Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said that on Friday he is loosening restrictions on churches, calling religious leaders the “most responsible” about social distancing.
Holcomb added that other businesses that are not allowed to open yet should learn from the example of churches as they begin to resume services, according to the Indy Star.
“If we can manage this, it gives us a lot of confidence in some other arenas as well,” he said. “What we’re going to do is learn from these steps that we’re taking.”
Under Holcomb’s new plan, churches would not face any limits on congregation size, a first in the state for an institution that had been previously listed as “nonessential.” Holcomb added, however, that if churches do not feel they are ready to open, they should wait. Those that do open should maintain a six-foot social distance and should sanitize their hands upon entering the church building, he said.
Holcomb’s attitude differs from many other governors, including in Indiana’s neighboring state, Illinois, where Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker faces a lawsuit from a church that is attempting to resume services. The church, the Beloved, in Northwestern Illinois, sued Pritzker last week when the governor extended his order banning all church services.
After the suit, Pritzker relented, allowing church services to resume with only 10 people present. The Beloved held a larger service anyway, following protocol similar to the guidelines laid out by Holcomb.
The Justice Department on Sunday threw its support behind churches holding in-person services. Officials commissioned by Attorney General William Barr weighed in on a lawsuit in Virginia where a church sued Gov. Ralph Northam for shutting down its Palm Sunday service.
