California Fights Back: New Bill Would Make Storming Churches a Felony

California Lawmakers Push New Law to Make Disrupting Church Worship a Felony

California state Senator Shannon Grove, a Republican from Bakersfield, has introduced Senate Bill 1070 in partnership with The American Council to strengthen penalties for those who deliberately disrupt religious worship services across the state.

The bill, introduced on February 13, 2026, would amend California Penal Code Section 302, which currently classifies the intentional disturbance of a religious meeting as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Under the proposed legislation, the offense would become a "wobbler," giving prosecutors the discretion to charge violators with either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity, coordination, or repetition of the disruption. Felony penalties would include fines of up to $5,000 and 16 months in county jail, along with mandatory community service of 50 to 80 hours for first offenders and 120 to 160 hours for repeat offenders.

The bill comes in response to a wave of documented attacks on houses of worship. At The Mission Church in Carlsbad, California, Assistant Pastor JC Cooper described repeated disruptions where agitators blocked entrances with high decibel sirens, displayed graphic signs, and chanted hostile slogans including, "Mission Church, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

I speak as husband and father, subjected to hate in our house of worship.

JC Cooper, Assistant Pastor at The Mission Church

Cooper testified that Easter Sunday services were disrupted multiple times, with children's activities forced indoors and first time visitors leaving out of fear. The agitators physically resisted removal, with some body slamming staff who attempted to escort them out.

In January 2026, anti ICE protesters stormed a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, targeting a pastor who also serves as a local ICE official. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and eight others were subsequently charged with conspiracy against religious freedom.

Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, expressed strong support for the legislation.

Churches are not political rally venues. They are sacred spaces. Agitators intentionally invade these spaces. They are not exercising free speech. They are trampling religious liberty.

Greg Burt, VP of the California Family Council

First Liberty Institute has also filed a federal lawsuit against violent agitators affiliated with Code Pink who disrupted multiple worship services in Southern California, including an interfaith event where pro Palestinian protesters infiltrated a service, accused attendees of genocide, and chanted "free Palestine from the river to the sea."

New California Bill Would Upgrade Church Disruption Charges to Felony Level Penalties

SB 1070 remains in the early stages of the legislative process. If passed, it would apply protections to all faith communities, including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Catholics, Buddhists, and any other religious groups that gather lawfully for worship.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let's be absolutely clear about what is happening here. Angry mobs are invading churches during worship, screaming in the faces of families, terrifying children, and physically assaulting pastors who try to protect their flock. This is not "protest." This is targeted religious persecution on American soil.

If any Christian walked into a mosque and disrupted Friday prayers with sirens and chants, they would be arrested on the spot, charged with a hate crime, and condemned on every news network within the hour. But when radical activists storm a church on Easter Sunday and terrorize worshippers, it barely makes the news. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Senator Grove's bill is a step in the right direction, but frankly, it should not even be necessary. The fact that we need a new law to tell people they cannot invade a house of God and assault worshippers tells you everything about where our culture stands. Defend your churches. Protect your congregations. Evil does not rest on Sundays, and neither should we.

Take Action

• Contact California Senator Shannon Grove's office to express your support for SB 1070: https://sr12.senate.ca.gov/
• Contact your own state legislators and urge them to introduce similar protections for houses of worship in your state.
• Support First Liberty Institute, which is actively fighting in court to defend churches against violent agitators: https://firstliberty.org
• Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to help protect persecuted Christians worldwide: www.TheShepherdsShield.org
• If your church has experienced disruptions or threats, document everything and report it to local law enforcement and your state attorney general's office immediately.
• Pray for the safety of every congregation in America and stand in solidarity with your brothers and sisters facing intimidation for their faith.