similar number gathered around every roulette wheel there. Large numbers and close quarters are fine in such places. But churches, synagogues, and mosques are banned from admitting more than 50 worshippers—no matter how large the building, how distant the individuals, how many wear face masks, no matter the precautions at all. In Nevada, it seems, it is better to be in entertainment than religion. Maybe that is nothing new. But the First Amendment prohibits such obvious discrimination against the exercise of religion. The world we inhabit today, with a pandemic upon us, poses unusual challenges. But there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel. (from here (supremecourt.gov))

The other two dissents are equally readable and provide details that display the glaring  hypocrisy of this decision. With their dissents the justices in the minority have done their best to sound an alarm. We risk losing our First Amendment rights.

This case exhibits an obvious example of straightforward discrimination against the free exercise of religious belief. How did we get to this point? Look at what is happening to our local schools. Because of an ungodly fear of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we cannot even open them. Consider also the drift towards Human Secularism and crass Paganism in our educational institutions and in the mass media. Instead of being salt and light (Matthew 5:13), we Christians are letting the world change us. If we want to put the brakes on the increasing persecution of those who believe in God by those who don’t, then we must each live out our faith. That includes actively participating in politics. In particular, we must vote. Otherwise, the silent majority in this nation will become the silenced minority.

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.

(from here (quoteinvestigator.com))

We must exhibit our love for each other by protecting each others God-given rights.