By Catholic League president Bill Donohue
A Catholic League analysis of the way six states have
responded to outdoor gatherings, church services, and protesters reveals
disparate treatment: there is one set of rules for protesters and another for
everyone else.
California
A directive was issued on May 25 by the State Public Health
Officer that treated faith-based services and protesters equally. It said it
would make "an exception to the prohibition against mass gatherings for
faith-based services and cultural ceremonies as well as protests." Restrictions
were placed on indoor gatherings, but those held outdoors were permitted,
provided there was social distancing.
However, on July 6, a ban was placed on chanting and
singing in churches. No restrictions were mandated for protesters. In fact, there
was no attempt to ensure that protesters practiced social distancing.
Illinois
In June, Gov. J.B. Pritzker placed restrictions on houses
of worship, but none on protesters. He eased his most draconian restrictions at
the end of June, but he still urged that singing and "group
recitation" be curbed.
On June 4, the Department of Health asked that protesters
get tested but nothing was mandated. Indeed, nothing was done about limiting
the size of the protests or maintaining social distancing. Moreover, the
chanting and "group recitation" ban imposed on churches did not
apply.
Massachusetts
Gov. Charlie Baker put restrictions on indoor church
services, but did not treat outdoor church gatherings any different than
secular outdoor gatherings. However, some outdoor assemblies have been banned
altogether: festivals, walk-a-thons, road and bike races, and organized
athletic events are prohibited until further notice.
Gov. Baker did make one exception to his directive. He
declared that "outdoor gatherings for the purpose of political
expression are not subject to this Order."
Minnesota
On June 15, the "Stay Safe MN" Phase II
regulations issued by the Department of Health put restrictions on faith-based
services, both indoor and outdoor. The Health Commissioner, Jan Malcolm, warned
that protest gatherings could pose a public health risk. She urged, but did not
require, social distancing, wearing masks and hand-washing.
Protests were not limited in size, as were church
gatherings, and no attempt was made to enforce any restrictions on these
assemblies.
New York
On June 8, four pages of mandated limitations on worship
services were issued by the New York City Health Department, including a ban on
chanting or yelling. On June 26, a federal district judge issued a preliminary
injunction on placing restrictions on church gatherings. Judge Gary Sharpe
reprimanded Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo for showing
"preferential treatment" to protesters.
Unlike everyone else, contact-tracers are not allowed to
ask New Yorkers if they participated in a protest. Last week, de Blasio went further
saying he is banning all parades through September. However, he said Black
Lives Matter protests were too important to be subjected to the ban on large
outside gatherings.
Washington
The state government's website puts forth restrictions on
religious and faith-based organizations. It sounded the alarms by warning that
"frequent reports of spiritual gatherings" can become "COVID-19
'superspreader' events."
On the protests, most especially those that engulfed
Seattle, the Secretary of Health could not bring himself to address the threats
to public health posed either by the violence itself, or by the mass gatherings
of people in close quarters. These assemblies were not seen as
"superspreader" events.
Summary
These states, and there are others like them, put on grand
display how thoroughly politicized public health issues have become. State and
local executives, along with leaders in the medical profession, have made a
mockery of their alleged interest in public health, making everyone doubt their
sincerity. Their contempt for religious liberty is beyond question.
In doing so, they have belittled their status and increased
the likelihood that their future directives and guidelines will not be
observed.
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