A lawyer representing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> church <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/outrageous-california-church-ordered-to-pay-over-a-million-dollars-in-covid-fines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently ordered to pay</a> $1.2 million in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID</a> fines responded to the ruling this week, saying that the case has major <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/first-amendment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Amendment</a> ramifications.
Mariah Gondeiro, a lawyer with Advocates for Faith and Freedom representing Calvary Chapel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/san-jose">San Jose</a>, told The Daily Wire on Tuesday that she believed the church had a solid case to appeal the fines and that the public should be disturbed by the treatment of the church by the county. 
“This case should alarm the public, that this is what happens when you have unchecked power. This is what it can lead to. It can lead to an individual or individuals doing whatever they can to maintain power, and to enforce their rules even if their rules go against the constitution,” she said, describing the situation as “alarming.”
The comments followed a decision from Superior Court Judge Evette Pennypacker ordering the church to pay $1.2 million in fines after it did not follow COVID restrictions put in place by Santa Clara County, requirements the church said violated its religious freedom. 
“This county has been very vengeful. It isn’t about health and safety because the evidence shows that they can’t trace anything to the church,” she added. “They are trying to make a statement that no one will ever disobey their orders again.”
The county said the orders were aimed at public health and did not target religious institutions. “It’s the County’s job to take care of its residents and protect the public health,” Santa Clara County Counsel James R. Williams <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/santa-clara-county-superior-court-judge-rules-against-calvary-chapel-san-jose-orders-them-to-pay-1-2-million/">said</a>. “Calvary’s arguments have been rejected at almost every turn. We are gratified that the Court once again saw through Calvary’s unsupported claims and found them meritless.”
The ruling is the latest in the battle between the county and the church, which began after the church was fined starting in November 2020 and up to June 2021 when it did not follow the county’s restrictions and challenged the rules in court. The church was fined over masks, social distancing, and hosting large gatherings. 
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Gondeiro expects the case to be heard by a federal appeals court and was confident in the church&#8217;s case. Other churches in the Golden State have also gone to court over related issues, with churches in the San Diego area and Los Angeles County picking up legal victories. 
“This is much bigger than Pastor Mike [McClure] and this church,” Gondeiro said. “This is government overreach at its finest, and if we don’t hold this county accountable the implications will be far and wide.”

Calvary Chapel supporters gather outside courthouse as the church continues legal fight over COVID-19  restrictions

‘Alarming’: Lawyer For California Church Responds After Million Dollar COVID Fine Handed Down

Lawyer For California Church Responds After Million Dollar COVID Fine Handed Down

