France's Highest Court Orders Easing of Church Attendance Limits

Reuters (Gilles Guillaume & Antony Paone) reports that the court (the State Council)  "ordered the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30":

"The claimants are right in saying that the measure is disproportionate in light of protecting the public's health … thus it is a serious and illegal infringement on the freedom of worship," the council said….

"No other activity is limited by such a limitation regardless of surface area," [the Conference of French Bishops] said.

Catholic organisations are proposing to allow churches to utilise 30% of their seating capacity.

Thanks to Prof. Howard Friedman (Religion Clause) for the pointer.

Comments

[Longtobefree]

So have multiple, concurrent services.
That group of thirty is the church of contempt for government; this group of 30 is the church of ignoring edicts; the group of 30 over there is called the church of separation; the final group is the church of mocking masks; etc.

[Brett Bellmore]

It's pretty sad when France, of all nations, is giving religion, and the Catholic church yet, more respect than US courts.

[Cal Cetín]

Who knew that French institutions were packed with science-denying MAGA-tards?

[Martinned]

Meanwhile, the controversial "don't film the police" provision in the new French national security law will be "redrafted" in light of many people pointing out that it was wildly unconstitutional: https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/securite-globale-violences-policieres-macron-reunit-ministres-et-cadres-de-la-majorite-a-l-elysee-ce-matin-20201130

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Just as some people claim to believe that religion improves bigotry better (or makes it something other than bigotry), we have people who contend (a) they can outsmart a virus and (b) religion can make certain activity less conducive to infection.

It is pointless -- if not counterproductive -- to try to reason with superstition, bigotry, or belligerent ignorance.