GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge in North Carolina has sided with conservative Christian leaders and blocked the enforcement of restrictions that Gov. Roy Cooper ordered affecting indoor religious services during the pandemic. The order from Judge James C. Dever III came Saturday, days after two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed a federal lawsuit seeking to immediately block enforcement of rules covering religious services within the Democratic governor’s executive orders. The plaintiffs argued the limits violate their rights to worship freely and treat churches differently from retailers and other secular activities. Cooper’s office says it won’t appeal the ruling.
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