California

Mask Mandate

Politics

Religion

Religious Liberty

San Jose

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> church has been ordered to pay over $1 million in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID</a> fines after the church did not enforce a county&#8217;s social distancing and masking requirements. 
Superior Court Judge Evette Pennypacker ordered Calvary Chapel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/san-jose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Jose</a> to pay $1.2 million in fines after it did not follow COVID restrictions put in place by Santa Clara County, requirements the church said violated their religious freedom. 
&#8220;It should appear clear to all — regardless of religious affiliation — that wearing a mask while worshiping one&#8217;s god and communing with other congregants is a simple, unobtrusive, giving way to protect others while still exercising your right to religious freedom,&#8221; Pennypacker <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/calvary-chapel-san-jose-vs-santa-clara-county-church-ordered-to-pay-1-2-million-fines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. &#8220;Unfortunately, Defendants repeatedly refused to model, much less, enforce this gesture. Instead, they repeatedly flouted their refusal to comply with the Public Health Orders and urged others to do so &#8216;who cares what the cost,&#8217; including death.&#8221;
The church will appeal the ruling, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/04/12/judge-orders-san-jose-church-to-pay-1-2m-in-covid-fines/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> church attorney Mariah Gondeiro. “We look forward to establishing more precedent on appeal that will have far greater implications for the future,” she said. 
The Daily Wire reached out to the church for further comment. 
The ruling is the latest in the battle between the county and the church, which began after the church was given fines beginning in November 2020 and up to June 2021 when it did not follow the county’s restrictions and it challenged the rules in federal court. The church faces fines over masks, social distancing, and hosting large gatherings. 
&#8220;I think about our government&#8217;s infringement on our liberties,&#8221;<a href="https://patch.com/california/losgatos/san-jose-church-ordered-pay-1-2m-breaking-covid-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Senior Pastor Mike McClure  on January 10, 2021. &#8220;We were played. This whole thing, it&#8217;s a lie. I mean, not that it&#8217;s not a disease. But they&#8217;re using it to take control and to stop you and I from worshiping God.&#8221;
The county claimed that the orders were aimed at public health, and not targeting religious institutions. “It’s the County’s job to take care of its residents and protect the public health,” Santa Clara County Counsel James R. Williams <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/santa-clara-county-superior-court-judge-rules-against-calvary-chapel-san-jose-orders-them-to-pay-1-2-million/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Calvary’s arguments have been rejected at almost every turn. We are gratified that the Court once again saw through Calvary’s unsupported claims and found them meritless.”
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According to court documents, the county may have violated civil liberties by monitoring the cell phone usage of congregants at the large, non-denominational evangelical church. The Mercury News <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/03/08/phone-data-surveillance-used-to-monitor-san-jose-church-that-violated-covid-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the county used “geofencing” in an attempt to see how many people were at various church services. 
“It is unconscionable how much time and money this county has spent surveilling and targeting this church when they should be focused on rebuilding the community,” Gondeiro said. 
The county also sent observers to or around the church about 44 times during the dispute from August 2020 to January 2021, according to court documents. This cost the city about $219 per hour.
Jay Bhattacharya, a medical professor at Stanford, said that the ruling was &#8220;outrageous.&#8221; &#8220;Throughout the pandemic, California state courts have flouted the 1st amendment right to freedom of worship, &amp; ignored evidence-based medicine. This punitive ruling is outrageous, which the church will certainly appeal. May a wiser judge be found,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJBhattacharya/status/1646623716972048384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.

‘Outrageous’: California Church Ordered To Pay Over A Million Dollars In COVID Fines

Christianity

Church

COVID

COVID-19

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/san-jose">San Jose</a> Sharks goalie James Reimer opted not to wear the team’s specially designed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pride">warmup jersey</a> before a game on Saturday night as the team celebrated Pride Night.
Reimer issued a statement explaining his decision which the NHL franchise shared on its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/twitter">Twitter</a> account.
&#8220;For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christianity">Christian</a> — not just in title, but in how I choose to live my life daily. I have a personal faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins and, in response, asks me to love everyone and follow him,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I have no hate in my heart for anyone, and I have always strived to treat everyone that I encounter with respect and kindness.&#8221;
&#8220;In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in my life,&#8221; Reimer continued.
He concluded that “every person has value and worth” and should be “welcomed in all aspects in the game of hockey.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A statement from Goaltender, James Reimer: <a href="https://t.co/GwhWxhbmb4">pic.twitter.com/GwhWxhbmb4</a>
&mdash; San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) <a href="https://twitter.com/SanJoseSharks/status/1637185613442215937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The team said in a statement: &#8220;We also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic.”
During Saturday&#8217;s game, the Sharks opted to &#8220;offer information and facts about LGBTQIA+ topics&#8221; instead of the &#8220;normal game content&#8221; during the showdown against the New York Islanders.
“Worldwide, gender diversity is seen far differently than that in the Western World or as you may know it. Most of us are familiar with the male, female, and transgender labels. But in other cultures, the existence of &#8216;the third gender&#8217; or even fourth and fifth genders is common,” one post in a series of tweets from the NHL team&#8217;s official account said.
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“In some Native American cultures, the umbrella term to describe a third gender is &#8216;two-spirit.&#8217; In South Asia, it’s hijras. In Thailand, it’s kathoeys. In Ethiopia, it’s ashtime. In Polynesia, it’s fa’afafine. And many more,” another tweet read.
Frustrated fans commented on the thread, complaining about how the team was veering into radical Left-wing gender theory rather than providing game updates.
“Professional hockey teams are now the leading experts regarding X and Y chromosomes. What a time to be alive,” one user <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidGiglioCA/status/1637710465353809920">shared</a>.
“[S]tick to hockey,” another account <a href="https://twitter.com/joefis/status/1637486235387154434">advised</a>.
The Islanders defeated the Sharks 4-1.

