White House Consults Bishops on Church Reopening Guidelines

Catholic News Agency ^ | 4/29/20 | Ed Condon

[marshmallow]

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 29, 2020 / 02:22 pm MT (CNA).- The White House has consulted four Catholic bishops who have reinstated public Masses, as the Trump administration considers issuing guidelines on the safe reopening of churches and religious services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Multiple sources confirmed to CNA that officials from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the Centers for Disease Control conducted a series of conference calls with bishops from three states on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The bishops of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lubbock, Texas, and Billings-Great Falls and Helena, Montana, spoke to administration officials who asked for feedback on the dioceses’ resumption of public ministry in line with state public health orders.

The initiative for the discussions came from the White House, sources familiar with the talks told CNA.

During the calls Tuesday and Wednesday, various policies put in place across the different dioceses were outlined, including extra measures for maintaining social distancing indoors and outside, and for the distribution of Communion. Administration officials also underscored to the bishops the administration’s ambition to see church buildings reopen whenever and wherever reopening can be done safely.

On April 15, the Las Cruces diocese issued guidelines providing that Masses could resume either outdoors or inside church buildings while conforming to state requirements on social distancing. The Diocese of Lubbock circulated its own guidelines on April 22, including provisions for restoring access to Communion for Catholics.

[Hieronymus]

I’m glad I read more than the headline. He spoke with Bishops who are actually interested in opening rather than closing churches. good choice.

[BarbM]

Well the Archbishop of Minneapolis sure is a coward.

Buries head in ice cream unwilling to make any compromises.

Tells his sheep to watch Mass virtually.
This makes me a protestant. Watch, but not real.

[Salvation]

Down at the bottom of the story.

During the calls, White House officials explained that any forthcoming guidance would be broad in scope, and not look to dictate specific liturgical or ritual religious conduct, such as the reception of Communion.

The bishops were told that the Centers for Disease Control hoped that issuing guidance could help inform state and local leaders about the “essential” nature of religious practice, while still allowing for localized responses to the coronavirus and provide “helpful parameters” for state and local governments who are trying to safeguard public health.

The bishops were also told that the administration hoped to see a discussion between bishops and civil leaders to encourage them to be more “forward leaning” in efforts to promote the “critical importance” of religious faith and practice in daily life.

White House officials also told the bishops that the attorney general had recently issued a memo saying the Justice Department would be paying close attention for any possible violations of civil liberties by state and local governments.

They told the bishops that the attorney general would act if there was evidence of “needlessly aggressive” enforcement of public health measures against religious communities.

[Salvation]

My priest was on a two hour conference call with 150 religious from just one county!