The Catholic Church in Minnesota is defying the state’s limit on religious gatherings.
In a letter issued Wednesday, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced they will not comply with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to limit religious gatherings, pointing to the fact he has lifted Minnesota’s stay-at-home order.
The letter from @ArchbishopHebda and the Catholic bishops of Minnesota regarding limited return to public Mass may also be found here: https://t.co/6V84Svu2KP
— Archdiocese SPM (@ArchdioceseSPM) May 20, 2020
“The bishops of Minnesota are united in our conviction that we can safely resume public Masses in accordance with both our religious duties and with accepted public health and safety standards. We can worship in a way that reflects both the love of God and the love of our neighbors,” the letter from seven bishops reads, citing the Book of Mark in the New Testament. “Therefore, we are giving our parishes permission for the resumption of the public celebration of Mass on Tuesday, May 26, which will give us time to be ready for the celebration of Pentecost on May 31.”
Under Walz’s order, a maximum of 10 people are allowed within a confined space during worship services. The state’s Catholic Church, however, believes services can be held on its own terms with proper sanitation measures, private social distancing protocols, and a one-third limited capacity.
The letter lists several examples when the church has complied with state orders and advice from health officials but argues that the “human cost” to the coronavirus pandemic includes job loss, depression, crime, and substance abuse.
“We are blessed to live in a nation that guarantees the free exercise of religion. This right can only be abridged for a compelling governmental interest, and only in a way that is narrowly tailored to be the least restrictive means of achieving the desired end. That is why a large majority of states now allow in-person religious services, including many states that had previously suspended in-person religious services,” the letter reads.
There have been over 17,600 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Minnesota, with over 780 deaths, according to the New York Times.
Nearly 4.96 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus globally. Of those, at least 326,000 have died from it, and more than 1.88 million have recovered.
In the United States, there have been at least 1.54 million confirmed coronavirus cases, more than 93,200 deaths, and 294,000 reported recoveries, according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
