Christian group fights Idaho Covid mandates despite pocketing bailouts

Christ Church leaders and aligned companies received millions of dollars in coronavirus bailouts amid campaign against mandates

The controversial rightwing Christ Church - and its pastor, Douglas Wilson - have led an uncompromising campaign of opposition to coronavirus public health measures in Idaho, revealing the church's powerful influence in its home city of Moscow and beyond.

The campaign has included in-person protests, misinformation and encouragement of civil disobedience across media channels owned by the church, which, as the Guardian has reported, is seeking to increase its power and influence in the town as part of an aim of creating a theocracy in America.