Freedom from religion too

Re “Justices lift state limit on worship,” April 11

The 1st Amendment begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

I have always felt the first half in this portion is clearly demonstrating a freedom from religion, which perhaps arguably shows a preference over the wellknown freedom of religion.

With its decisions invalidating some of California’s actions to protect people from COVID-19, the Supreme Court is in fact respecting an establishment of religion over the safety of Americans and our right to be free from religion in our lives.

These decisions are simply medieval and a threat to life itself. What terrifies me is the precedent they set for our next pandemic.

Charles Manley Ojai

So five Supreme Court justices have effectively decided that in-home religious gatherings are somehow different from in-home nonreligious gatherings and therefore pose less risk of COVID-19 transmission.

I would have liked to have had a group of friends over to my house during the pandemic, but that was not allowed. Apparently I should have just started each cocktail hour with a Bible reading, and I would have been both medically and constitutionally protected.

Who knew?

John Hamilton Scott Sherman Oaks