Good News for Christians: MD Officials Reverse Order Restricting Communion, Singing at Services
A Maryland county has changed course on an executive order that would have banned communion at religious services had it gone into effect.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an executive order Tuesday, scheduled to go into effect Friday, that banned communion at religious services and related how religious institutions, barbershops and other retail establishments could begin reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.
The county reversed these restrictions following a Wednesday report from the Catholic News Agency.
Gov. Larry Hogan announced the next stage in the state’s reopening that day.
After successful Stage One reopenings all across the state and improvements in key metrics, we can now safely move forward with the completion of Stage One of the #MarylandStrong Roadmap to Recovery.
Details: https://t.co/FekId398yz pic.twitter.com/qZYWzAzvQI
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 27, 2020
“Now that Governor Hogan announced a modified reopening of restaurants yesterday, Howard County is revisiting all food consumption restrictions,” Howard County spokesman Scott Peterson said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation on Thursday. “As we move closer to a full Phase 1 Reopening, we will be lifting food consumption restrictions for faith institutions.”
Howard County’s initial order prohibited food being served during religious ceremonies, limited religious gatherings to no more than 10 people and put restrictions on singing during services.
“There shall be no consumption of food or beverage of any kind before, during, or after religious services, including food or beverage that would typically be consumed as part of a religious service,” the Tuesday order stated.
“If singing takes place, only the choir or religious leaders may sing,” the order said. “Any person singing without a mask or facial covering must maintain a 12-foot distance from other persons, including religious leaders, other singers, or the congregation.”
Peterson said Thursday that the county is working through another round of policy changes and will “continue to work with our faith leaders to provide guidelines that will allow residents to worship safely and all religious leaders to resume practices safely.”
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has also issued guidance on both Phase 1 and Phase 2 reopenings, the spokesman noted, adding that the county will consider these guidelines.
“We are very pleased to hear that Howard County will be lifting their restrictions on faith institutions regarding food consumption,” said Archdiocese of Baltimore spokeswoman Mary Ellen Russell in a statement provided to the DCNF.
“We are grateful to County Executive Ball and his team for working closely with our community and many others to ensure the health and safety of all while respecting essential elements of our faith traditions,” Russell said.
“These are uncharted waters for all in leadership, and it is essential that we continue to work together for the common good,” she said.
News of Maryland County’s reversal comes after Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said in a Tuesday interview that churches should not distribute communion.
“I think for the time being, you just gotta forestall that,” Fauci said.
“You always have to take into account what the dynamic of the outbreak is in your particular region,” he said. “Having said that, when you’re dealing with a nationwide outbreak like we have right now, you’ve really got to take precautions.”
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
