Catholic bishops in three states are allowing public celebrations of Mass, adding extraordinary safeguards in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at church. This is great news, and we should all hope (and pray) that the churches responsibly reopen, don’t cause outbreaks, and provide a model for the step-by-step reopening of society and the economy.

It is very important to let people back into church as soon as it’s safe. Church attendance is incredibly beneficial to people, especially in the working class and the middle class. Church attendance provides education, moral formation, connection, modeling, volunteer activities, a human-level safety net, role models, friendships, networks, and so much more.