San Jose Sharks v Winnipeg Jets

NHL Player Refuses To Wear Pride-Themed Jersey During Warmups, Cites Christian Faith

Hockey

LGBTQ

Pride

Social Issues

A San Francisco Bay area school district has asked its students’ parents to house its teachers in response to California&#8217;s affordable housing crisis across the state, according to a <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/milpitas-school-district-teachers-housing/2989286/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from local media.
The report comes after seven teachers quit their jobs at the end of the academic year last June, compelling Milpitas Unified School District officials to message parents last week asking them to fill out an online form. The questionnaire asks if they &#8220;have a room for rent at your home and would like to share the housing opportunity with our . . . educators,&#8221; according to <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/02/teacher-housing-california-bay-area/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>.
The survey also asked parents to share the number of rooms available in their residence and how much they would charge for rent.
District officials said they had received dozens of responses within a few days.
&#8220;With 53 responses to our call for Rooms for Rent for [district staff] in such a short time, this is evidence that our entire [team], which includes our teachers and classified support staff, is valued by our Milpitas community members, parents, and caregivers,&#8221; Superintendent Cheryl Jordan wrote in an email to The Post.
A <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/meetings/TempFolder/Meetings/Resolution%202023.4%20Supporting%20MUSD%20Employee%20Housing%20(1)_323170zq3mg0300u5yaagrwhs1xoer.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> unanimously approved by Milpitas school board members said during a meeting last month noted that the gap between those who can afford a home in the Bay Area and those who cannot is &#8220;widening at an alarming rate.&#8221;
The district has approximately 1,000 employees, about half of whom work as teachers, are considered &#8220;moderate-income employees&#8221; that are reportedly struggling to purchase or rent a home within a 15-mile radius of the district&#8217;s jurisdiction.
Glassdoor <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/milpitas-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,8_IC1147428_KO9,16.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that an average salary for a Milipitas teacher makes around $66,000 per year.
The Economic Policy Institute <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-penalty-dips-but-persists-in-2019-public-school-teachers-earn-about-20-less-in-weekly-wages-than-nonteacher-college-graduates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that between 2014 and 2019, California educators earned 15.5% less than those outside of the profession who are also college-educated, making it challenging to thrive in a California economy.
California has the 4th highest rent in the country out of 56 states and territories, according to <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.rentdata.org/states/california/2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rentdata.org</a>, which states the Fair Market Rent in California is $2,274 for a 2-bedroom apartment in the Oakland-Fremont area.
The City of Milpitas, which falls under the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara county area, has &#8220;very high&#8221; rents compared to the national average, the website <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.rentdata.org/san-jose-sunnyvale-santa-clara-ca-hud-metro-fmr-area/2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>, adding the area is more expensive than 99% of other Fair Market Rent areas.
A two-bedroom apartment in the county averages out to nearly $3,000 per month.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve lost out on some employees that we tried to recruit because once they see how much it costs to live here, they determine that it&#8217;s just not possible,&#8221; Jordan told NBC News.
Rather than increasing its employee&#8217;s salaries, district officials blamed the recent resignations on economic factors such as an increase of more than 25% in interest rates that have driven up the price of building a new home.
With the price of rentals also rising, the district said it hopes to secure low-interest home loans for teachers with local agencies and gain support from developers coming to the new city to build workforce housing.
&nbsp;

Empty desk in elementary school classroom

California School District Seeks Out Parents Willing To Rent Out Rooms To Teachers

