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#BREAKING: After the leadership of hundreds of Catholic and Lutheran churches in Minnesota announced they would reopen, Minnesota’s governor has now announced that *all* churches and other houses of worship may reopen in time for Pentecost Sunday, May 31. #MNChurchesMatter (1/9)
The @MNCatholicConf and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ( @Mnnlcms @MNSDistrict) worked with @GovTimWalz to develop a plan on reopening safely, cooperatively, and responsibly. https://www.becketlaw.org/media/minnesota-to-reopen-all-churches-after-catholics-and-lutherans-stand-up-for-religious-freedom/#MNChurchesMatter (2/9)
Under the Governor’s new plan, houses of worship will be allowed to hold worship services at 25% capacity with up to 250 people. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies will also be allowed. (3/9)
The Governor’s plan recognizes that churches can safely, cooperatively, and responsibly open, setting a path that the remaining closed-church states should follow. (4/9) https://public.tableau.com/profile/caleb.lyman#!/vizhome/COVID-Map-Geo-Public-Website-Size/COVID-Map-Geo-600px-wide
This development comes after the churches announced on May 20 that they would reopen with or without the Governor’s blessing. Gov Walz had announced that malls, salons, tattoo parlors, & casinos could open, but not churches. #mnleg (5/9)
The churches, along with counsel @BECKETlaw and @SidleyLaw, sent separate letters on Wednesday, explaining why continuing to keep churches closed violates the #1A and the Governor’s executive order treated churches as second-class. (6/9) https://www.becketlaw.org/case/minnesota-churches/
Yesterday, @realDonaldTrump addressed the nation, announcing that houses of worship will be listed as essential services. He also chided governors for privileging liquor stores and abortion clinics over churches. (7/9)
Governor Walz’s office has also recognized the importance of treating churches and houses of worship equally with their secular counterparts. Other states need to follow suit. #religiousfreedom #MNStrong (8/9)
Please take note: @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom @AGBecerra @GovJanetMills @GovChrisSununu @NHgov @SteveSisolak @GovSisolak @NevadaAG @NYGovCuomo @TishJames @OregonGovBrown @ORDOJ @GovRaimondo @AGNeronha @BobFergusonAG @GovInslee (9/end)
Governor Walz’s executive order from 5/23/2020: https://s3.amazonaws.com/becketnewsite/Governor-Walz-Executive-Order1.pdf #MNChurchesMatter
