California Shuts Down Church Preschool for Not Enforcing Mask Mandate

(by Anugrah Kumar | Christian Post) – Pastors, politicians and families gathered outside a church preschool in San Diego County to protest against California shutting down the school for violating the state’s COVID-19 mask mandate. The church claims it’s being targeted by regulators.

Foothills Christian Church Preschool in El Cajon was a scene of protest Friday as Republican State Sen. Brian Jones, the city’s Mayor Bill Wells and area pastors gathered along with parents to protest the state’s decision to close the school for not masking the 3 to 5-year-old children.

Additionally, preschool director Tiffany McHugh was suspended from working with children.

The preschool, which has been shut down by the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing since Dec. 10, has over 100 kids and has been in operation for six years.

David Hoffman, who senior pastors the church with his brother, Mark, claimed during the demonstration that state representatives visited the daycare over 11 times in the last several months. The visits began after a complaint from a parent.

“Our church used to have a great preschool here,” he said. “We had over 100 students, and we had a waiting list … so large that we were in the process of expanding our preschool.”

“Several months ago, this church, this preschool became a target by the Department of Social Services. Basically, what it boils down to is they were not happy with how many of our children did not have masks on,” he claimed. “They came here, they visited. They found a few other violations, which our director rectified in 24 hours. But the state kept coming back, 11 times. … Seven of those times were from 9 a.m. in the morning to 6 p.m. that night.”

“What were they doing all that time?” he asked. “Looking through our files. … They are looking at these files over and over and over again to try to find any violation they could. … It’s harassment, its intimidation.”

Hoffman said that on three separate visits, state representatives interviewed children without parental consent. On Nov. 15, the church was told it was “doing better.” On Dec. 7, Hoffman said that the church received a facility evaluation.

“They couldn’t really find anything wrong except that not enough kids had masks on,” Hoffman said. “I want to read this to you: ‘There were disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that posed a danger to children.’ I defy anybody to go into this building right now and find poisons.” Read Full Article >