Housing

Public Schools

San Francisco

Teachers

The grandfather who participated in an attempted exorcism that led to the death of his 3-year-old granddaughter last September was arrested Wednesday, the San Jose Police Department announced in a press release.
Rene Trigueros Hernandez, who is also the pastor of Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-3-year-old-died-after-an-attempted-exorcism-her-grandfather-says-he-performed-the-ritual">admitted</a> last week to his part in a ritual, where 3-year-old Arely Naomi Proctor was <a href="https://www.ktvu.com/news/church-linked-to-san-jose-kidnapping-also-tied-to-apparent-exorcism-death-of-3-year-old-girl">reportedly</a> held at her waist and neck in an attempt to get her to vomit an evil spirit out of her body. Proctor&#8217;s uncle was also arrested Wednesday for his role in the attempted exorcism, and her mother was previously arrested and charged on January 31. 
“During the course of the investigation San Jose Police Department Homicide Detectives identified three suspects responsible for the death of the victim: the victim’s mother, Claudia Hernandez-Santos, the victim’s uncle Rene Aaron Hernandez-Santos, and the victim’s grandfather Rene Trigueros Hernandez,” the San Jose Police Department <a href="https://ktla.com/news/california/sjpd-arrests-three-suspects-in-child-exorcism-death/">said</a>.
Court documents say Proctor’s mother told police she believed her daughter was possessed by an evil spirit “because the victim would wake up and scream or cry periodically.”
The ceremony that led to Proctor’s death allegedly went on for hours, resulting in severe injuries to the girl’s eyes, face, neck, and chest, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-3-year-old-died-after-an-attempted-exorcism-her-grandfather-says-he-performed-the-ritual">reported</a>. Proctor died at the church where her family reportedly attempted an exorcism on her. The medical examiner ruled that she died of “asphyxia due to suffocation.”
During the ceremony, Trigueros Hernandez along with Hernandez-Santos were allegedly holding Proctor down. Trigueros Hernandez later confessed that Proctor’s death caused him a lot of pain, but he trusted what happened was “the will of God.”
According to court documents, Hernandez-Santos did not call 911 until up to two hours after her daughter’s death, The Mercury News <a href="https://nordot.app/896589170988793856?c=592622757532812385">reported</a>.
Last week, Oscar Ayala, a preacher at the church who did not take part in the attempted exorcism, said the church members have a “clean conscience.”
“We know we haven’t done anything dark, and we know that we have a clean conscience, that we haven’t done any harm, that we haven’t provoked the death of the girl,” Ayala said. “As I say, precautions and actions weren’t taken to deal with that case. That was something natural that happened.”
“Maybe, I don’t know, we didn’t take the most logical approach,” Ayala continued. “[A]nd we should’ve taken precautions that should’ve been taken to, like, take her to a hospital to make sure she’s okay.”

Crux on a Grave

Grandfather Arrested After Attempted Exorcism Led To Death Of 3-Year-Old Granddaughter

Child Abuse

Crime

Last September, a small church in San Jose, California, performed a ritual on a 3-year-old girl to “liberate her of her evil spirits.” 
During the private ceremony involving Arely Naomi Proctor and her family members, she was reportedly held at her waist and neck in an attempt to get her to vomit the evil spirit out of her body. 
Now, Proctor’s grandfather, who is also the pastor of the church, has admitted to his part in the attempted exorcism. “If you read the Bible, you’ll see that Jesus casts away demons and made sick people healthy again,” Pastor Rene Huezo of Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas said. “It’s not when I want to do it, it’s when God, in his will, wants to heal the person. The preacher is like an instrument of God; what we do is what God says.”
The ceremony allegedly went on for hours, resulting in severe injuries to the girl’s eyes, face, neck, and chest. The injuries caused by the attempted exorcism would be too much as Proctor “died of asphyxia due to suffocation,” according to the medical examiner, KTVU Fox 2 <a href="https://www.ktvu.com/news/church-linked-to-san-jose-kidnapping-also-tied-to-apparent-exorcism-death-of-3-year-old-girl">reported</a>. 
Court documents say Proctor’s mother Claudia Hernandez told police she believed her daughter was possessed by an evil spirit &#8220;because the victim would wake up and scream or cry periodically.&#8221;
Hernandez has been arrested and charged with assault on a child resulting in death for allegedly withholding food from her daughter and squeezing her neck during the ritual ceremony, according to <a href="https://nordot.app/896589170988793856?c=592622757532812385">The Mercury News</a>.
During the ceremony, Huezo along with Proctor’s uncle were allegedly holding her down, but neither have been charged with any crimes. Huezo confessed that Proctor’s death has caused him a lot of pain, but he trusts what happened was “the will of God.” 
“[I]t’s the stuff of God, and everything is in the will of God no matter how small or big,” Huezo commented.
Court documents allege the victim’s mother did not call 911 until up to two hours after Proctor’s death, The Mercury News noted. Oscar Ayala, a preacher at the church who was not at the attempted exorcism, said the church members have a “clean conscience.” 
“We know we haven’t done anything dark, and we know that we have a clean conscience, that we haven’t done any harm, that we haven’t provoked the death of the girl,” Ayala said. “As I say, precautions and actions weren’t taken to deal with that case. That was something natural that happened.”
“Maybe, I don’t know, we didn’t take the most logical approach, and we should’ve taken precautions that should’ve been taken to, like, take her to a hospital to make sure she’s okay,” Ayala continued.
Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas, which translated means apostles and prophets church, was also at the center of a child kidnapping investigation last month. The 3-month-old boy was allegedly kidnapped by two people who knew the child’s mother from Iglesia Apostolos y Profetas. According to The Mercury News, “church members said they knew nothing about [the kidnapping].”

