California Drops $67K in Citation Fines Against Calvary Chapel San Jose

Calvary Chapel San Jose and its affiliated school, Calvary Christian Academy, have avoided $67,000 in citation fines from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal OSHA) related to pandemic-era mask requirements. The fines were issued after OSHA inspections found children at the school not wearing masks, leading to 15 citations. However, the church and school were no longer subject to these fines after a legal challenge.

Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a public interest law firm, represented the church and school. The firm argued that evidence obtained under a warrant for additional inspections was improperly gathered, violating the Fourth Amendment. The Superior Court in California agreed, leading Cal OSHA to withdraw the remaining citations.

Cal OSHA also acknowledged that the church did not commit any wrongdoing during the pandemic and did not admit fault. The firm’s legal team described the outcome as a “complete victory” for religious institutions in California, stating the state had attempted to use OSHA as a tool to intimidate religious organizations.

Calvary Chapel San Jose is currently facing separate fines totaling $1.2 million for alleged violations of California’s mask rules from November 2020 to June 2021. The church continued its worship services and did not enforce mask mandates during that time, prompting Santa Clara County to impose escalating fines. An appellate court upheld these fines in April, and the church has since petitioned the California Supreme Court to overturn them.

The legal petition argues that Santa Clara County treated religious gatherings differently from secular activities, violating the Free Exercise Clause. It also claims the fines are excessive and unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. The case continues as the church seeks to challenge the financial burden and perceived bias in the enforcement of public health mandates.

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