Civil Obstructions To Reopening Churches

As I briefly noted yesterday. allowing churches to reopen in order to celebrate in-person masses and other services has been very low in lists of "phases" proposed by states and municipalities for reopening society. Generally, these appear in vague "phase 3" scenarios, with no specific criteria or schedules. In at least some cases, civil authorities appear to be adding new, more or less permanent restrictions on religious enterprises.

According to this link,

Kansas City, Missouri, officials are now requiring every church to submit a list of members and attendees along with their names, addresses and telephone numbers to city officials for tracking and surveillance purposes.

. . . The Kansas City government is now DEMANDING that churches turn over membership lists, along with the names, telephone numbers and physical addresses of anyone who enters a church! This order also applies to all businesses.

The new order states that by recording names and contact information, the health department will be able “to more quickly trace, test, and isolate individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19.” Anyone who does not provide this information should be refused entrance!

Exactly what will become of this apparent policy isn't clear. Certainly if I think about going to an office supply store, for instance, I'll be unwilling to go through the extra hassle of registering as a customer and will certainly prefer to shop online. We must hope the political process can place limits on this sort of behavior in general.

However, movie theatre chains are apparently planning a mid-July reopening, notwithstanding they are also thought to be in a "phase 3" priority with no specific schedule so far announced by most civil authorities.

In a recent interview with Variety, National Association of Theatre Owners’ CEO John Fithian revealed that plans are in place to open up major chains such as AMC and Cinemark by mid-July. Tenet is set to be released on July 17th, and Disney’s Mulan is set from July 24th.

It's not hard to imagine that lobbying groups like theatre owners will have an inside track with mayors, county supervisors, and governors to reopen on a schedule they propose, while it's by no means certain that churches or Catholic dioceses can exert equivalent leverage. In fact, so far, Catholic bishops don't seem to be exercising equivalent foresight:

Cardinal Blase Cupich, head of the Archdiocese of Chicago, declined to meet with a group of faithful Catholics who wanted to discuss with him how their churches could be reopened for Mass while still following social distancing rules.

"After careful review and consideration, the Cardinal regrets that this is not an opportune time for such a meeting," the cardinal's office said in reply to the St. Charles Borromeo Society.

The Society gathered today in front of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to pray for a reopening of the churches in the archdiocese. Attendees followed "all social distancing mandates," according to a press release.

The group states that "Churches are no more dangerous than supermarkets" and that "we need food for our souls as well as our bodies." It has called for opening "churches for private prayer and adoration" and for allowing "outdoor Masses and/or parking lot Masses."

In response to Cardinal Cupich's refusal to meet with the group, organizer Joseph Scheidler said, “When would be an opportune time? We are desperately in need of spiritual leadership during this pandemic and that is sorely lacking in the Archdiocese of Chicago."

It seems to me that it's entirely appropriate, given clear signs that the COVID-19 epidemic is behaving like other moderate flu outbreaks in recent decades, that Catholic dioceses should begin working with civil authorities to establish clear decision points, criteria, and schedules for reopening masses and confessions.

Delays or unreasonable obstacles to such reopenings should be met with legal remedies.