Church Steeple

A 3-Year-Old Died After An Attempted Exorcism. Her Grandfather Says He Performed The Ritual.

Pastor Says He Took Part In Exorcism Leading To Death Of His 3-Year-Old Granddaughter

Death

On Tuesday, San Jose, California, became the first city in the United States to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/san-jose-approves-controversial-gun-owners-liability-insurance-residents">approve a law</a> requiring all gun owners to pay a fee and carry liability insurance.
“The Silicon Valley city&#8217;s council split the vote into two parts: the first approving the bulk of the proposal, including the insurance provisions, and the second approving the fee provisions. The insurance vote passed 10-1, while the fees vote passed 8-3. The ordinance must be approved next month at its final reading in order to take effect in August,” <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/26/us/san-jose-gun-law-wednesday/index.html">CNN</a> reported.
“Under San Jose&#8217;s proposed law, gun owners would be charged an annual $25 fee directed to a nonprofit set up to distribute funds to gun crime prevention and to victims of gun violence. The measure also would require gun owners to obtain liability insurance that would cover damage caused by their weapon,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/25/us/san-jose-gun-law/index.html">added</a>.
Prior to the vote, Dudley Brown, president of the National Association for Gun Rights and executive director of the National Foundation for Gun Rights and an opponent of the proposed law, told CNN, &#8220;We&#8217;ve opposed this ordinance every step of the way and we will see this through to the end. &#8230; If the San Jose City Council actually votes to impose this ridiculous tax on the Constitutional right to gun ownership, our message is clear and simple: see you in court.”
 After a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/extraordinary-courage-bodycam-shows-officers-close-in-on-mass-shooter-who-killed-9-in-san-jose-workplace">mass shooting</a> at a public transit rail yard in San Jose in May 2021 in which eight workers were killed, the San Jose city council unanimously approved drafting the ordinance calling for the restrictions on gun owners.
San Jose mayor Sam Liccardo, a Democrat, wrote in a <a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-01-19/op-ed-new-gun-control-laws-help-congress">Los Angeles Times op-ed</a> last week:
<blockquote>We anticipate that a barrage of lawsuits from the firearm industry and gun rights advocates will follow. &#8230; Why should any city subject itself to litigation? Because now-common horrific reports of shootings throughout the nation do little more than elicit a performative parade of prayers and platitudes from Congress. Because problem-solving must be elevated over political posturing. &#8230;
Requiring every gun owner in my city to carry liability insurance will better compensate unintentional shooting victims and their families for medical and related expenses. More importantly, insurance can also incentivize safer gun ownership. Risk-adjusted premiums will encourage owners to take gun-safety courses, use gun safes or install child-safe trigger locks to reduce the annual toll of accidental gun harm. &#8230;
Gun rights advocates argue that gun owners should not have to pay a fee to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms. To be sure, the 2nd Amendment protects the rights of citizens to own guns, but it doesn’t require the public to subsidize gun ownership. &#8230;
Critics say that criminals won’t obey insurance or fee mandates — and they are right. But these ordinances create a legal mandate that gives police the means for at least the temporary forfeiture of guns from dangerous law-breakers.</blockquote>

Watermark Conference For Women 2018

San Jose, CA, Becomes First U.S. City To Approve Forcing Gun Owners To Carry Liability Insurance

Guns

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