Religious freedom shutdown battle shifts from drive-ins to in-person services

When governors issued stay-at-home orders in March, many required or advised churches to limit their services to 10 people or fewer. Most churches complied, at first.

But as the shutdowns lengthened, and as public opinion on their efficacy shifted, a growing number of churches sued local and state governments, saying their First Amendment rights had been trampled on. The first wave of suits demanded the right to hold drive-in services, but now, an increasing number of churches are attempting to resume their in-person activities.