Cabarrus Today

A federal district judge ruled in May that indoor worship gatherings will be allowed with more than the 10 allotted participants, according to reports. 

Fox Carolina reported on May 16 that Judge James C. Dever III of the Eastern District Court of North Carolina ruled that police cannot charge attendees with misdemeanors while attending worship services with more than 10 people. He pointed to the First Amendment, which he said didn’t include any clauses for health issues, like the COVID-19 crisis.

In response, Gov. Roy Cooper posted to Twitter that his administration will not fight the order, but does disagree with the judge's ruling.

"We don't want indoor meetings to become hotspots for the virus and our health experts continue to warn that large groups sitting together inside for long periods of time are much more likely to cause the spread of COVID-19," Cooper said in the statement. "While our office disagrees with the decision, we will not appeal, but instead urge houses of worship and their leaders to voluntarily follow public health guidance to keep their members safe." 

The judge's decision was the latest update in Berean Baptist Church, Return America, Inc., and People’s Baptist Church, Inc.’s lawsuit, according to Fox Carolina. In their lawsuit, Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order was called out for having restrictions against faith-based organizations but not others. They said in their complaint that the order would stop them from fulfilling a "God-commanded part of their worship".

Before the judge’s decision, churchgoers were at risk of a Class 2 misdemeanor for not following the rules. According to the site, another hearing is set for May 29.